Robin.
Fals.
Mine host of the garter,—
Host.
What says my bully rook?14Q0051 speak schollarly,
and wisely.
Fals.
Truly, mine host, I must turn away some of
my followers.
Host.
Discard, bully Hercules; cashier: let them wag;
trot, trot.
Fals.
I sit at ten pounds a week.
Host.
Thou'rt an emperor, Cesar, Keisar, and Pheasar.
I will entertain Bardolph; he shall draw, he shall tap: note
-- 14 --
Said I well, bully Hector?
Fals.
Do so, good mine host.
Host.
I have spoke; let him follow:—Let me see
thee froth and lime: note I am at a word; follow.
[Exit Host.
Fals.
Bardolph, follow him; a tapster is a good
trade: An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a wither'd
serving-man, a fresh tapster: Go; adieu.
Bard.
It is a life that I have desir'd: I will thrive.
[Exit Bardolph.
Pist.
O base Gongarian note wight! wilt thou the spigot
wield?
Nym.
He was gotten in drink: Is not the humour
conceited? note
Fals.
I am glad, I am so acquit of this tinder-box;
his thefts were too open: his filching was like an unskilful
singer, he kept not time.
Nym.
The good humour is, to steal at a minute's
rest.
Pist.
Convey, the wise it call: Steal! foh; a fico
for the phrase!
Fals.
Well, sirs, I am almost out at heels.
Pist.
Why then, let kybes ensue.
Fals.
There is no remedy; I must coney-catch, I
must shift.
Pist.
Young ravens must have food.
Fals.
Which of you know Ford of this town?
Pist.
I ken the wight; he is of substance good.
Fals.
My honest lads, I will tell you what I am
about.
Pist.
Two yards, and more.
Fals.
No quips now, Pistol: Indeed, I am in the
-- 15 --
waste two yards about: but I am now about no waste;
I am about thrift. Briefly, I do mean to make love to
Ford's wife; I spy entertainment in her; she discourses,
she carves note, she gives the leer of invitation: I can construe
the action of her familiar stile; and the hardest
voice of her behaviour, to be english'd rightly, is, I am
sir John Falstaff's.
Pist.
He hath study'd her will, and translated her
will; out of honesty into English.
Nym.
The anchor is deep: Will that humour pass?
Fals.
Now, the report goes,14Q0052 she hath all note the rule of
her husband's purse; she hath legions of note angels.
Pist.
As many devils entertain; and, To her, boy,
say I.
Nym.
The humour rises; it is good: humour me
the angels.
Fals.
I have writ me here † a letter to her: and
here another † to Page's wife; who even now gave me
good eyes too, examin'd my parts with most judicious
oeillades note: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my
foot, note sometimes my portly belly.
Pist.
Then did the sun on dunghill shine.
Nym.
I thank thee for that humour.
Fals.
O, she did so course-o'er my exteriors with
such a greedy intention, that the appetite of her eye
did seem to scorch me up like a burning-glass! Here's
† another letter to her: she bears the purse too; she is
a region in Guiana, all gold and bounty. I will be
'cheator note note to them both, and they shall be exchequers to
me; they shall be my East and West-Indies, and I will
trade to them both. Go, bear thou † this letter to mistress
Page; and thou † this to mistress Ford: we will
-- 16 --
thrive, lads, we will thrive.
Pist.
Shall I sir Pandarus of Troy become,
And by my side wear steel? then, Lucifer take all!
Nym.
I will run no base humour: here, take the
humour letter; I will keep the 'haviour of reputation.
Fals.
Hold, sirrah,14Q0053 [to Rob.] bear you &dagger2; these letters tightly note;
Sail, like my pinnace, to the golden note shores.—
Rogues, hence, avaunt, vanish like hailstones, go;
Trudge, plod, away, o'the hoof note, note seek shelter, pack!
Falstaff will learn the humour of this note age,
French thrift, you rogues, myself and skirted page.
[Exeunt Falstaff, and Robin.
Pist.
Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and Fullam holds; note
And high and low beguiles the rich and poor:
Tester I'll have in pouch, when thou shalt lack,
Base Phrygian Turk!
Nym.
I have operations in my head note, which be humours
of revenge.
Pist.
Wilt thou revenge?
Nym.
By welkin, and her star!
Pist.
With wit, or steel?
Nym.
With both the humours I:
I will discuss the humour of this love to Ford.
Pist.
And I to Page shall eke unfold,
How Falstaff, varlet vile,
His dove will prove, his gold will hold,
And his soft couch defile.
Nym.
My humour shall not cool: I will incense Ford
to deal with poison; I will possess him with yellowness,14Q0054
for the revolt of mien note is dangerous: that is my true
-- 17 --
humour.
Pist.
Thou art the Mars of male-contents: I second
thee; troop on.
[Exeunt.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
