First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Enter Fenton, Anne, Page, Shallow, Slender, Quickly, Page, Mist. Page. | Enter Fenton and Anne Page | | MW III.iv.1 | |
Fen: | FENTON | | | |
I see I cannot get thy Fathers loue, | I see I cannot get thy father's love; | | MW III.iv.1 | |
Therefore no more turne me to him (sweet Nan.) | Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan. | turn (v.)direct, point, refer | MW III.iv.2 | |
Anne. | ANNE | | | |
Alas, how then? | Alas, how then? | | MW III.iv.3.1 | |
Fen. | FENTON | | | |
Why thou must be thy selfe. | Why, thou must be thyself. | | MW III.iv.3.2 | |
He doth obiect, I am too great of birth, | He doth object I am too great of birth, | | MW III.iv.4 | |
And that my state being gall'd with my expence, | And that, my state being galled with my expense, | expense (n.)extravagance, expenditure, spending | MW III.iv.5 | |
| | state (n.)estate, property, wealth, means | | |
| | gall (v.)chafe, rub, make sore | | |
I seeke to heale it onely by his wealth. | I seek to heal it only by his wealth. | | MW III.iv.6 | |
Besides these, other barres he layes before me, | Besides these, other bars he lays before me – | bar (n.)objection, impediment | MW III.iv.7 | |
My Riots past, my wilde Societies, | My riots past, my wild societies; | wild (adj.)erratic, irregular, unruly | MW III.iv.8 | |
| | society (n.)companionship, fellowship, association | | |
And tels me 'tis a thing impossible | And tells me 'tis a thing impossible | | MW III.iv.9 | |
I should loue thee, but as a property. | I should love thee but as a property. | property (n.)means to an end, commercial asset | MW III.iv.10 | |
An. | ANNE | | | |
May be he tels you true. | Maybe he tells you true. | | MW III.iv.11 | |
| FENTON | | | |
No, heauen so speed me in my time to come, | No, heaven so speed me in my time to come! | speed (v.)meet with success, prosper, flourish | MW III.iv.12 | |
Albeit I will confesse, thy Fathers wealth | Albeit, I will confess, thy father's wealth | | MW III.iv.13 | |
Was the first motiue that I woo'd thee (Anne:) | Was the first motive that I wooed thee, Anne; | | MW III.iv.14 | |
Yet wooing thee, I found thee of more valew | Yet, wooing thee, I found thee of more value | | MW III.iv.15 | |
Then stampes in Gold, or summes in sealed bagges: | Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags. | stamp (n.)coin, impression [of the monarch's head] made on a coin | MW III.iv.16 | |
And 'tis the very riches of thy selfe, | And 'tis the very riches of thyself | very (adj.)true, real, genuine | MW III.iv.17 | |
That now I ayme at. | That now I aim at. | | MW III.iv.18.1 | |
An. | ANNE | | | |
Gentle M. Fenton, | Gentle Master Fenton, | gentle (adj.)courteous, friendly, kind | MW III.iv.18.2 | |
Yet seeke my Fathers loue, still seeke it sir, | Yet seek my father's love, still seek it, sir. | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | MW III.iv.19 | |
If opportunity and humblest suite | If opportunity and humblest suit | suit (n.)formal request, entreaty, petition | MW III.iv.20 | |
Cannot attaine it, why then harke you hither. | Cannot attain it, why then – hark you hither. | | MW III.iv.21 | |
| They talk aside | | MW III.iv.22.1 | |
| Enter Shallow, Slender, and Mistress Quickly | | MW III.iv.22.2 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
Breake their talke Mistris Quickly, / My Kinsman | Break their talk, Mistress Quickly. My kinsman | break (v.)interrupt, break in on, cut in on | MW III.iv.22 | |
shall speake for himselfe. | shall speak for himself. | | MW III.iv.23 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
Ile make a shaft or a bolt on't, slid, tis but | I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't. 'Slid, 'tis but | shaft (n.)[long and slender] arrow | MW III.iv.24 | |
