[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.
Fenton.
Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
Mrs. Page.
Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
Page.
She is no match for you.
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.
[Exeunt page, shallow, and slender.]
Quickly.
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 colours of my love
And not retire: let me have your good will.
Anne.
Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
Mrs. Page.
I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
Quickly.
That’s my master, Master doctor.
Anne.
Alas! I had rather be set quick i’ the
earth.
And bowl’d to death with turnips.
Mrs. 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.
Till then, farewell, sir: she must needs go in;
Her father will be angry.
Fenton.
Farewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan.
[Exeunt Mrs. Page and Anne.}
Quickly.
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.
Fenton.
I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-night
Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for
thy pains.
Quickly.
Now Heaven send thee good fortune!
[Exit Fenton.]
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 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!
[Exit.]
Scene 5. A room in the Garter Inn.
[Enter Falstaff and Bardolph.]
Falstaff.
Bardolph, I say,—
Bardolph.
Here, sir.