FAL.
In buckram?
POINTZ.
Ay, four, in buckram suits.
FAL.
Seven, by these hilts, or I am a villain else.
PRINCE. [aside to Pointz.] Pr’ythee let him alone; we shall have more anon.
FAL.
Dost thou hear me, Hal?
PRINCE.
Ay, and mark thee too, Jack.
FAL. Do so, for it is worth the listening to. These nine in buckram that I told thee of,—
PRINCE.
So, two more already.
FAL. —their points being broken,—
POINTZ.
Down fell their hose.
FAL. —began to give me ground: but I followed me close, came in foot and hand; and with a thought seven of the eleven I paid.
PRINCE.
O monstrous! eleven buckram men grown out of two!
FAL.
But, as the Devil would have it, three misbegotten knaves in Kendal
Green came at my back and let drive at me; for it was so dark, Hal,
that thou couldst not see thy hand.
PRINCE. These lies are like the father that begets them, gross as a mountain, open, palpable. Why, thou nott-pated fool, thou whoreson, obscene greasy tallow-keech,—
FAL.
What, art thou mad? art thou mad? is not the truth the truth?
PRINCE. Why, how couldst thou know these men in Kendal green, when it was so dark thou couldst not see thy hand? come, tell us your reason: what sayest thou to this?
POINTZ.
Come, your reason, Jack, your reason.
FAL. What, upon compulsion? No; were I at the strappado, or all the racks in the world, I would not tell you on compulsion. Give you a reason on compulsion! if reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion, I.
PRINCE. I’ll be no longer guilty of this sin; this sanguine coward, this bed-presser, this horseback-breaker, this huge hill of flesh,—
FAL.
Away, you starveling, you eel-skin, you dried neat’s-tongue, you
stock-fish,—
O, for breath to utter what is like thee!—you tailor’s-yard, you
sheath, you bow-case, you vile standing tuck,—
PRINCE. Well, breathe awhile, and then to it again: and, when thou hast tired thyself in base comparisons, hear me speak but this:—
POINTZ.
Mark, Jack.
PRINCE. —We two saw you four set on four; you bound them, and were masters of their wealth.—Mark now, how a plain tale shall put you down.— Then did we two set on you four; and, with a word, outfaced you from your prize, and have it; yea, and can show it you here in the house: and, Falstaff, you carried yourself away as nimbly, with as quick dexterity, and roared for mercy, and still ran and roar’d, as ever I heard bull-calf. What a slave art thou, to hack thy sword as thou hast done, and then say it was in fight! What trick, what device, what starting-hole canst thou now find out to hide thee from this open and apparent shame?
POINTZ.
Come, let’s hear, Jack; what trick hast thou now?
FAL. By the Lord, I knew ye as well as he that made ye. Why, hear ye, my masters: Was it for me to kill the heir-apparent? should I turn upon the true Prince? why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules: but beware instinct; the lion will not touch the true Prince. Instinct is a great matter; I was now a coward on instinct. I shall think the better of myself and thee during my life; I for a valiant lion, and thou for a true prince. But, by the Lord, lads, I am glad you have the money.— [To Hostess within.] Hostess, clap-to the doors: watch tonight, pray tomorrow.—Gallants, lads, boys, hearts of gold, all the titles of good fellowship come to you! What, shall we be merry? shall we have a play extempore?
PRINCE.
Content; and the argument shall be thy running away.
FAL.
Ah, no more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me!
[Enter the Hostess.]
HOST.
O Jesu, my lord the Prince,—
PRINCE.
How now, my lady the hostess! What say’st thou to me?
HOST. Marry, my lord, there is a nobleman of the Court at door would speak with you: he says he comes from your father.
PRINCE. Give him as much as will make him a royal man, and send him back again to my mother.
FAL.
What manner of man is he?
HOST.
An old man.
FAL. What doth gravity out of his bed at midnight? Shall I give him his answer?
PRINCE.
Pr’ythee, do, Jack.
FAL.
Faith, and I’ll send him packing.
[Exit.]
PRINCE.
Now, sirs:—by’r Lady, you fought fair;—so did you, Peto;—so did you,
Bardolph: you are lions, too, you ran away upon instinct, you will not
touch the true Prince; no,—fie!
BARD.
Faith, I ran when I saw others run.
PRINCE.
Tell me now in earnest, how came Falstaff’s sword so hack’d?
PETO.
Why, he hack’d it with his dagger; and said he would swear truth out of
England, but he would make you believe it was done in fight; and
persuaded us to do the like.
BARD. Yea, and to tickle our noses with spear-grass to make them bleed; and then to beslubber our garments with it, and swear it was the blood of true men. I did that I did not this seven year before; I blush’d to hear his monstrous devices.
PRINCE. O villain, thou stolest a cup of sack eighteen years ago, and wert taken with the manner, and ever since thou hast blush’d extempore. Thou hadst fire and sword on thy side, and yet thou rann’st away: what instinct hadst thou for it?
BARD. My lord, do you see these meteors? do you behold these exhalations?
PRINCE.
I do.
BARD.
What think you they portend?
PRINCE.
Hot livers and cold purses.
BARD.
Choler, my lord, if rightly taken.
PRINCE. No, if rightly taken, halter.—Here comes lean Jack, here comes bare-bone.—
[Enter Falstaff.]
How now, my sweet creature of bombast! How long is’t ago, Jack, since thou saw’st thine own knee?
FAL. My own knee! when I was about thy years, Hal, I was not an eagle’s talon in the waist; I could have crept into any alderman’s thumb-ring: a plague of sighing and grief! it blows a man up like a bladder. There’s villanous news abroad: here was Sir