Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 6
Another room in the Garter Inn.
Host : Master Fenton, talk not to me; my mind is heavy: I
[p]will give over
all.
Fenton : Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my purpose,
[p]And, as I am a
gentleman, I'll give thee
[p]A hundred pound in gold more than your
loss.
Host : I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will at the
[p]least keep your
counsel.
Fenton : From time to time I have acquainted you
[p]With the dear love I bear
to fair Anne Page;
[p]Who mutually hath answer'd my affection,
[p]So
far forth as herself might be her chooser,
[p]Even to my wish: I have
a letter from her
[p]Of such contents as you will wonder at;
[p]The
mirth whereof so larded with my matter,
[p]That neither singly can be
manifested,
[p]Without the show of both; fat Falstaff
[p]Hath a great
scene: the image of the jest
[p]I'll show you here at large. Hark,
good mine host.
[p]To-night at Herne's oak, just 'twixt twelve and
one,
[p]Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen;
[p]The purpose why,
is here: in which disguise,
[p]While other jests are something rank on
foot,
[p]Her father hath commanded her to slip
[p]Away with Slender
and with him at Eton
[p]Immediately to marry: she hath consented: Now,
sir,
[p]Her mother, ever strong against that match
[p]And firm for
Doctor Caius, hath appointed
[p]That he shall likewise shuffle her
away,
[p]While other sports are tasking of their minds,
[p]And at the
deanery, where a priest attends,
[p]Straight marry her: to this her
mother's plot
[p]She seemingly obedient likewise hath
[p]Made promise
to the doctor. Now, thus it rests:
[p]Her father means she shall be
all in white,
[p]And in that habit, when Slender sees his time
[p]To
take her by the hand and bid her go,
[p]She shall go with him: her
mother hath intended,
[p]The better to denote her to the
doctor,
[p]For they must all be mask'd and vizarded,
[p]That quaint in
green she shall be loose enrobed,
[p]With ribands pendent, flaring
'bout her head;
[p]And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe,
[p]To
pinch her by the hand, and, on that token,
[p]The maid hath given
consent to go with him.
Host : Which means she to deceive, father or mother?
Fenton : Both, my good host, to go along with me:
[p]And here it rests, that
you'll procure the vicar
[p]To stay for me at church 'twixt twelve and
one,
[p]And, in the lawful name of marrying,
[p]To give our hearts
united ceremony.
Host : Well, husband your device; I'll to the vicar:
[p]Bring you the maid,
you shall not lack a priest.
Fenton : So shall I evermore be bound to thee;
[p]Besides, I'll make a present
recompense.
Previous: Act 4 - Scene 5
Next: Act 5 - Scene 1
