Quickly.
Sal.
Break their talk, mistress Quickly; my kinsman
shall speak for himself.
Slen.
I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: 'd'slid, 'tis but
venturing.
Shal.
Be not dismay'd.
Slen.
No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for
that, but that I am affeard.
Quic.
Hark ye, Mr. Slender would speak a word
with you.
Anne.
I come to him.—This is my father's choice.
O, what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults
Look handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
Quic.
And how does good master Fenton? pray you,
a word with you.
Shal.
She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst
a father!
-- 274 --
Slen.
I had a father, Mrs. Anne; my uncle can tell
you good jests of him. Pray you, uncle, tell Mrs. Anne
the jest, how my father stole two geese out of a pen,
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.
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.
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?
Slen.
My Will? od's-heart-lings, that's a pretty jest,
indeed, I ne'er made my Will yet, I thank heav'n; I
am not such a sickly creature, I give heav'n praise.
Anne.
I mean, Mr. Slender, what would you with
me?
Slen.
Truly, for my own part, I would little or nothing
with you; your father and my uncle have 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.
Fent.
Nay, master Page, be not impatient.
Mrs. Page.
Good Master Fenton, come not to my
child.
-- 275 --
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.
[Exeunt Page, Shallow, and Slender.
Quic.
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,
And not retire. Let me have your good Will.
Anne.
Good mother, do not marry me to yon fool.
Mrs. Page.
I mean it not, I seek you a better husband.
Quic.
That's my master, master Doctor.
Anne.
Alas, I had rather be set quick i'th' earth,
And bowl'd to death with turneps.
Mrs. Page.
Come, trouble not your self, 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, farewel, Sir; she must needs go in,
Her father will be angry.
[Ex. Mrs. Page and Anne.
Fent.
Farewel, gentle mistress; farewel, Nan.
Quic.
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.
Fent.
I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to night
Give my sweet Nan this ring: there's for thy pains.
[Exit.
Quic.
Now heav'n 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 Mr. Slender had
her; or, in sooth, I would Mr. 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
-- 276 --
for Mr. Fenton. Well, I must of another errand to Sir
John Falstaff from my two mistresses; what a beast am
I to slack it?
[Exit.
Lewis Theobald [1733], The works of Shakespeare: in seven volumes. Collated with the Oldest Copies, and Corrected; With notes, Explanatory and Critical; By Mr. Theobald (Printed for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch [and] J. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S11201].
