Quickly.
Shal.
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!
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.
-- 516 --
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 how things go, better than
I can; you may ask your father; here he comes.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].