Fal.
Imbowell'd!—if thou imbowel me to day, I'll
give you leave to powder me, and eat me to morrow!
'Sblood, 'twas time to counterfeit, or that hot termagant
Scot had paid me scot and lot too. Counterfeit?
-- 198 --
I lie, I am no counterfeit; to die, is to be a counterfeit;
for he is but the counterfeit of a man, who hath
not the life of a man: but to counterfeit dying, when
a man thereby liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but the
true and perfect image of life, indeed. The better part
of valour is discretion; in the which better part, I have
saved my life. I am afraid of this gun-powder Percy,
though he be dead. How if he should counterfeit too,
and rise? I am afraid, he would prove the better counterfeit;
therefore I'll make him sure; yea, and I'll
swear, I kill'd him. Why may not he rise as well as I?
nothing confutes me but eyes, and no body sees me.
Therefore, sirrah, with a new wound in your thigh
come you along with me.
