I see I cannot get thy father’s love;
Therefore no more turn me to him, sweet Nan.
I can see that I can't win over your father, so I won't ask you to go to him anymore, sweet Nan.
I can see your dad's never going to accept me, so I'm not going to ask you to keep going back to him.
can't win over your dad so i'm not asking you anymore
Alas, how then?
Alas, how then?
alas, how then?
alas, how then?
Why, thou must be thyself.
He doth object I am too great of birth,
And that my state being galled 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.
The reason is that you need to be yourself. Your father objects because I'm too high-born, and because my financial situation is damaged by my spending, so he thinks I only want to marry you for your family's money. Beyond that, he brings up other obstacles: my wild past, my reckless friends. He says it's impossible that I could love you as anything but a financial asset.
Here's the thing—you need to just be yourself. Your dad objects because I come from too high a social background, and my money's running out because I've spent it all, so he thinks I'm just trying to marry you to get rich again. And that's not even all his complaints. He brings up my wild past, my crazy friends, and he keeps saying there's no way I could actually love you for who you are—I must just see you as a means to money.
your dad says i'm too fancy and broke from partying and just want your cash there's more complaints too but he's wrong
Maybe he tells you true.
Maybe he's telling you the truth.
Maybe he's actually got a point.
maybe he's right
No, heaven so speed me in my time to come!
Albeit I will confess thy father’s wealth
Was the first motive that I wooed 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.
No, I swear by everything I hope for in my future! I will admit that your father's money was my first reason for courting you, but as I came to know you, I found you worth more than all the gold coins and sealed money bags in the world. It's you yourself—your own wealth of character—that I'm after now.
No, I swear to it. I'll be honest: your dad's money was definitely what got me interested at first. But once I actually got to know you, I realized you're worth way more than all the gold and treasure your family has. What I want now is just you—everything you are.
yeah money attracted me but getting to know you changed that you're worth more than gold i want you not your cash
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.
Master Fenton, listen. Keep trying to win my father's love, keep seeking it. If opportunity and the most humble appeal can't get you his approval, then listen closely to what I have to say.
Master Fenton, you need to keep trying to get my father to like you. If being nice and taking your chances doesn't work, then listen to me.
keep trying to win my dad over if nice doesn't work listen to what i'm saying
Break their talk, Mistress Quickly. My kinsman shall speak for himself.
Stop them from talking, Mistress Quickly. My cousin will speak for himself.
Cut them off, Mistress Quickly. Let my cousin say what he wants to say.
stop the chat let my cousin talk
I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on ’t. ’Slid, ’tis but venturing.
I'll take a shot at it—whether it works or not doesn't matter. By God, it's worth the risk.
I'll give it a try, might as well. Honestly, it's just about taking a chance.
gonna try no risk no reward
Be not dismayed.
Don't be discouraged.
Don't worry about it.
dont worry
No, she shall not dismay me. I care not for that, but that I am afeard.
No, she won't scare me. I don't care about that, except that I am actually afraid.
No, she won't intimidate me. I mean, I don't really care about that—except I'm actually scared out of my mind.
she won't scare me but yeah i'm terrified
Hark ye, Master Slender would speak a word with you.
Listen, Master Slender wants to speak a word with you.
Hey, Master Slender wants to say something to you.
master slender wants to talk to you
I come to him.
I'm coming to him.
I'm going to him.
coming
[_Aside_.] This is my father’s choice.
O, what a world of vile ill-favoured faults
Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
This is my father's choice. Oh, what a world of ugly, bad-looking faults look handsome in three hundred pounds a year!
Here's my father's pick. Oh, how much ugliness becomes attractive when there's three hundred pounds a year attached to it!
father's choice how faults look handsome for 300 pounds a year
And how does good Master Fenton? Pray you, a word with you.
And how is good Master Fenton doing? Please, may I have a word with you?
How's Master Fenton doing? Can I talk to you for a second?
how's fenton? can we talk?
Slender is wealthy — he has three hundred pounds to offer Anne as a settlement, which is real money. Yet Anne's contempt for him is absolute. Her aside, 'What a world of vile ill-favoured faults / Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year!' reveals the play's secret knowledge: money makes ugly things beautiful only temporarily. Anne can see through the illusion. Slender is not just unwilling or inarticulate; he is actively refusing to engage with her. His final speech — 'Truly, for mine own part I would little or nothing with you' — is the cruelest thing a suitor could say. He's offering her marriage, money, and absolutely nothing of himself. Fenton, meanwhile, has none of these things but he offers exactly what Slender refuses: attention, passion, and the recognition that Anne is worth more than money.
[_To Slender_.] She’s coming; to her, coz. O boy, thou hadst a father!
[To Slender] Here she comes; go to her, nephew. Oh, boy, remember what a father you had! Be bold like him!
