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- William Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III, Scene IV
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Scene IVA room in Page’s houseEnter Fenton and Anne PageFentonI see I cannot get thy father’s love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.Anne PageAlas, how then?FentonWhy, 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 PageMay be he tells you true.FentonNo, 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 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!They converse apartEnter Shallow, Slender, and Mistress QuicklyShallowBreak their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself.SlenderI’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t: ‘slid, ’tis but venturing.ShallowBe not dismayed.SlenderNo, she shall not dismay me: I care not for that, but that I am afeard.Mistress QuicklyHark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you.Anne PageI come to him.AsideThis is my father’s choice. O, what a world of vile ill-favor’d faults Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!Mistress QuicklyAnd how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you.ShallowShe’s coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!SlenderI 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.ShallowMistress Anne, my cousin loves you.SlenderAy, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.ShallowHe will maintain you like a gentlewoman.SlenderAy, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire.ShallowHe will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.Anne PageGood Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.ShallowMarry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that good comfort. She calls you, coz: I’ll leave you.Anne PageNow, Master Slender,—SlenderNow, good Mistress Anne,—Anne PageWhat is your will?SlenderMy 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 PageI mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?SlenderTruly, 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 PagePageNow, 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.FentonNay, Master Page, be not impatient.Mistress PageGood Master Fenton, come not to my child.PageShe is no match for you.FentonSir, will you hear me?PageNo, good Master Fenton. Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in. Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.Exeunt Page, Shallow, and SlenderMistress QuicklySpeak to Mistress Page.FentonGood 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 PageGood mother, do not marry me to yond fool.Mistress PageI mean it not; I seek you a better husband.Mistress QuicklyThat’s my master, master doctor.Anne PageAlas, I had rather be set quick i’ the earth And bowl’d to death with turnips!Mistress 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.FentonFarewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan.Exeunt Mistress Page and Anne PageMistress 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.FentonI thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night Give my sweet Nan this ring: there’s for thy pains.Mistress QuicklyNow heaven send thee good fortune!Exit FentonA 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
William Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III
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William Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, Act V, Scene V
- William Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, Act V, Scene V
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
