TPTT The Merry Wives of Windsor: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. A field near Frogmore.
SCENE II. A street.
SCENE III. A room in FORD'S house.
SCENE IV. A room in PAGE'S house.
SCENE V. A room in the Garter Inn.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE IV. A room in PAGE'S house.
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.
5     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;
10    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
15    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
20    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
25    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,
30    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
35    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
40    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
45    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
50    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
55    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
60    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.
65    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
70    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
75    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
80    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
85    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.
90    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
95    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
100   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
105   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
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