SCENE III.
Enter Mr. Gower.
Ch. Just.
Now, 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.
-- 313 --
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.
Fal.
Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking; and for thy walls,
a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the prodigal, or the German
hunting in water work, is worth a thousand of these bed-hangings,
and these fly-bitten tapestries: let it be ten pound, if
thou canst. 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; come,
I know thou wast set on to this.
Host.
Pr'ythee, 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.
Host.
Will you have Doll Tear-sheet meet you at supper?
Fal.
No more words. Let's have her.
[Exeunt Host. and Sergeant.
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.
-- 314 --
Fal.
My lord.
Ch. Just.
What's the matter?
Fal.
Master Gower, shall I entreat 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.
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].