Scene
IV
A room in Page’s house.
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 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.
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 Justice Shallow, Slender, and Mistress Quickly.
Justice Shallow
Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself. She draws near the lovers.
Slender
Pale. I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t. ’Slid, ’tis but venturing.
Justice Shallow
Be not dismayed.
Slender
No, she shall not dismay me. I care not for that, but that I am afeard.
Mistress Quickly
To Anne Page. 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-favour’d faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
Mistress Quickly
Steps between them. And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. Anne moves away.
Justice 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.
Justice Shallow
Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
Slender
Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
Justice Shallow
He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
Slender
Ay, that I will come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire.
Justice Shallow
He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.
Anne Page
Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
Justice Shallow
Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that good comfort. She calls you, coz; I’ll leave you. He stands aside.
Anne Page
Now, Master Slender.
Slender
Plucking his beard. 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
Casting 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.
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 dispos’d 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, Justice 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 checks, 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.
Exeunt Mistress Page. Anne Page follows, turning at the door.
Fenton
Farewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan.
The door closes.
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 tonight
Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for thy pains.
Fenton thrusts money in her hands and exits.
Mistress Quickly
Now 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!
Exit.