The Merry Wives of Windsor Translation Act 3, Scene 4
Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE
FENTON
I see I cannot get thy father's love;Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
FENTON
I see that I can't get your father to approve of me, so don't ask me to speak with him again, sweet Nan.
ANNE PAGE
Alas, how then?
ANNE PAGE
Oh dear, what will we do then?
FENTON
Why, thou must be thyself. He doth object I am too great of birth—, And that, my state being gall'd 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.
FENTON
Well, you have to make your own choice. He objects that my social class is too high. He's also afraid that, since I'm in trouble from spending too much, my only goal is to help myself by getting hold of his money. Besides that, he also objects to my wild behavior in my youth and my wild companions, and he says that it's impossible that I could love you except as a source of income.
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May be he tells you true.
ANNE PAGE
Maybe what he says is 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 woo'd 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.
FENTON
No, I swear by my future salvation in heaven! I admit that your father's money was the reason I wanted to marry you at first, Anne. Still, when I started wooing you, I learned that you are worth more than gold coins or bags of money. What I want now is you, yourself.
ANNE PAGE
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!
ANNE PAGE
Good Master Fenton, I'd still like to you to try and get my father's approval. Keep trying, sir. If you can't get his approval even if you have a good opportunity to ask and you ask very humbly, well—come back and talk to me then.
They converse apart
Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY
SHALLOW
Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman shallspeak for himself.
SHALLOW
Interrupt their conversation, Mistress Quickly. My nephew wants to speak to her himself.
SLENDER
I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: 'slid, 'tis butventuring.
SLENDER
I'll speak to her one way or another. Good grief, I just have to give it a try.
SHALLOW
Be not dismayed.
SHALLOW
Don't be discouraged.
SLENDER
No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for that,but that I am afeard.
SLENDER
No, she won't discourage me. I don't care about that, except that I'm nervous.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word with you.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
Hey there, Master Slender would like to speak with you.
ANNE PAGE
I come to him.
ANNE PAGE
I'm coming.
Aside
ANNE PAGE
This is my father's choice.O, what a world of vile ill-favor'd faultsLooks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!
ANNE PAGE
This is the man my father wants me to marry. Even someone full of repulsive flaws can seem attractive if he has an income of three hundred pounds a year!
MISTRESS QUICKLY
And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
And how are you, good Master Fenton? Please, let me speak to you for a moment.
SHALLOW
She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!
SHALLOW
She's coming. Go up to her, nephew. Come on, you had a father—be a man!
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.
SLENDER
I had a father, Mistress Anne, my uncle can tell you funny stories about him. Please, uncle, tell Mistress Anne that funny story about how my father stole two geese from a pen, good uncle.
SHALLOW
Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
SHALLOW
Mistress Anne, my nephew loves you.
SLENDER
Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman inGloucestershire.
SLENDER
Yes, I do, as much as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
SHALLOW
He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
SHALLOW
He will support you financially as if you were a gentlewoman.
SLENDER
Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under thedegree of a squire.
SLENDER
Yes, I will, no matter what, as if I had the rank of a squire.
SHALLOW
He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.
SHALLOW
He will agree to leave you one hundred and fifty pounds after he dies.
ANNE PAGE
Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
ANNE PAGE
Good Master Shallow, let him speak for himself.
SHALLOW
Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that goodcomfort. She calls you, coz: I'll leave you.
SHALLOW
Well now, I thank for that, I thank you for those comforting words. She wants to speak to you, nephew. I'll leave you.
ANNE PAGE
Now, Master Slender,—
ANNE PAGE
Now, Master Slender—
SLENDER
Now, good Mistress Anne,—
SLENDER
Now, good Mistress Anne—
ANNE PAGE
What is your will?
ANNE PAGE
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.
SLENDER
My will! By God, that's a funny thing to say! I haven't made my will yet, thank God. I'm not so sick that I'm close to dying, thank God.
ANNE PAGE
I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
ANNE PAGE
I mean, what do you want with me, Master Slender?
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.
SLENDER
Honestly, speaking for myself, I don't want anything from you. Your father and my uncle have come up with a plan for us to marry. If it's my luck to marry you, I'll take it. If not, good luck to everyone! They can tell you what's going on better than I can. You can 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.
PAGE
Now, Master Slender—love him, daughter Anne. Why, what's going on here? What's Master Fenton doing here? It's wrong of you to keep hanging around my house. I told you, my daughter's already engaged.
FENTON
Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
FENTON
Now, Master Page, don't get upset.
MISTRESS PAGE
Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
MISTRESS PAGE
Good Master Fenton, don't come here to see my daughter.
PAGE
She is no match for you.
PAGE
She's not going to marry you.
FENTON
Sir, will you hear me?
FENTON
Sir, will you listen to me?
PAGE
No, good Master Fenton.Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in.Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
PAGE
No, good Master Fenton. Come in, son-in-law Slender, come in. Since you know my decision, your behavior is inappropriate, Master Fenton.
Exeunt PAGE, SHALLOW, and SLENDER
MISTRESS QUICKLY
Speak to Mistress Page.
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 cheques, rebukes and manners, I must advance the colours of my love And not retire: let me have your good will.
FENTON
Good Mistress Page, because I love your daughter with such honorable intentions, I can't help trying to win her, in spite of restraints, disapproval, and other people's behavior. I can't back down. Please support me.
ANNE PAGE
Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
ANNE PAGE
Good mother, don't let me marry that fool over there.
MISTRESS PAGE
I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
MISTRESS PAGE
I don't want you to. I'm looking for a better husband for you.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
That's my master, master doctor.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
That's my master, Master Doctor Caius.
ANNE PAGE
Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earthAnd bowl'd to death with turnips!
ANNE PAGE
Oh no, I'd rather be half-buried in the earth and have people kill me by bowling at my head 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.
MISTRESS PAGE
Come on, don't get upset. Good Master Fenton, I won't decide ahead of time to work either for you or against you. Instead, I'll ask my daughter if she loves you, and I'll go along with whatever she wants. Until then, good-bye, sir. She has to come inside, or her father will get upset.
FENTON
Farewell, gentle mistress: farewell, Nan.
FENTON
Good-bye, good lady. Good-bye, Nan.
Exeunt MISTRESS PAGE and ANNE PAGE
MISTRESS QUICKLY
This is my doing, now: 'Nay,' said I, 'will you castaway your child on a fool, and a physician? Look onMaster Fenton:' this is my doing.
MISTRESS QUICKLY
I brought this about, you see. "No," I said, "will you throw away your child on a fool, and a doctor? Think about Master Fenton." I brought this about.
FENTON
I thank thee; and I pray thee, once to-nightGive my sweet Nan this ring: there's for thy pains.
FENTON
Thank you, and please, at some point tonight, give my sweet Nan this ring. [He hands her a ring] And here's something for your troubles. [He hands her money]
MISTRESS QUICKLY
Now heaven send thee good fortune!
MISTRESS QUICKLY
I hope God blesses you!
Exit FENTON
MISTRESS QUICKLY
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!
MISTRESS QUICKLY
He has a kind heart. A woman would endure any pains for a man with such a kind heart. But I still wish that my master would marry Mistress Anne; or I wish that Master Slender would marry her; or, in fact, I wish Master Fenton would marry her. I'll do what I can to help all three of them, because I've promised to do so and I'll keep my promise, but I'll especially help Master Fenton. Well, I have to take another message to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses. It's terrible of me to delay!
Exit