[To Slender] She's heading over. Go get her, kid. Come on, your dad was a real character, so be like him!
she's coming, go!! ur dad was a legend channel him
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.
I had a father, Mistress Anne. My uncle can tell you funny stories about him. I ask you, uncle, tell Mistress Anne the story about how my father stole two geese from a pen, good uncle.
I had a father, Mistress Anne—my uncle's got some great stories about him. Uncle, come on, tell her the one about how my dad stole those two geese from the pen.
i had a dad uncle has funny stories tell her about the geese thing
Mistress Anne, my cousin loves you.
Mistress Anne, my cousin has developed genuine feelings for you.
Anne, my cousin really likes you.
he's into you
Ay, that I do, as well as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
Yes, I do, just as much as I love any woman in Gloucestershire.
Yeah, totally—I'm crazy about you, same as I am about any girl back home.
yeah i do love you as much as any girl in gloucestershire
He will maintain you like a gentlewoman.
He will keep you like a gentlewoman should be kept.
He'll take care of you like a lady.
he'll take good care of you
Ay, that I will, come cut and long-tail, under the degree of a squire.
Yes, absolutely, I'll support you like a squire's wife no matter the circumstances.
Yes, I will. I'll keep you comfortable and well-maintained, come what may.
yeah absolutely i'll support you no matter what
He will make you a hundred and fifty pounds jointure.
He will give you a hundred and fifty pounds as a guaranteed income.
He'll set you up with a hundred and fifty pounds that's yours for life.
150 pounds guaranteed for life
Good Master Shallow, let him woo for himself.
Master Shallow, let him court me for himself.
Master Shallow, I'd rather hear from him directly.
let him ask me himself
Marry, I thank you for it, I thank you for that good comfort.—She calls
you, coz; I’ll leave you.
I thank you for that, I thank you for the reassurance. She's calling you, cousin; I'll leave you now.
Well, thanks for that—I appreciate the support. She's calling you, cousin. I'm out of here.
thanks for that go talk to her i'm leaving
Now, Master Slender.
Now, Master Slender.
now, master slender.
now, master slender.
Now, good Mistress Anne.
Now then, Mistress Anne.
So, Mistress Anne.
ok mistress anne
What is your will?
What is your desire?
What do you need from me?
what's on your mind?
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.
My will? By God, that's a funny joke! I've never made a will, thank God. I'm not some sickly person, I'm glad to say.
My will? God, that's funny! I haven't made a will, thank goodness. I'm not some dying guy, trust me.
lol you're funny i'm not dying yet i'm healthy
I mean, Master Slender, what would you with me?
I mean, Master Slender, what do you want from me?
What I'm asking is, what do you want with me?
what do you want from me?
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.
Honestly, I don't really want anything from you myself. Your father and my uncle have made the arrangements. If I'm lucky, good; if not, well, whoever ends up with you should be lucky. They can explain this better than I can. You should ask your father. Here he comes now.
Look, honestly, I'm not really the one driving this. Your dad and my uncle made all the arrangements. Whatever happens happens. They can explain it better than me anyway. Ask your father about it—here he is now.
your dad and my uncle set this up no pressure ask your dad he's here
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.
Now, Master Slender. Love him, daughter Anne. Why, what's this? What is Master Fenton doing here? You offend me, sir, by always haunting my house. I told you, sir, my daughter is already promised.
Ah, Master Slender. Love him, Anne. Wait—what's Fenton doing here? You're insulting me by keep coming to my house. I already told you—my daughter is spoken for.
love him anne why is fenton here stop coming to my house my daughter is already promised
Nay, Master Page, be not impatient.
No, Master Page, don't be impatient.
Master Page, just give it a moment.
don't be impatient
Mistress Quickly appears in this scene promising to help all three suitors, but her real loyalty is to Fenton. This makes her the play's clearest moral voice: she sees that love is real and money is not. She will work for Caius and Slender (and accept payment from them), but she serves Fenton (and his love) with her heart. Her final soliloquy shows her calculating odds while committing herself: 'I will do what I can for them all three, for so I have promised — but speciously for Master Fenton.' The word 'speciously' (which means 'with false appearance') is oddly placed here — she might mean 'especially' — but it reveals her knowledge that she's using her loyalty to the other suitors as cover for her real allegiance to love. She is the merchant of affection, and Fenton's case is the one sale she makes for its own sake.
Good Master Fenton, come not to my child.
Master Fenton, do not approach my daughter.
Master Fenton, stay away from my daughter.
stay away from my daughter
She is no match for you.
She is not an equal match for your position.
She's beneath you.
way beneath you
Sir, will you hear me?
Sir, will you listen to me?
Will you let me explain?
will you listen?
No, good Master Fenton.—
Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, in.—
Knowing my mind, you wrong me, Master Fenton.
No, Master Fenton. Come, Master Shallow; come, son Slender, inside. You know what I think, and by pursuing this anyway, you're wronging me, Master Fenton.
