SCENE III.
Enter Mr. Gower.
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.
&wlquo;Fal.
&wlquo;Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking; and
for thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story
of the Prodigal, or the 4 noteGerman Hunting in water-work,
is worth a thousand of 5 notethese dead-hangings,
and these fly-bitten tapestries: let it be ten pound,
if thou canst.&wrquo; 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.
Pry'thee, Sir John, let it be but twenty nobles,
I am loth to pawn my plate, in good earnest, la.
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.
-- 230 --
Host.
Will you have Doll Tear-sheet meet you at
supper?
Fal.
No more words. Let's have her.
[Exeunt Host. 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 countreys 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
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.
-- 231 --
Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
