SCENE III.
Enter Cloten, and two Lords.
1 Lord.
Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the
violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice:
Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none
abroad so wholesome as that you vent.
Clot.
If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it—
Have I hurt him?
2 Lord.
No, faith; not so much as his patience.
[Aside.
1 Lord.
Hurt him? his body's a passable carcass,
if he be not hurt: it is a thorough-fare for steel, if it
be not hurt.
2 Lord.
His steel was in debt; it went o' the backside
the town.
[Aside.
Clot.
The villain would not stand me.
-- 185 --
2 Lord.
No; but he fled forward still, toward
your face.
[Aside.
1 Lord.
Stand you! You have land enough of your
own: but he added to your having; gave you some
ground.
2 Lord.
As many inches as you have oceans:
Puppies!
[Aside.
Clot.
I would, they had not come between us.
2 Lord.
So would I, 'till you had measur'd how
long a fool you were upon the ground.
[Aside.
Clot.
And that she should love this fellow, and
refuse me!
2 Lord.
If it be a sin to make a true election, she is
damn'd.
[Aside.
1 Lord.
Sir, as I told you always, 8 noteher beauty and
her brain go not together: 9 note
She's a good sign, but
I have seen small reflection of her wit.
2 Lord.
She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection
should hurt her.
[Aside.
-- 186 --
Clot.
Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there
had been some hurt done!
2 Lord.
I wish not so; unless it had been the fall
of an ass, which is no great hurt.
[Aside.
Clot.
You'll go with us?
1 Lord.
I'll attend your lordship.
Clot.
Nay, come, let's go together.
2 Lord.
Well, my lord.
[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].
