FENTON
I see I cannot get father’s love;
Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
ANNE
Alas, how then?
FENTON
Why, must be thyself.
He object I am too great of birth,
And that my state being galled 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 a thing impossible
I should love but as a property.
ANNE
Maybe he tells you true.
FENTON
No, heaven so speed me in my time to come!
Albeit I will confess father’s wealth
Was the first motive that I wooed , Anne,
Yet, wooing , I found of more value
Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags.
And the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.
ANNE
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 .
SHALLOW
Break their talk, Mistress Quickly. My kinsman shall speak for himself.
SLENDER
I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on ’t. ’Slid, 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 , Master Slender would speak a word with you.
ANNE
I come to him.
This is my father’s choice.
O, what a world of vile ill-favoured 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, 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
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
Now, Master Slender.
SLENDER
Now, good Mistress Anne.
ANNE
What is your will?
SLENDER
My will? ’Od’s heartlings, that’s a pretty jest indeed! I made my will yet, I thank heaven. I am not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise.
ANNE
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 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.
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.
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 checks, rebukes, and manners,
I must advance the colours of my love
And not retire. Let me have your good will.
ANNE
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
Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ th’ earth,
And bowled 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.
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 ; and I pray , once tonight
Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for pains.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
Now Heaven send good fortune!
MISTRESS QUICKLY
A kind heart he . 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!