Act 3, Scene 4

Original Text

*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.

Modern English

*A room in Page's house. Fenton and Anne Page enter.* FENTON. I can see I'll never win your father over. So stop trying to send me back to him, sweet Nan.

Original Text

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.

Modern English

ANNE. Oh no — then what do we do? FENTON. You have to take matters into your own hands. He objects that my birth is too high above yours, and that since my fortune has been eaten up by my spending, I'm only chasing him for his money. On top of all that, he throws other charges at me: my wild past, my disreputable company — and he tells me it's simply impossible that I could love you for anything but what you're worth.

Original Text

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 sealed bags. And 'tis the very riches of thyself That now I aim at.

Modern English

ANNE. Maybe he's telling you the truth. FENTON. No — God help me, I swear it on my future! I'll admit your father's wealth was what first drew me to court you, Anne. But in the courting, I found you worth far more than coined gold or heavy bags of money. It's the wealth of who you are that I'm after now.

Original Text

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 talk apart._]

Modern English

ANNE. Dear Master Fenton, still try for my father's goodwill — keep trying. If patience and the most humble appeal can't win him, then — come closer, listen. [_They move aside and speak privately._]

Original Text

*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.

Modern English

*Shallow, Slender, and Mistress Quickly enter.* SHALLOW. Break in on them, Mistress Quickly. My nephew here will speak for himself. SLENDER. I'll take a shot at it one way or another. Lord, it's just a matter of trying. SHALLOW. Don't lose your nerve. SLENDER. No, she won't put me off — I don't mind that part. It's just that I'm scared.

Original Text

MISTRESS QUICKLY. 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!

Modern English

MISTRESS QUICKLY. Excuse me — Master Slender would like a word with you. ANNE. I'll come to him. [_Aside_.] This is my father's idea of a match. Oh, how many ugly, wretched faults can look perfectly fine on three hundred pounds a year!

Original Text

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!

Modern English

MISTRESS QUICKLY. And how is dear Master Fenton keeping? Could I have a quick word? [_She draws Fenton aside._] SHALLOW. [_To Slender_.] She's coming over — go on, cousin, get in there. Oh boy, you had a father once!

Original Text

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.

Modern English

SLENDER. I did have a father, Mistress Anne — my uncle here can tell you some excellent stories about him. Uncle, please — tell Mistress Anne that wonderful story about how my father stole two geese from their pen. Do tell it, uncle.

Original Text

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.

Modern English

SHALLOW. Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you. SLENDER. That I do — as much as I love any woman in Gloucestershire. SHALLOW. He'll keep you in the style of a gentlewoman. SLENDER. That I will — whatever it takes, every last one of them, short of being a squire myself.

Original Text

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.

Modern English

SHALLOW. He'll settle a hundred and fifty pounds on you as a jointure. ANNE. Good Master Shallow, please let him speak for himself. SHALLOW. Well! Thank you for that, truly, thank you — that's very encouraging. She wants you to speak, cousin — I'll leave you to it.

Original Text

ANNE. Now, Master Slender. SLENDER. Now, good Mistress Anne. ANNE. What is your will?

Modern English

ANNE. Well, Master Slender. SLENDER. Well, good Mistress Anne. ANNE. What is it you want?

Original Text

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?

Modern English

SLENDER. My will? God's little heart, that's quite the joke! I haven't made my will yet, thank heaven — I'm not so sick as all that, praise God. ANNE. I mean, Master Slender — what do you want with me?

Original Text

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.

Modern English

SLENDER. Honestly, for my own part, I want very little to do with you at all. Your father and my uncle have put things in motion. If luck goes my way, fine; if not, let some other lucky fellow have the prize. They can explain it all better than I can. Ask your father — oh, here he comes now.

Original Text

*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.

Modern English

*Page and Mistress Page enter.* PAGE. Ah, Master Slender! — Love him, daughter Anne. — But wait — what is Master Fenton doing here? You do me wrong, sir, to keep haunting my house like this. I told you, my daughter is already spoken for.

Original Text

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._]

Modern English

FENTON. Please, Master Page — don't be so hasty. MISTRESS PAGE. Good Master Fenton, stay away from my child. PAGE. She is not a match for you. FENTON. Sir, will you just hear me out? PAGE. No, good Master Fenton. — Come, Master Shallow; come along, son Slender, inside. — You know my mind, and you wrong me by ignoring it, Master Fenton. [_Page, Shallow, and Slender exit._]

Original Text

MISTRESS 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.

Modern English

MISTRESS QUICKLY. Try Mistress Page. FENTON. Good Mistress Page — because I love your daughter with such genuine and honest feeling, I'm compelled, in spite of every obstacle, every rebuke, every rule of courtesy, to press my suit forward and not give up. Give me your blessing.

Original Text

ANNE. Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool. MISTRESS PAGE. I mean it not; I seek you a better husband. MISTRESS QUICKLY. That's my master, Master Doctor. ANNE. Alas, I had rather be set quick i' th' earth, And bowled to death with turnips.

Modern English

ANNE. Mother, please don't marry me off to that fool. MISTRESS PAGE. I have no intention of it — I have a better husband in mind for you. MISTRESS QUICKLY. That would be my master — Doctor Caius. ANNE. God help me, I'd sooner be buried alive and pelted to death with turnips.

Original Text

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._]

Modern English

MISTRESS PAGE. Now, don't trouble yourself, good Master Fenton — I'll be neither your ally nor your enemy in this. I'll ask my daughter plainly how she feels about you, and whatever I find, I'll go from there. Until then, farewell, sir. She has to go in; her father will be furious. FENTON. Farewell, dear lady. Farewell, Nan. [_Mistress Page and Anne exit._]

Original Text

MISTRESS 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.

Modern English

MISTRESS QUICKLY. This is all my doing, I'll have you know. "No," I said, "are you going to throw your daughter away on a fool of a doctor? Look at Master Fenton instead." This is my doing entirely. FENTON. I thank you for it — and I beg you, tonight, give my dear Nan this ring. And here's something for your trouble.

Original Text

MISTRESS 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._]

Modern English

MISTRESS QUICKLY. Heaven send you good luck! [_Fenton exits._] What a kind heart that man has. A woman would walk through fire and flood for a heart like that. And yet — I do wish my master Doctor Caius had Mistress Anne, or that Master Slender had her, or honestly, I do wish Master Fenton had her. I'll do whatever I can for all three of them, since I've promised as much, and I mean to keep my word — but especially for Master Fenton. Well, I've got another errand to run to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses. What a terrible person I am to let that slip! [_Exit._]

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Act 3, Scene 4

Act 3, Scene 4