Slender.
Slen.
I had rather than forty shillings, I had my book
of songs and sonnets here.
Enter Simple.
How now, Simple, where have you been? I must wait
on my self, must I? you have not the book of riddles
about you, have you?
Simp.
Book of riddles! why, did you not lend it to
Alice Shortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnight
afore Michaelmas.
-- 258 --
Shal.
Come, coz; come, coz; we stay for you: a
word with you, coz: marry this, coz: there is, as
'twere, a tender, a kind of tender, made afar off by
Sir Hugh here; do you understand me?
Slen.
Ay, Sir, you shall find me reasonable: if it
be so, I shall do that that is reason.
Shal.
Nay, but understand me.
Slen.
So I do, Sir.
Eva.
Give ear to his motions, Mr. Slender: I will
description the matter to you, if you be capacity
of it.
Slen.
Nay, I will do, as my cousin Shallow says: I
pray you, pardon me; he's a Justice of peace in his
country, simple tho' I stand here.
Eva.
But that is not the question; the question is
concerning your marriage.
Shal.
Ay, there's the point, Sir.
Eva.
Marry, is it; the very point of it, to Mrs.
Anne Page.
Slen.
Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any
reasonable demands.
Eva.
But can you affection the 'oman? let us command
to know that of your mouth, or of your lips;
for divers philosophers hold, that the lips is parcel of
the mind: therefore precisely, can you carry your good
Will to the maid?
Shal.
Cousin Abraham Slender, can you love her?
Slen.
I hope, Sir, I will do, as it shall become one
that would do reason.
Eva.
Nay, Got's lords and his ladies, you must
speak possitable, if you can carry her your desires towards
her.
Shal.
That you must; will you, upon good dowry,
marry her?
Slen.
I will do a greater thing than that upon your
request, cousin, in any reason.
-- 259 --
Shal.
Nay, conceive me, conceive me, sweet coz:
what I do, is to pleasure you, coz; can you love the
maid?
Slen.
I will marry her, Sir, at your request: but if
there be no great love in the beginning, yet heav'n
may decrease it upon better acquaintance, when we
are marry'd, and have more occasion to know one another:
I hope, upon familiarity 5 notewill grow more contempt:
but if you say, marry her, I will marry her,
that I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.
Eva.
It is a ferry discretion answer, save, the faul'
is in th'ort dissolutely: the ort is, according to our
meaning, resolutely; his meaning is good.
Shal.
Ay, I think, my cousin meant well.
Slen.
Ay, or else I would I might be hang'd, la.
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
