Davy.
Shal.
Nay, you shall see mine orchard, where in an arbour
we will eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing,
with a dish of carraways, and so forth: come cousin Silence;
and then to bed.
Fal.
You have here a goodly dwelling, and a rich.
Shal.
Barren, barren, barren: beggars all, beggars all, Sir
John: marry, good air. Spread Davy, spread Davy, well said
Davy.
Fal.
This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your servingman
and your husbandman.
Shal.
A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir
John. By th' Mass I have drank too much Sack at supper. A
good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down: come, cousin.
Sil.
Ah, sirrah, quoth-a,
We shall do nothing but eat, and make good chear,
[Singing.
And praise heav'n for the merry year;
When flesh is cheap and females dear,
And lusty lads roam here and there;
So merrily, and ever among, so merrily, &c.
Fal.
There's a merry heart, good master Silence. I'll give
you a health for that anon.
Shal.
d noteGive Mr. Bardolph some wine, Davy.
Davy.
Sweet Sir sit; I'll be with you anon; most sweet Sir
sit. Master Page, sit: good master Page sit: proface. What
you want in meat we'll have in drink; but you must bear; the
heart's all.
-- 383 --
Shal.
Be merry, master Bardolph, and my little soldier there
be merry.
Sil. [Singing.]
Be merry, be merry, my wife has all,
For women are shrews, both short and tall;
'Tis merry in hall, when beards wag all,
And welcome merry Shrovetide.
Be merry, be merry.
Fal.
I did not think master Silence had been a man of this
mettle.
Sil.
Who I? I have been merry twice and once ere now.
Davy.
There is a dish of leather-coats for you.
Shal.
Davy.
Dav.
Your worship—I'll be with you streight. A cup of
wine, Sir?
Sil. [Singing.]
A cup of wine,
That's brisk and fine,
And drink unto the leman mine;
And a merry heart lives long-a.
Fal.
Well said, master Silence.
Sil.
If we shall be merry, now comes in the sweet of the night.
Fal.
Health and long life to you, master Silence.
Sil.
Fill the cup and let it come. I'll pledge you, were't a
mile to the bottom.
Shal.
Honest Bardolph, welcome; if thou want'st any thing
and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome my little tiny thief
and welcome indeed too: I'll drink to master Bardolph, and to
all the cavileroes about London.
Dav.
I hope to see London, ere I die.
Bard.
If I might see you there, Davy.
Shal.
You'll crack a quart together? ha, will you not, master
Bardolph?
Bard.
Yes, Sir, in a pottle pot.
Shal.
By God's liggens I thank thee; the knave will stick by
-- 384 --
thee, I can assure thee that. He will not out, he is true bred.
Bard.
And I'll stick by him, Sir.
[One knocks at the door.
Shal.
Why, there spoke a King: lack nothing, be merry.
Look, who's at door there, ho: who knocks?
Fal.
Why now you have done me right.
Sil. [Singing.]
Do me right, and dub me Knight, Samingo.
Is't not so?
Fal.
'Tis so.
Sil.
Is't so? why then say an old man can do somewhat.
Dav.
If it please your worship there's one Pistol come from
the court with news.
Fal.
From the court? let him come in.
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].
