ARKCODEX
Act III, Scene 4
1A room in Page’s house.
2Enter Fenton and Anne Page.
3FentonI see I cannot get thy father’s love;
Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
4Anne PageAlas! how then?
5FentonWhy, 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.
6Anne PageMay be he tells you true.
7FentonNo, heaven so speed me in my time to come!
Albeit I will confess thy father’s wealth
Was the first motive that I wooed thee, Anne:
Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value
Than stamps in gold, or sums in sealèd bags;
And ’tis the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.
8Anne PageGentle 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.
9They converse apart.
10Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Mistress Quickly.
11Justice ShallowBreak their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself. She draws near the lovers.
12SlenderPale. I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t. ’Slid, ’tis but venturing.
13Justice ShallowBe not dismayed.
14SlenderNo, she shall not dismay me. I care not for that, but that I am afeard.
15Mistress QuicklyTo Anne Page. Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you.
16Anne PageI come to him. Aside.
This is my father’s choice.
O, what a world of vile ill-favour’d faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
17Mistress QuicklySteps between them. And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. Anne moves away.
18Justice ShallowShe’s coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!
19SlenderI 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.
20Justice ShallowMistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
21SlenderAy, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
22Justice ShallowHe will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
23SlenderAy, that I will come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire.
24Justice ShallowHe will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.
25Anne PageGood Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
26Justice ShallowMarry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that good comfort. She calls you, coz; I’ll leave you. He stands aside.
27Anne PageNow, Master Slender.
28SlenderPlucking his beard. Now, good Mistress Anne.—
29Anne PageWhat is your will?
30SlenderMy 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.
31Anne PageI mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
32SlenderCasting down his eyes. 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.
33Enter Page and Mistress Page.
34PageNow, 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 dispos’d of.
35FentonNay, Master Page, be not impatient.
36Mistress PageGood Master Fenton, come not to my child.
37PageShe is no match for you.
38FentonSir, will you hear me?
39PageNo, good Master Fenton.
Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in.
Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
40Exeunt Page, Justice Shallow, and Slender.
41Mistress QuicklySpeak to Mistress Page.
42FentonGood 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.
43Anne PageGood mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
44Mistress PageI mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
45Mistress QuicklyThat’s my master, Master doctor.
46Anne PageAlas! I had rather be set quick i’ the earth.
And bowl’d to death with turnips.
47Mistress PageCome, 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.
48Exeunt Mistress Page. Anne Page follows, turning at the door.
49FentonFarewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan.
50The door closes.
51Mistress QuicklyThis 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.
52FentonI thank thee; and I pray thee, once tonight
Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for thy pains.
53Fenton thrusts money in her hands and exits.
54Mistress QuicklyNow Heaven send thee good fortune! 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!
55Exit.