| | 'slid (int.)[oath] God's eyelid | | |
| | bolt (n.)[short and thick, crossbow] arrow | | |
venturing. | venturing. | | MW III.iv.25 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
Be not dismaid. | Be not dismayed. | | MW III.iv.26 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
No, she shall not dismay me: / I care not for | No, she shall not dismay me. I care not for | | MW III.iv.27 | |
that, but that I am affeard. | that, but that I am afeard. | afeard (adj.)afraid, frightened, scared | MW III.iv.28 | |
Qui. | MISTRESS QUICKLY | | | |
| (to Anne) | | MW III.iv.29 | |
Hark ye, M. Slender | Hark ye, Master Slender | | MW III.iv.29 | |
would speak a word with you | would speak a word with you. | | MW III.iv.30 | |
An. | ANNE | | | |
I come to him. This is my Fathers choice: | I come to him. (Aside) This is my father's choice. | | MW III.iv.31 | |
O what a world of vilde ill-fauour'd faults | O, what a world of vile ill-favoured faults | ill-favoured (adj.)ugly, unattractive, unsightly | MW III.iv.32 | |
Lookes handsome in three hundred pounds a yeere? | Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year! | | MW III.iv.33 | |
Qui. | MISTRESS QUICKLY | | | |
And how do's good Master Fenton? | And how does good Master Fenton? | | MW III.iv.34 | |
Pray you a word with you. | Pray you, a word with you. | | MW III.iv.35 | |
| They talk aside | | MW III.iv.36 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
Shee's comming; to her Coz: / O boy, thou hadst | She's coming. To her, coz. O boy, thou hadst | | MW III.iv.36 | |
a father. | a father! | | MW III.iv.37 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
I had a father (M. An) my vncle can | I had a father, Mistress Anne. My uncle can | | MW III.iv.38 | |
tel you good iests of him: pray you Vncle, tel Mist. | tell you good jests of him. Pray you, uncle, tell Mistress | | MW III.iv.39 | |
Anne the iest how my Father stole two Geese out of a Pen, | Anne the jest how my father stole two geese out of a pen, | | MW III.iv.40 | |
good Vnckle. | good uncle. | | MW III.iv.41 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
Mistris Anne, my Cozen loues you. | Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you. | | MW III.iv.42 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
I that I do, as well as I loue any woman in | Ay, that I do, as well as I love any woman in | | MW III.iv.43 | |
Glocestershire. | Gloucestershire. | | MW III.iv.44 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
He will maintaine you like a Gentlewoman. | He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. | | MW III.iv.45 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
I that I will, come cut and long-taile, vnder | Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under | come cut and long tail[whether a horse or dog has its tail docked or not] whatever happens, come what may | MW III.iv.46 | |
the degree of a Squire. | the degree of a squire. | degree (n.)rank, station, standing | MW III.iv.47 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
He will make you a hundred and fiftie pounds | He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds | | MW III.iv.48 | |
ioynture. | jointure. | jointure (n.)marriage settlement, part of a husband's estate due to his widow | MW III.iv.49 | |
Anne. | ANNE | | | |
Good Maister Shallow let him woo for himselfe. | Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself. | | MW III.iv.50 | |
Shal. | SHALLOW | | | |
Marrie I thanke you for it: I thanke you for that | Marry, I thank you for it; I thank you for that | marry (int.)[exclamation] by Mary | MW III.iv.51 | |
good comfort: she cals you (Coz) Ile leaue you. | good comfort. She calls you, coz. I'll leave you. | | MW III.iv.52 | |
Anne. | ANNE | | | |
