ther's love;
Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.

_Anne._ Alas, how then?

_Fent._ Why, thou must be thyself.
He doth object I am too great of birth;
And that, my state being gall'd with my expense, 5
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. 10

_Anne._ May be he tells you true.

_Fent._ 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 15
Than stamps in gold or sums in sealed bags;
And 'tis the very riches of thyself
That now I aim at.

_Anne._ Gentle Master Fenton,
Yet seek my father's love; still seek it, sir:
If opportunity and humblest suit 20
Cannot attain it, why, then,--hark you hither!
[_They converse apart._

_Enter SHALLOW, SLENDER, and MISTRESS QUICKLY._

_Shal._ Break their talk, Mistress Quickly: my kinsman
shall speak for himself.

_Sle._ I'll make a shaft or a bolt on't: 'slid, 'tis but
venturing. 25

_Shal._ Be not dismayed.

_Slen._ No, she shall not dismay me: I care not for
that, but that I am afeard.

_Quick._ Hark ye; Master Slender would speak a word
with you. 30

_Anne._ I come to him. [_Aside_] This is my father's choice.
O, what a world of vile ill-favour'd faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a-year!

_Quick._ And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you,
a word with you. 35

_Shal._ She's coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst
a father!

_Slen._ 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, 40
good uncle.

_Shal._ Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.

_Slen._ Ay, that I do; as well as I love any woman in
Gloucestershire.

_Shal._ He will maintain you like a gentlewoman. 45

_Slen._ Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under
the degree of a squire.

_Shal._ He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds
jointure.

_Anne._ Good Ma