No Fear Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor: Act 3 Scene 4

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The Merry Wives of Windsor

William Shakespeare

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Original Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE.	Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE.
FENTON I see I cannot get thy father’s love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.	FENTON I see I cannot get thy father’s love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
ANNE Alas, how then?	ANNE Alas, how then?
FENTON Why, thou must be thyself. 5 He doth object I am too great of birth, And that, my state being galled 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— 10 And tells me ’tis a thing impossible I should love thee but as a property.	FENTON Why, thou must be thyself. 5 He doth object I am too great of birth, And that, my state being galled 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— 10 And tells me ’tis a thing impossible I should love thee but as a property.
ANNE Maybe he tells you true.	ANNE Maybe he tells you true.
FENTON No, heaven so speed me in my time to come! Albeit I will confess thy father’s wealth 15 Was the first motive that I wooed thee, Anne, Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold or sums in sealèd bags. And ’tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at.	FENTON No, heaven so speed me in my time to come! Albeit I will confess thy father’s wealth 15 Was the first motive that I wooed thee, Anne, Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value Than stamps in gold or sums in sealèd bags. And ’tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at.
ANNE 20 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.	ANNE 20 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.
They talk aside.	They talk aside.
Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY.	Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY.
SHALLOW Break their talk, Mistress Quickly. My kinsman 25 shall speak for himself.	SHALLOW Break their talk, Mistress Quickly. My kinsman 25 shall speak for himself.
SLENDER I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on ’t. ’Slid, ’tis but venturing.	SLENDER I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on ’t. ’Slid, ’tis but venturing.
SHALLOW Be not dismayed.	SHALLOW Be not dismayed.
SLENDER No, she shall not dismay me. I care not for 30 that, but that I am afeard.	SLENDER No, she shall not dismay me. I care not for 30 that, but that I am afeard.
MISTRESS QUICKLY , to ANNE Hark ye, Master Slender would speak a word with you.	MISTRESS QUICKLY , to ANNE Hark ye, Master Slender would speak a word with you.
ANNE I come to him. (Aside.) This is my father’s choice. O, what a world of vile ill-favored faults 35 Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!	ANNE I come to him. (Aside.) This is my father’s choice. O, what a world of vile ill-favored faults 35 Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
MISTRESS QUICKLY And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. They talk aside.	MISTRESS QUICKLY And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. They talk aside.
SHALLOW , to SLENDER She’s coming. To her, coz! O boy, thou hadst a father!	SHALLOW , to SLENDER She’s coming. To her, coz! O boy, thou hadst a father!
SLENDER 40 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.	SLENDER 40 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.
SHALLOW Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.	SHALLOW Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
SLENDER 45 Ay, that I do, as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.	SLENDER 45 Ay, that I do, as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
SHALLOW He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.	SHALLOW He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
SLENDER Ay, that I will, come cut and longtail, under the degree of a squire.	SLENDER Ay, that I will, come cut and longtail, under the degree of a squire.
SHALLOW 50 He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.	SHALLOW 50 He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.
ANNE Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.	ANNE Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
SHALLOW Marry, I thank you for it. I thank you for that good comfort.—She calls you, coz. I’ll leave you.	SHALLOW Marry, I thank you for it. I thank you for that good comfort.—She calls you, coz. I’ll leave you.
He steps aside.	He steps aside.
ANNE 55 Now, Master Slender.	ANNE 55 Now, Master Slender.
SLENDER Now, good Mistress Anne.	SLENDER Now, good Mistress Anne.
ANNE What is your will?	ANNE What is your will?
SLENDER My will? ’Od’s heartlings, that’s a pretty jest indeed! I ne’er made my will yet, I thank heaven. I 60 am not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise.	SLENDER My will? ’Od’s heartlings, that’s a pretty jest indeed! I ne’er made my will yet, I thank heaven. I 60 am not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise.
ANNE I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?	ANNE I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
SLENDER Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing with you. Your father and my uncle hath 65 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. Enter PAGE and MISTRESS PAGE. Here he comes.	SLENDER Truly, for mine own part, I would little or nothing with you. Your father and my uncle hath 65 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. Enter PAGE and MISTRESS PAGE. Here he comes.
PAGE Now, Master Slender.—Love him, daughter Anne.— 70 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.	PAGE Now, Master Slender.—Love him, daughter Anne.— 70 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.
FENTON Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.	FENTON Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
MISTRESS PAGE Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.	MISTRESS PAGE Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
PAGE 75 She is no match for you.	PAGE 75 She is no match for you.
FENTON Sir, will you hear me?	FENTON 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.	PAGE No, good Master Fenton.— Come Master Shallow.—Come, son Slender, in.— Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
PAGE , SHALLOW, and SLENDER exit.	PAGE , SHALLOW, and SLENDER exit.
MISTRESS QUICKLY , to FENTON 80 Speak to Mistress Page.	MISTRESS QUICKLY , to FENTON 80 Speak to Mistress Page.
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 colors of my love 85 And not retire. Let me have your good will.	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 colors of my love 85 And not retire. Let me have your good will.
ANNE Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.	ANNE Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
MISTRESS PAGE I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.	MISTRESS PAGE I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
MISTRESS QUICKLY That’s my master, Master Doctor.	MISTRESS QUICKLY That’s my master, Master Doctor.
ANNE Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ th’ earth 90 And bowled to death with turnips!	ANNE Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ th’ earth 90 And bowled to death with turnips!
MISTRESS 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. 95 Till then, farewell, sir. She must needs go in; Her father will be angry.	MISTRESS 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. 95 Till then, farewell, sir. She must needs go in; Her father will be angry.
FENTON Farewell, gentle mistress.—Farewell, Nan.	FENTON Farewell, gentle mistress.—Farewell, Nan.
MISTRESS PAGE and ANNE PAGE exit.	MISTRESS PAGE and ANNE PAGE exit.
MISTRESS QUICKLY This is my doing now. “Nay,” said I, “will you cast away your child on a fool and a 100 physician? Look on Master Fenton.” This is my doing.	MISTRESS QUICKLY This is my doing now. “Nay,” said I, “will you cast away your child on a fool and a 100 physician? Look on Master Fenton.” This is my doing.
FENTON I thank thee; and I pray thee, once tonight Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for thy pains.	FENTON I thank thee; and I pray thee, once tonight Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for thy pains.
He gives her money and a ring.	He gives her money and a ring.
MISTRESS QUICKLY Now heaven send thee good fortune. FENTON exits. 105 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 110 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!	MISTRESS QUICKLY Now heaven send thee good fortune. FENTON exits. 105 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 110 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!
She exits.	She exits.