Page invites the company to enter his house for a drink, and Slender is left alone on stage. He declares that he wishes he had his “book of songs and sonnets” (165-66) with him. Slender is thinking about wooing Anne Page. However, since he has no romantic feelings, he wishes he had an old book of love poetry to guide him in his conversation with Anne.
Shallow and Evans come back outside, and Shallow informs his nephew that Hugh Evans has subtly suggested the match – “a kind of tender made afar off” (174-75) – to Master Page.
In the conversation with Shallow and Evans, Slender continually uses the word reason to indicate why he is willing to accept Anne Page in marriage:
Ay, sir, you shall find me reasonable. If it be so, I shall do that that is reason. (176-77)
Why, if it be so, I will marry her upon any reasonable demands. (189-90)
Shallow becomes frustrated with Slender’s responses and so he asks him quite directly, “Can you love her?” (195). However, Slender’s response still reveals that he misses the point: “I hope, sir, I will do as it shall become one that would do reason” (196- 97). Shallow wants his nephew to be happy in his marriage to Anne; but Slender is capable of seeing only the practical, and unemotional, side of marriage.