SCENE VII.
Alarm, enter Falstaff solus.
Fal.
Though I could 'scape 5 noteshot free at London, I
fear the shot here, here's no scoring, but upon the pate.
Soft, who art thou? Sir Walter Blunt? there's honour
for you; 6 note
here's no vanity!—I am as hot as moulten
-- 221 --
lead, and as heavy too; heav'n keep lead out of me, I
need no more weight than mine own bowels!—I have
led my rag-o-muffians where they are pepper'd, there's
not three of my hundred and fifty left alive; and they
are for the town's end, to beg during life. But who
comes here?
Enter Prince Henry.
P. Henry.
What, stand'st thou idle here? lend me thy sword;
Many a noble man lies stark and stiff
Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies;
Whose deaths are unreveng'd. Lend me thy sword.
Fal.
O Hal, I pr'ythee, give me leave to breathe a
while. 7 noteTurk Gregory never did such deeds in arms,
as I have done this day. 8 note
I have paid Percy, I have
made him sure.
P. Henry.
He is, indeed, and living to kill thee:
I pr'ythee, lend me thy sword.
-- 222 --
Fal.
Nay, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou get'st not
my sword, but take my pistol, if thou wilt.
P. Henry.
Give it me. What, is it in the case?
Fal.
Ay, Hal, 'tis hot. There's that will sack a
city.
[The Prince draws it out, and finds it a bottle of sack.
P. Henry.
What, is it a time to jest and dally now?
[Throws it at him, and Exit.
Fal.
9 note
If Percy be alive, I'll pierce him. If he do
come in my way, so; if he do not, if I come in his,
willingly, let him make a * notecarbonado of me. I like
not such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath, give me
life, which if I can save, so; if not, honour comes
unlook'd for, and there's an end.
[Exit.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
