Fal. Well, I am your theme; you have the start of me; I am dejected; I am not able to answer the Welch flannel; ignorance itself is a plummet o'er me: use me as you will. Ford. Marry, sir, we'll bring you to Windsor, to one Master Brook, that you cozen'd of money, to whom you should have been a pander: over and above that you have suffer'd, I think, to repay that money will be a biting affliction. Mrs. Ford. Nay, husband, let that go to make amends: Forgive that sum, and so we'll all be friends. Ford. Well, here's my hand; all's forgiven at last. Page. Yet be cheerful, knight: thou shalt eat a posset to-night at my house; where I will desire thee to laugh at my wife, that now laughs at thee: Tell her, Master Slender hath married her daughter. Mrs. Page. Doctors doubt that; if Anne Page be my daughter, she is, by this, Doctor Caius' wife. Enter SLENDER. Slen. Whoo, ho! ho! father Page! [Aside. Page. Son! how now? how now, son? have despatch'd? you Slen. Despatch'd!—I'll make the best in Glostershire know on't; would I were hang'd, la, else. Page. Of what, son? Slen. I came yonder at Eton to marry Mistress Anne Page, and she's a great lubberly boy: If it had not been i'the church, I would have swing'd him, or he should have swing'd me. If I did not think it had been Anne Page, would I might never stir, and 'tis a post-master's boy. Page. Upon my life, then you took the wrong. Slen. What need you tell me that? I think so, when I took a boy for a girl: If I had been married to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him. Page. Why, this is your own folly. Did not I tell you, how you should know my daughter by her gar ments? Slen. I went to her in white, and cry'd, mum, and she cry'd budget, as Anne and I had appointed; and yet it was not Anne, but a post-master's boy. [Exit SLENDER. Mrs. Page. Good George, be not angry: I knew of your purpose; turn'd your daughter into green; and, indeed, she is now with the Doctor at the deanery, and there married. Enter CAIUS. Caius. Vere is Mistress Page? By gar, I am cozen'd; I ha' married un garçon, a boy; un paysan, by gar, a boy; it is not Anne Page: by gar, I am cozen'd. Mrs. Page. Why, did you not take her in green? Caius. Ay, be gar, and 'tis a boy be gar, I'll raise all Windsor. [Exit CAIUS. Ford. This is strange: Who hath got the right Anne ? Page. My heart misgives me: Here comes Master Fenton. Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE. How now, Master Fenton ? Anne. Pardon, good father! good my mother, pardon ! Page. Now, mistress? how chance you went not with Master Slender? Mrs. Page. Why went you not with Master Doctor, maid ? Fent. You do amaze her; Hear the truth of it. You would have married her, Where there was no proportion held in love. The truth is, She and I, long since contracted, A thousand irreligious cursed hours, Which forced marriage would have brought upon her. Ford. Stand not amaz'd: here is no remedy :In love, the Heavens themselves do guide the state;Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate. Fal. I am glad, though you have ta'en a special stand to strike at me, that your arrow hath glanc'd. Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, Heaven give thee joy! What cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac'd. Fal. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deer are chas'd. Mrs. Page. Well, I will muse no further :-Master Heaven give you many, many, merry days! Ford. Let it be so :-Sir John, To Master Brook you yet shall hold your word; [Exeunt Omnes. THE END. |