Ford. Marry, sir, we’ll bring you to Windsor, to one Master Brook, that you have cozened of money, to whom you should have been a pander: over and above that you have suffered, I think to repay that money will be a biting affliction.
Mrs. Ford.
Nay, husband, let that go to make amends;
Forget that sum, so we’ll all be friends.
Ford.
Well, here’s my hand: all is forgiven at
last.
Page. Yet be cheerful, knight; thou shalt eat a posset tonight at my house; where I will desire thee to laugh at my wife, that now laughs at thee. Tell her, Master Slender hath married her daughter.
Mrs. Page. [Aside] Doctors doubt that; if Anne Page be my daughter, she is, by this, Doctor Caius’ wife.
[Enter slender.]
Slender.
Whoa, ho! ho! father Page!
Page.
Son, how now! how now, son! have you dispatched?
Slender.
Dispatched! I’ll make the best in Gloucestershire
know on’t;
would I were hanged, la, else!
Page.
Of what, son?
Slender. I came yonder at Eton to marry Mistress Anne Page, and she’s a great lubberly boy: if it had not been i’ the church, I would have swinged him, or he should have swinged me. If I did not think it had been Anne Page, would I might never stir! and ’tis a postmaster’s boy.
Page.
Upon my life, then, you took the wrong.
Slender. What need you tell me that? I think so, when I took a boy for a girl. If I had been married to him, for all he was in woman’s apparel, I would not have had him.
Page.
Why, this is your own folly. Did not I tell you
how you should
know my daughter by her garments?
Slender. I went to her in white and cried ‘mum’ and she cried ‘budget’ as Anne and I had appointed; and yet it was not Anne, but a postmaster’s boy.
Evans.
Jeshu! Master Slender, cannot you see put marry
poys?
Page.
O I am vexed at heart: what shall I do?
Mrs. Page. Good George, be not angry: I knew of your purpose; turned my daughter into green; and, indeed, she is now with the doctor at the deanery, and there married.
[Enter doctor caius.]
Caius. Vere is Mistress Page? By gar, I am cozened; I ha’ married un garcon, a boy; un paysan, by gar, a boy; it is not Anne Page; by gar, I am cozened.
Mrs. Page.
Why, did you take her in green?
Caius.
Ay, by gar, and ’tis a boy: by gar, I’ll
raise all Windsor.
[Exit.]
Ford.
This is strange. Who hath got the right Anne?
Page.
My heart misgives me; here comes Master Fenton.
[Enter Fenton and Anne page.]