The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act 3, Scene 4

    comedy

    A room in PAGE'S house.

    Scene Summary

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    Fenton courts Anne Page and she tells him she returns his feelings. Her father has promised her to Slender and her mother is set on Caius. Fenton has to find a way around both parents.

    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