A Room in Page's House.
 Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE.

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

Anne	Alas, how then?

Fenton						Why, thou must be thyself.
	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-
	And tells me 'tis a thing impossible
	I should love thee but as a property.

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
	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 seald 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
	Cannot attain it, why then - hark you hither!
												[They converse apart.

               Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER and MISTRESS QUICKLY.

Shallow	Break their talk, Mistress Quickly. My kinsman shall speak 
	for himself.

Slender	I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't. 'Slid, 'tis but 
	venturing.

Shallow	Be not dismayed.

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

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-favoured faults
	Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!

Quickly	And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with 
	you.

Shallow	She's coming. To her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!

Slender	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.

Slender	Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in 
	Gloucestershire.

Shallow	He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.

Slender	Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under the degree 
	of a squire.

Shallow	He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.

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.

Anne	Now, Master Slender.

Slender	Now, good Mistress Anne.

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 am not such a 
	sickly creature, I give heaven praise.

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 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.

                      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.

Fenton	Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.

Mistress 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.

Mistress 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'th'earth,
	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.
	Till then, farewell, sir: she must needs go in;
	Her father will be angry.

Fenton	Farewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan.
									 [Exeunt MISTRESS 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 tonight
	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.
