Chapter 19

_Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE._

_Fent._ I see I cannot get thy father’s love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.

_Anne._ Alas, how then?

_Fent._ Why, thou must be thyself. He doth object I am too great of birth; And that, my state being gall’d with my expense, 5 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. 10

_Anne._ May be he tells you true.

_Fent._ 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 15 Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags; And ’tis 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 20 Cannot attain it, why, then,--hark you hither! [_They converse apart._

_Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY._

_Shal._ Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself.

_Sle._ I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t: ’slid, ’tis but venturing. 25

_Shal._ Be not dismayed.

_Slen._ No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for that, but that I am afeard.

_Quick._ Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you. 30

_Anne._ I 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!

_Quick._ And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. 35

_Shal._ She’s coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!

_Slen._ 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, 40 good uncle.

_Shal._ Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.

_Slen._ Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.

_Shal._ He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. 45

_Slen._ Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire.

_Shal._ He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.

_Anne._ Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself. 50

_Shal._ 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,--

_Slen._ Now, good Mistress Anne,--

_Anne._ What is your will? 55

_Slen._ 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._ I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me? 60

_Slen._ 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. 65

_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.

_Fent._ Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. 70

_Mrs Page._ Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.

_Page._ She is no match for you.

_Fent._ 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. 75

[_Exeunt Page, Shal., and Slen._

_Quick._ Speak to Mistress Page.

_Fent._ 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, 80 And not retire: let me have your good will.

_Anne._ Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.

_Mrs Page._ I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.

_Quick._ That’s my master, master doctor.

_Anne._ Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ the earth, 85 And bowl’d to death with turnips!

_Mrs 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.

_Fent._ Farewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan.

[_Exeunt Mrs Page and Anne._

_Quick._ 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.

_Fent._ I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night Give my sweet Nan this ring: there’s for thy pains.

_Quick._ Now heaven send thee good fortune! [_Exit Fenton._] A kind heart he hath: a woman would run 100 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; 105 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._

NOTES: III, 4