Fal.
O base Assyrian Knight, what is thy news?
7 noteLet King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
Sil.
And Robin-hood, Scarlet, and John.
Pist.
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then Pistol lay thy head in fury's lap.
Shal.
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
Pist.
Why then, lament therefore.
Shal.
Give me pardon, Sir. &wlquo;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.&wrquo;
I am, Sir under the King, in some authority.
Pist.
Under which King? 8 noteBezonian, speak or die.
Shal.
Under King Harry.
Pist.
Harry the Fourth? or Fifth?
Shal.
Harry the Fourth.
Pist.
A foutra for thine office!
Sir John, thy tender Lamb-kin now is King.
Harry the Fifth's the man. I speak the truth.
When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me like
The bragging Spaniard.
-- 307 --
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 thy self
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.
Happy are they which have been my friends;
and wo to my Lord Chief Justice!
Pist.
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also!
9 noteWhere is the life that late I led, say they?
Why, here it is, welcome this pleasant day.
[Exeunt.
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].