Now Master Slender. | Now, Master Slender – | | MW III.iv.53 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
Now good Mistris Anne. | Now, good Mistress Anne – | | MW III.iv.54 | |
Anne. | ANNE | | | |
What is your will? | What is your will? | | MW III.iv.55 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
My will? Odd's-hart-lings, that's a prettie iest | My will? 'Od's heartlings, that's a pretty jest | heartlings (n.)dear heart | MW III.iv.56 | |
| | 'Od[in emphatic expressions] shortened form of 'God' | | |
indeede: I ne're made my Will yet (I thanke Heauen:) I am | indeed! I ne'er made my will yet, I thank heaven. I am | | MW III.iv.57 | |
not such a sickely creature, I giue Heauen praise. | not such a sickly creature, I give heaven praise. | | MW III.iv.58 | |
Anne. | ANNE | | | |
I meane (M. Slender) what wold you with me? | I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me? | | MW III.iv.59 | |
Slen. | SLENDER | | | |
Truely, for mine owne part, I would little or | Truly, for mine own part, I would little or | | MW III.iv.60 | |
nothing with you: your father and my vncle hath made | nothing with you. Your father and my uncle hath made | | MW III.iv.61 | |
motions: if it be my lucke, so; if not, happy man bee his | motions. If it be my luck, so; if not, happy man be his | motion (n.)proposal, proposition, suggestion, offer | MW III.iv.62 | |
dole, they can tell you how things go, better then I can: | dole. They can tell you how things go better than I can. | dole, happy man be hisdestiny, fate, lot | MW III.iv.63 | |
you may aske your father, heere he comes. | You may ask your father; here he comes. | | MW III.iv.64 | |
| Enter Page and Mistress Page | | MW III.iv.65 | |
Page. | PAGE | | | |
Now Mr Slender; Loue him daughter Anne. | Now, Master Slender. Love him, daughter Anne – | | MW III.iv.65 | |
Why how now? What does Mr Fenter here? | Why, how now? What does Master Fenton here? | | MW III.iv.66 | |
You wrong me Sir, thus still to haunt my house. | You wrong me, sir, thus still to haunt my house. | still (adv.)ever, now [as before] | MW III.iv.67 | |
I told you Sir, my daughter is disposd of. | I told you, sir, my daughter is disposed of. | | MW III.iv.68 | |
Fen. | FENTON | | | |
Nay Mr Page, be not impatient. | Nay, Master Page, be not impatient. | | MW III.iv.69 | |
Mist. Page. | MISTRESS PAGE | | | |
Good M. Fenton. come not to my child. | Good Master Fenton, come not to my child. | | MW III.iv.70 | |
Page. | PAGE | | | |
She is no match for you. | She is no match for you. | | MW III.iv.71 | |
Fen. | FENTON | | | |
Sir, will you heare me? | Sir, will you hear me? | | MW III.iv.72.1 | |
Page. | PAGE | | | |
No, good M. Fenton. | No, good Master Fenton. | | MW III.iv.72.2 | |
Come M. Shallow: Come sonne Slender, in; | Come, Master Shallow, come, son Slender, in. | | MW III.iv.73 | |
Knowing my minde, you wrong me (M. Fenton.) | Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton. | | MW III.iv.74 | |
| Exeunt Page, Shallow, and Slender | | MW III.iv.74 | |
Qui. | MISTRESS QUICKLY | | | |
Speake to Mistris Page. | Speak to Mistress Page. | | MW III.iv.75 | |
Fen. | FENTON | | | |
Good Mist. Page, for that I loue your daughter | Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter | | MW III.iv.76 | |
In such a righteous fashion as I do, | In such a righteous fashion as I do, | | MW III.iv.77 | |
Perforce, against all checkes, rebukes, and manners, | Perforce, against all checks, rebukes, and manners, | check (n.)reprimand, reproof, rebuke | MW III.iv.78 | |
| | perforce (adv.)of necessity, with no choice in the matter | | |
I must aduance the colours of my loue, | I must advance the colours of my love | colours (n.)battle-flags, ensigns, standards, banners | MW III.iv.79 | |
| | advance (v.)display, present, promote | | |
And not retire. Let me haue your good will. | and not retire. Let me have your good will. | | MW III.iv.80 | |
