The Merry Wives of Windsor Part 19

119: [Coming forward] Enter F. Rowe. [Starting from his concealment.

Capell.

124: _I love thee_] Ff Q3. _I love thee and none but thee_ (Q1 Q2) Malone.

125: [Gets ... linen.] Rowe.

128: _John! Robert_] _John Rugby_ Q3.

[Exit Robin.] Malone.

132: SCENE X. Pope.

134: _How now!_] _How now? who goes here?_ Halliwell (from Q1 Q2).

_How now! what's here?_ S. Verges conj.

140: [Exeunt ... basket.] Rowe.

144: [Locking the door.] Capell.

144, 145: _So, now uncape_] om. Pope. _So, now uncouple_ Hanmer.

155: SCENE XI. Pope.

159: _who_] _what_ Grant White (Ritson conj.).

170: _foolish_] F2 F3 F4. _foolis.h.i.+on_ F1 Q3. _foolish eye on--carry on_ Jackson conj.

174: _to-morrow, eight_] F1 Q3. _to-morrow by eight_ F2 F3 F4.

178: [Aside to Mrs Ford] Capell.

179: _You use..._] _I, I; peace;--You use..._ Theobald (from Q1 Q2).

180: _Ay, I_] _I, I_ F1 Q3 F2. _I, I, I_ F3 F4.

181: _you_] _me_ Capell conj.

188: _at the day of judgement_] F1 Q3. om. F2 F3 F4.

211: Theobald inserts (from Q1 Q2) Evans. _In your teeth: for shame!_

SCENE IV. _A room in PAGE'S house._

_Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE._

_Fent._ I see I cannot get thy father's love; Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.

_Anne._ Alas, how then?

_Fent._ Why, thou must be thyself.

He doth object I am too great of birth; And that, my state being gall'd with my expense, 5 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. 10

_Anne._ May be he tells you true.

_Fent._ No, 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 15 Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags; And 'tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at.

_Anne._ Gentle Master Fenton, Yet seek my father's love; still seek it, sir: If opportunity and humblest suit 20 Cannot attain it, why, then,--hark you hither!

[_They converse apart._

_Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY._

_Shal._ Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shall speak for himself.

_Sle._ I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: 'slid, 'tis but venturing. 25

_Shal._ Be not dismayed.

_Slen._ No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for that, but that I am afeard.

_Quick._ Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you. 30

_Anne._ I come to him. [_Aside_] This is my father's choice.

O, what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!

_Quick._ And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you. 35

_Shal._ She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!

_Slen._ 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, 40 good uncle.

_Shal._ Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.

_Slen._ Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in Gloucesters.h.i.+re.

_Shal._ He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. 45

_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. 50

_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? 55

_Slen._ My 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._ I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me? 60

_Slen._ Truly, 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. 65

_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 disposed of.

_Fent._ Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. 70

_Mrs Page._ Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.