Sil.
7 noteFill the cup, and let it come;
I'll pledge you a mile to the bottom.
-- 597 --
Shal.
Honest Bardolph, welcome: If thou want'st
any thing, and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart.—
Welcome, my little tiny thief [to the Page]; and welcome,
indeed, too.—I'll drink to master Bardolph,
and to all the 8 notecavaleroes about London.
Davy.
I hope to see London once ere I die.
Bard.
An I might see you there, Davy,—
Shal.
You'll crack a quart together. Ha! will
you not, master Bardolph?
Bard.
Yes, sir, in a pottle pot.
Shal.
I thank thee:—The knave will stick by thee,
I can assure thee that: he will not out; he is true
bred.
Bard.
And I'll stick by him, sir.
[One knocks at the door.
Shal.
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing:
be merry. Look who's at door there: Ho! who
knocks?
Fal.
Why, now you have done me right.
[To Silence, who drinks a bumper.
Sil. [Singing]
9 note
Do me right, and dub me knight:
1 note
Samingo.—Is't not so?
-- 598 --
Fal.
'Tis so.
Sil.
Is't so? Why, then say, an old man can do
somewhat.
[Re-enter Davy.
-- 599 --
Davy.
An it please your worship, there's one Pistol
come from the court with news.
Fal.
From the court? let him come in.—
Enter Pistol.
How now, Pistol?
Pist.
Sir John, 'save you, sir!
Fal.
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
Pist.
Not the ill wind which blows no man good.
—Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest men
in the realm.
Sil.
Indeed I think 'a be; 2 note
but goodman Puff of
Barson.
-- 600 --
Pist.
Puff?
Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base!—
Sir John, I am thy Pistol, and thy friend,
And helter-skelter have I rode to thee;
And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys,
And golden times, and happy news of price.
Fal.
I pr'ythee now, deliver them like a man of
this world.
Pist.
A foutra for the world, and worldlings base!
I speak of Africa, and golden joys.
Fal.
O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news?
3 note
Let king Cophetua know the truth thereof.
Sil.
And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John4 note.
[Sings.
Pist.
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies' lap.
Shal.
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
Pist.
Why then, lament therefore.
Shal.
Give me pardon, sir,—If, sir, you come with
news from the court, I take it, there is but two ways;
either to utter them, or to conceal them. I am, sir,
under the king, in some authority.
Pist.
Under which king, 5 note
Bezonian? speak, or die.
-- 601 --
Shal.
Under king Harry.
Pist.
Harry the fourth? or fifth?
Shal.
Harry the fourth.
Pist.
A foutra for thine office!—
Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is king;
Harry the fifth's the man. I speak the truth:
When Pistol lies, do this; and 6 note
fig me, like
The bragging Spaniard.
Fal.
What! is the old king dead?
Pist.
As nail in door: the things I speak, are just.
Fal.
Away, Bardolph; saddle my horse.—Master
Robert Shallow, chuse what office thou wilt in the
land, 'tis thine.—Pistol, I will double-charge thee
with dignities.
Bard.
O joyful day!—I would not take a knighthood
for my fortune.
Pist.
What? I do bring good news?
Fal.
Carry master Silence to bed.—Master Shallow,
my lord Shallow, be what thou wilt, I am fortune's
steward. Get on thy boots; we'll ride all night:—Oh,
sweet Pistol!—Away, Bardolph.—Come, Pistol, utter
more to me; and, withal, devise something to do thyself
good.—Boot, boot, master Shallow; I know, the
young king is sick for me. Let us take any man's
horses; the laws of England are at my commandment.
-- 602 --
Happy are they which have been my friends;
and woe to my lord chief justice!
Pist.
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also!
7 note
Where is the life that late I led, say they:
Why, here it is; Welcome these pleasant days.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
