| [Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE] | |
| FENTON | I see I cannot get thy father's love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan. |
| ANNE PAGE | Alas, how then? |
| FENTON | Why, thou must be thyself. He doth object I am too great of birth--, And that, my state being gall'd with my expense, I seek to heal it only by his wealth: Besides these, other bars he lays before me, My riots past, my wild societies; And tells me 'tis a thing impossible I should love thee but as a property. |
| ANNE PAGE | May be he tells you true. |
| FENTON | No, heaven so speed me in my time to come! Albeit I will confess thy father's wealth Was the first motive that I woo'd thee, Anne: Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags; And 'tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at. |
| ANNE PAGE | Gentle Master Fenton, Yet seek my father's love; still seek it, sir: If opportunity and humblest suit Cannot attain it, why, then,--hark you hither! |
| [They converse apart] | |
| [Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY] | |
| SHALLOW | Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself. |
| SLENDER | I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: 'slid, 'tis but venturing. |
| SHALLOW | Be not dismayed. |
| SLENDER | No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for that, but that I am afeard. |
| MISTRESS QUICKLY | Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you. |
| ANNE PAGE | I come to him. |
| [Aside] | |
| This is my father's choice. O, what a world of vile ill-favor'd faults Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year! |
|
| MISTRESS QUICKLY | And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. |
| SHALLOW | She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father! |
| SLENDER | I had a father, Mistress Anne; my uncle can tell you good jests of him. Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress Anne the jest, how my father stole two geese out of a pen, good uncle. |
| SHALLOW | Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you. |
| SLENDER | Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire. |
| SHALLOW | He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. |
| SLENDER | Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire. |
| SHALLOW | He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure. |
| ANNE PAGE | Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself. |
| SHALLOW | Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that good comfort. She calls you, coz: I'll leave you. |
| ANNE PAGE | Now, Master Slender,-- |
| SLENDER | Now, good Mistress Anne,-- |
| ANNE PAGE | What is your will? |
| SLENDER | My will! 'od's heartlings, that's a pretty jest indeed! I ne'er made my will yet, I thank heaven; I am not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise. |
| ANNE PAGE | I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me? |
| SLENDER | Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing with you. Your father and my uncle hath made motions: if it be my luck, so; if not, happy man be his dole! They can tell you how things go better than I can: you may ask your father; here he comes. |
| [Enter PAGE and MISTRESS PAGE] | |
| PAGE | Now, Master Slender: love him, daughter Anne. Why, how now! what does Master Fenton here? You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house: I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of. |
| FENTON | Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. |
| MISTRESS PAGE | Good Master Fenton, come not to my child. |
| PAGE | She is no match for you. |
| FENTON | Sir, will you hear me? |
| PAGE | No, good Master Fenton. Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in. Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton. |
| [Exeunt PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER] | |
| MISTRESS QUICKLY | Speak to Mistress Page. |
| FENTON | Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter In such a righteous fashion as I do, Perforce, against all cheques, rebukes and manners, I must advance the colours of my love And not retire: let me have your good will. |
| ANNE PAGE | Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool. |
| MISTRESS PAGE | I mean it not; I seek you a better husband. |
| MISTRESS QUICKLY | That's my master, master doctor. |
| ANNE PAGE | Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth And bowl'd to death with turnips! |
| MISTRESS PAGE | Come, trouble not yourself. Good Master Fenton, I will not be your friend nor enemy: My daughter will I question how she loves you, And as I find her, so am I affected. Till then farewell, sir: she must needs go in; Her father will be angry. |
| FENTON | Farewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan. |
| [Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ANNE PAGE] | |
| MISTRESS QUICKLY | This is my doing, now: 'Nay,' said I, 'will you cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? Look on Master Fenton:' this is my doing. |
| FENTON | I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night Give my sweet Nan this ring: there's for thy pains. |
| MISTRESS QUICKLY | Now heaven send thee good fortune! |
| [Exit FENTON] | |
| A kind heart he hath: a woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart. But yet I would my master had Mistress Anne; or I would Master Slender had her; or, in sooth, I would Master Fenton had her; I will do what I can for them all three; for so I have promised, and I'll be as good as my word; but speciously for Master Fenton. Well, I must of another errand to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses: what a beast am I to slack it! |
|
| [Exit] |