SCENE IX.
Enter Drawer.
Draw.
Sir, antient Pistol is below, and would speak with you.
Dol.
Hang him, swaggering rascal, let him not come hither;
it is the foul-mouth'dst rogue in England.
Host.
If he swagger, let him not come here: no by my faith: I
must live amongst my neighbours, I'll no swaggerers: I am in
good name and fame with the very best: shut the door, there
-- 324 --
comes no swaggerers here: I have not liv'd all this while to have
swaggering now: shut the door, I pray you.
Fal.
Do'st thou hear, hostess—
Host.
Pray you pacifie your self, Sir John, there comes no
swaggerers here.
Fal.
Do'st thou hear—it is mine Ancient.
Host.
Tilly-fally, Sir John, never tell me, your ancient swaggerer
comes not in my doors. I was before master Tisick the deputy
the other day; and as he said to me—it was no longer
ago than Wednesday last—neighbour Quickly, says he;—master
Domb our minister was by then:—neighbour Quickly, says
he, receive those that are civil; for, saith he, you are in an ill
name: now he said so, I can tell whereupon; for, says he, you
are an honest woman, and well thought on, therefore take heed
what guests you receive: receive, says he, no swaggering companions.
—There come none here. You would bless you to hear
what he said. No, I'll no swaggerers.
Fal.
He's no swaggerer, hostess; a tame cheater, i'faith;
you may stroak him as gently as a puppey-grey-hound; he will
not swagger with a Barbary hen, if her feathers turn back in any
shew of resistance. Call him up, drawer.
Host.
Cheater, call you him? I will bar no honest man my
house, nor no cheater; but I do not love swaggering; I am the
worse when one says swagger: feel, masters, how I shake, look
you, I warrant you.
Dol.
So you do, hostess.
Host.
Do I? yea, in a very truth do I, as if it were an aspen
leaf: I cannot abide swaggerers.
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].