An. | ANNE | | | |
Good mother, do not marry me to yond foole. | Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool. | | MW III.iv.81 | |
Mist. Page. | MISTRESS PAGE | | | |
I meane it not, I seeke you a better husband. | I mean it not – I seek you a better husband. | mean (v.)intend, purpose, mean to act | MW III.iv.82 | |
Qui. | MISTRESS QUICKLY | | | |
That's my master, M. Doctor. | That's my master, Master Doctor. | | MW III.iv.83 | |
An. | ANNE | | | |
Alas I had rather be set quick i'th earth, | Alas, I had rather be set quick i'th' earth, | quick (adj.)living, vital, full of life | MW III.iv.84 | |
And bowl'd to death with Turnips. | And bowled to death with turnips. | | MW III.iv.85 | |
Mist. Page. | MISTRESS PAGE | | | |
Come, trouble not your selfe good M. Fenton, | Come, trouble not yourself. Good Master Fenton, | | MW III.iv.86 | |
I will not be your friend, nor enemy: | I will not be your friend, nor enemy. | | MW III.iv.87 | |
My daughter will I question how she loues you, | My daughter will I question how she loves you, | | MW III.iv.88 | |
And as I finde her, so am I affected: | And as I find her, so am I affected. | affected (adj.)disposed, inclined, minded | MW III.iv.89 | |
Till then, farewell Sir, she must needs go in, | Till then, farewell, sir. She must needs go in; | | MW III.iv.90 | |
Her father will be angry. | Her father will be angry. | | MW III.iv.91 | |
Fen. | FENTON | | | |
Farewell gentle Mistris: farewell Nan. | Farewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan. | gentle (adj.)courteous, friendly, kind | MW III.iv.92 | |
| Exeunt Mistress Page and Anne | | MW III.iv.92 | |
Qui. | MISTRESS QUICKLY | | | |
This is my doing now: Nay, saide | This is my doing now. ‘ Nay,’ said | | MW III.iv.93 | |
I, will you cast away your childe on a Foole, and a | I, ‘ will you cast away your child on a fool, and a | | MW III.iv.94 | |
Physitian: Looke on M. Fenton, this is my doing. | physician? Look on Master Fenton.’ This is my doing. | | MW III.iv.95 | |
Fen. | FENTON | | | |
I thanke thee: and I pray thee once to night, | I thank thee, and I pray thee once tonight | once (adv.)some time, at a convenient point | MW III.iv.96 | |
Giue my sweet Nan this Ring: there's for thy paines. | Give my sweet Nan this ring. There's for thy pains. | | MW III.iv.97 | |
Qui. | MISTRESS QUICKLY | | | |
Now heauen send thee good | Now heaven send thee good | | MW III.iv.98 | |
fortune, | fortune! | | MW III.iv.99 | |
| Exit Fenton | | MW III.iv.99 | |
a kinde heart he hath: a woman would run through fire | A kind heart he hath. A woman would run through fire | | MW III.iv.100 | |
& water for such a kinde heart. But yet, I would my | and water for such a kind heart. But yet I would my | | MW III.iv.101 | |
Maister had Mistris Anne, or I would M. Slender | master had Mistress Anne; or I would Master Slender | | MW III.iv.102 | |
had her: or (in sooth) I would M. Fenton had her; | had her; or, in sooth, I would Master Fenton had her. | sooth (n.)truth [in exclamations, emphasizing an assertion] | MW III.iv.103 | |
I will do what I can for them all three, for so I haue | I will do what I can for them all three, for so I have | | MW III.iv.104 | |
promisd, and Ile bee as good as my word, but speciously | promised, and I'll be as good as my word – but speciously | speciously (adv.)malapropism for ‘specially’ | MW III.iv.105 | |
for M. Fenton. Well, I must of another errand to Sir | for Master Fenton. Well, I must of another errand to Sir | | MW III.iv.106 | |
Iohn Falstaffe from my two Mistresses: what a beast am | John Falstaff from my two mistresses. What a beast am | | MW III.iv.107 | |
I to slacke it. | I to slack it! | slack (v.)put off, neglect, postpone | MW III.iv.108 | |
Exeunt | Exit | | MW III.iv.108 | |