No, Master Fenton. Come on, everyone, let's go inside. You know exactly how I feel about this, so by continuing anyway, you're disrespecting me.
no let's go inside you know what i think this is disrespectful
Speak to Mistress Page.
Have a conversation with Mistress Page about this matter.
Go talk to Mistress Page.
tell mistress page
Good Mistress Page, for that I love your daughter
In such a righteous fashion as I do,
Perforce, against all checks, rebukes, and manners,
I must advance the colours of my love
And not retire. Let me have your good will.
Good Mistress Page, because I love your daughter in such an honest and pure way, I must openly show my love regardless of all opposition and criticism, and I won't give up. Please give me your approval.
Mistress Page, I love your daughter in a real, genuine way, and I have to be honest about it no matter what anyone says or how they react. I can't just disappear. I need your support.
i love anne for real and i can't hide it please support me
Good mother, do not marry me to yond fool.
Mother, please don't marry me to that fool over there.
Mom, please don't make me marry that idiot.
mom don't make me marry him
I mean it not; I seek you a better husband.
I don't mean to; I'm looking for you a better husband.
I'm not planning to. I'm looking for someone better for you.
i'll find you better
That’s my master, Master Doctor.
That is what my master, Master Doctor, maintains.
That's what the Doctor thinks.
that's the doc's opinion
Alas, I had rather be set quick i’ th’ earth,
And bowled to death with turnips.
Alas, I would rather be buried alive in the ground and beaten to death with turnips.
I'd honestly rather be buried alive and pounded to death with vegetables.
id rather be buried alive and beat to death then marry him
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.
Come, don't bother yourself, Master Fenton. I won't be your friend or your enemy. I will ask my daughter how she feels about you, and based on what I find out, I will decide how to feel. Until then, farewell, sir. She needs to go inside now; her father will be angry.
Look, don't worry about it, Master Fenton. I'm not for or against you right now. I'm going to ask my daughter what she really thinks of you, and whatever she says will determine what I think too. For now, goodbye. She needs to go inside before her father gets mad.
not for or against you yet i'll ask anne how she feels then i'll decide she's gotta go
Farewell, gentle mistress. Farewell, Nan.
Goodbye, kind mistress. Goodbye, Anne.
Goodbye, Mistress Page. Goodbye, Anne.
bye
This is my doing now. “Nay,” said I, “will you cast away your child on
a fool, and a physician? Look on Master Fenton.” This is my doing.
This is my doing. I said, 'Don't throw away your daughter on a fool and a doctor—look at Master Fenton instead.' This is my responsibility.
I made this happen. I told them, 'Why would you throw your daughter at some idiot and a doctor? Look at Master Fenton instead.' That's me working behind the scenes.
i told them to consider you instead of the other guys this is on me
I thank thee; and I pray thee, once tonight
Give my sweet Nan this ring. There’s for thy pains.
I thank you, and I ask you, please give my sweet Anne this ring sometime tonight. Here's payment for your trouble.
Thank you so much. Please give Anne this ring sometime tonight, okay? This is for your trouble.
thanks get this ring to anne this is for you
Now Heaven send thee good fortune!
May Heaven send you good fortune!
Good luck to you!
good luck
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!
He has a kind heart. A woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart. But still I wish my master had Mistress Anne, or I wish Master Slender had her, or truly, I wish Master Fenton had her. I will do what I can for all three of them, as I have promised, and I'll be good to my word—especially for Master Fenton. Well, I must go on another errand to Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses. What a fool I am to delay it!
He's got a good heart, he has. A woman would walk through fire and water for a man like that. But I wish my master could have Mistress Anne, or Master Slender could have her, or—to be honest—I wish Master Fenton could have her. I'm going to help all three if I can, because that's what I promised. I'll keep my word—especially for Master Fenton. Anyway, I've got another errand to do for Sir John Falstaff from my two mistresses. I'm terrible for putting it off!
he has a kind heart a woman would do anything for that i want fenton with anne or slender or my master im helping all three especially fenton gotta go see falstaff why am i so slow
The Reckoning
This is the love plot's pivot: Anne, trapped between her father's choice (Slender) and her mother's choice (Caius), realizes she must escape both. Slender is so completely ineffectual that Anne's aside — 'vile ill-favoured faults / Looks handsome in three hundred pounds a year' — is the play's harshest judgment of marriageability as mercenary. But Fenton offers something beyond both: genuine feeling, which Anne recognizes. Mistress Quickly becomes the hinge between plots: she serves all masters because her loyalty is to love itself.
If this happened today…
Imagine a young woman whose father wants her to marry a wealthy but utterly forgettable guy, whose mother wants a doctor, and who is actually in love with the penniless charming guy. When both parents show up to shut down that third option, she realizes she has to choose for herself. That's Anne. The twist is that her parents' disagreement about her future becomes her freedom.