The Merry Wives of Windsor: ACT IV
Introduction ACT I ACT II ACT III ACT IV SCENE I. A street. SCENE II. A room in FORD'S house. SCENE III. A room in the Garter Inn. SCENE IV. A room in FORD'S house. SCENE V. A room in the Garter Inn. SCENE VI. Another room in the Garter Inn. ACT V About the Play Feedback			Search: All the plays Hamlet Coriolanus Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Richard II Richard III Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Timon of Athens Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry the Fifth Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry VIII King John Pericles Troilus and Cressida All's Well... As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline A Midsummer... Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives... Much Ado about Nothing The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night The Taming of... The Tempest The Two Gentlemen... The Winter's Tale    for: SCENE VI. Another room in the Garter Inn. Enter FENTON and Host Host       Master Fenton, talk not to me; my mind is heavy: I       will give over all. FENTON       Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my purpose,       And, as I am a gentleman, I'll give thee 5     A hundred pound in gold more than your loss. Host       I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will at the       least keep your counsel. FENTON       From time to time I have acquainted you       With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page; 10    Who mutually hath answer'd my affection,       So far forth as herself might be her chooser,       Even to my wish: I have a letter from her       Of such contents as you will wonder at;       The mirth whereof so larded with my matter, 15    That neither singly can be manifested,       Without the show of both; fat Falstaff       Hath a great scene: the image of the jest       I'll show you here at large. Hark, good mine host.       To-night at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and one, 20    Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen;       The purpose why, is here: in which disguise,       While other jests are something rank on foot,       Her father hath commanded her to slip       Away with Slender and with him at Eton 25    Immediately to marry: she hath consented: Now, sir,       Her mother, ever strong against that match       And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed       That he shall likewise shuffle her away,       While other sports are tasking of their minds, 30    And at the deanery, where a priest attends,       Straight marry her: to this her mother's plot       She seemingly obedient likewise hath       Made promise to the doctor. Now, thus it rests:       Her father means she shall be all in white, 35    And in that habit, when Slender sees his time       To take her by the hand and bid her go,       She shall go with him: her mother hath intended,       The better to denote her to the doctor,       For they must all be mask'd and vizarded, 40    That quaint in green she shall be loose enrobed,       With ribands pendent, flaring 'bout her head;       And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,       To pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,       The maid hath given consent to go with him. Host 45    Which means she to deceive, father or mother? FENTON       Both, my good host, to go along with me:       And here it rests, that you'll procure the vicar       To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and one,       And, in the lawful name of marrying, 50    To give our hearts united ceremony. Host       Well, husband your device; I'll to the vicar:       Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest. FENTON       So shall I evermore be bound to thee;       Besides, I'll make a present recompense. Exeunt Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene