SCENE III.
Enter a Messenger.
Ch. Just.
Master Gower, what news?
Gower.
The King, my lord, and Henry Prince of Wales
Are near at hand: the rest the paper tells.
Fal.
As I am a gentleman—
Host.
Nay, you said so before.
Fal.
As I am a gentleman;—come, no more
words of it.
Host.
By this heav'nly ground I tread on, I must
be fain to pawn both my plate, and the tapestry of my
dining chambers.
Fal.
Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking; and for
thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the
Prodigal, or the 9 noteGerman Hunting in water-work, is
worth a thousand of1 note
these bed-hangings, and these
fly-bitten tapestries. Let it be ten pound, if thou canst.
Come, if it were not for thy humours, there is not a
better wench in England. Go, wash thy face, and
draw thy action. Come, thou must not be in this humour
with me; do'st not know me? Come, come, I
know, thou wast set on to this.
Host.
Pr'ythee, Sir John, let it be but twenty nobles;
I am loth to pawn my plate, in good earnest, la.
-- 263 --
Fal.
Let it alone, I'll make other shift; you'll be
a fool still—
Host.
Well, you shall have it, though I pawn my
gown. I hope, you'll come to supper. You'll pay me
all together?
Fal.
Will I live?—Go with her, with her: hook
on, hook on.
[to the Officers.
Host.
Will you have Doll Tear-sheet meet you at
supper?
Fal.
No more words. Let's have her.
[Exeunt Hostess and Serjeant.
Ch. Just.
I have heard better news.
Fal.
What's the news, my good lord?
Ch. Just.
Where lay the King last night?
Gower.
At Basingstoke, my lord.
Fal.
I hope, my lord, all's well. What is the news,
my lord?
Ch. Just.
Come all his forces back?
Gower.
No; fifteen hundred foot, five hundred horse
Are march'd up to my lord of Lancaster,
Against Northumberland and the Arch-bishop.
Fal.
Comes the King back from Wales, my noble lord?
Ch. Just.
You shall have letters of me presently.
Come, go along with me, good Mr. Gower.
Fal.
My lord,—
Ch. Just.
What's the matter?
Fal.
Master Gower, shall I intreat you with me to
dinner?
Gower.
I must wait upon my good lord here, I thank
you, good Sir John.
Ch. Just.
Sir John, you loiter here too long, being
you are to take soldiers up in the countries as
you go.
Fal.
Will you sup with me, master Gower?
Ch. Just.
What foolish master taught you these
manners, Sir John?
Fal.
Master Gower, if they become me not, he was
-- 264 --
a fool that taught them me. This is the right fencing
grace, my lord, tap for tap, and so part fair.
Ch. Just.
Now the Lord lighten thee, thou art a
great fool!
[Exeunt.
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].
