Another Room in the Garter Inn. | |
| |
Enter FENTON and Host. | |
| Host. Master Fenton, talk not to me: my mind is heavy; I will give over all. | |
| Fent. Yet hear me speak. Assist me in my purpose, | 4 |
| And, as I am a gentleman, I’ll give thee | |
| A hundred pound in gold more than your loss. | |
| Host. I will hear you, Master Fenton; and I will, at the least, keep your counsel. | |
| Fent. From time to time I have acquainted you | 8 |
| With the dear love I bear to fair Anne Page; | |
| Who, mutually hath answer’d my affection, | |
| So far forth as herself might be her chooser, | |
| Even to my wish. I have a letter from her | 12 |
| Of such contents as you will wonder at; | |
| The mirth whereof so larded with my matter, | |
| That neither singly can be manifested, | |
| Without the show of both; wherein fat Falstaff | 16 |
| Hath a great scare: the image of the jest | |
| I’ll show you here at large [Pointing to the Letter]. Hark, good mine host: | |
| To-night at Herne’s oak, just ’twixt twelve and one, | |
| Must my sweet Nan present the Fairy Queen; | 20 |
| The purpose why, is here: in which disguise, | |
| While other jests are something rank on foot, | |
| Her father hath commanded her to slip | |
| Away with Slender, and with him at Eton | 24 |
| Immediately to marry: she hath consented: | |
| Now, sir, | |
| Her mother, even strong against that match | |
| And firm for Doctor Caius, hath appointed | 28 |
| That he shall likewise shuffle her away, | |
| While other sports are tasking of their minds; | |
| And at the deanery, where a priest attends, | |
| Straight marry her: to this her mother’s plot | 32 |
| She, seemingly obedient, likewise hath | |
| Made promise to the doctor. Now, thus it rests: | |
| Her father means she shall be all in white, | |
| And in that habit, when Slender sees his time | 36 |
| To take her by the hand and bid her go, | |
| She shall go with him: her mother hath intended, | |
| The better to denote her to the doctor,— | |
| For they must all be mask’d and vizarded— | 40 |
| That quaint in green she shall be loose enrob’d, | |
| With ribands pendent, flaring ’bout her head; | |
| And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe, | |
| To pinch her by the hand; and on that token | 44 |
| The maid hath given consent to go with him. | |
| Host. Which means she to deceive, father or mother? | |
| Fent. Both, my good host, to go along with me: | |
| And here it rests, that you’ll procure the vicar | 48 |
| To stay for me at church ’twixt twelve and one, | |
| And, in the lawful name of marrying, | |
| To give our hearts united ceremony. | |
| Host. Well, husband your device; I’ll to the vicar. | 52 |
| Bring you the maid, you shall not lack a priest. | |
| Fent. So shall I evermore be bound to thee; | |
| Besides, I’ll make a present recompense. [Exeunt. | |
