ACT III SCENE 4.
Before 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.
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| ANNE. | Alas, how then?
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| 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.
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| ANNE.. | May be he tells you true.
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| 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.
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| 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 hither.
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[They converse apart]
Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY
| SHALLOW. | Break their talk, Mistress Quickly; my kinsman
shall speak for himself.
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| SLENDER. | I'll make a shaft or a bolt on 't; 'slid, 'tis but
venturing.
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| SHALLOW. | Be not dismay'd.
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| SLENDER. | No, she shall not dismay me. I care not for that,
but that I am afeard.
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| QUICKLY. | Hark ye, Master Slender would speak a word
with you.
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| 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!
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| QUICKLY. | write_ads(1,1)> And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a
word with you.
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| SHALLOW. | She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a
father!
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| 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.
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| SHALLOW. | Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
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| SLENDER. | Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in
Gloucestershire.
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| SHALLOW. | He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
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| SLENDER. | Ay, that I will come cut and longtail, under the
degree of a squire.
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| SHALLOW. | He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds
jointure.
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| ANNE. | Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
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| SHALLOW. | Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that
good comfort. She calls you, coz; I'll leave you.
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| ANNE. | Now, Master Slender-
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| SLENDER. | Now, good Mistress Anne-
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| ANNE. | What is your will?
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| 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.
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| ANNE. | I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
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| 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.
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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.
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| FENTON. | Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
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| MRS.PAGE. | Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
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| PAGE. | She is no match for you.
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| FENTON. | Sir, will you hear me?
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| PAGE. | No, good Master Fenton.
Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender; in.
Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
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Exeunt PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER
| QUICKLY. | Speak to Mistress Page.
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| 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.
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| ANNE. | Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
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| MRS.PAGE. | I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
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| QUICKLY. | That's my master, Master Doctor.
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| ANNE. | Alas, I had rather be set quick i' th' earth.
And bowl'd to death with turnips.
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| 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;
Till then, farewell, sir; she must needs go in;
Her father will be angry.
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| FENTON. | Farewell, gentle mistress; farewell, Nan.
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Exeunt MRS. PAGE and ANNE
| 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.
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| FENTON. | I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night
Give my sweet Nan this ring. There's for thy pains.
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| 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 promis'd,
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!
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Exit
Next
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