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Host. It is more than for fome, my Lord; it is for all, all I have. He has eaten me out of house put all my substance into that

and home; he has fat belly of his.

Ch. Just. How comes this, Sir John! Fie, what man of good temper would endure this tempeft of exclamation? Are you not ashamed to force a poor woman to so rough a measure to come by her own?

Fal. Why, what is the grofs fum that I owe thee?

Host Marry, if thou wert an honest man, thyself and the money too-Thou didst fwear to me on a parcel-gilt goblet, fitting in my Dolphinchamber, at the round table, by a fea-coal fire, on Wednesday, in Whitfun week, when the Prince broke thy head for likening him to a finging man of Windfor; thou didft fwear to me then, as I was washing thy wound, to marry me, and make me my Lady thy wife. Canft thou deny it? Did not goodwife Keech, the butcher's wife, come in then, and call me Goffip Quickly? coming in to borrow a mefs of vinegar; telling us fhe had a good difh of prawns, whereby thou didst defire to eat fome; whereby I told thee they were ill for a green wound: and didft not thou, when she was gone down stairs, defire me to be no more fo familiarity with fuch low people, faying that ere long

they

they should call me Madam? And didst thou not bid me fetch thee thirty fhillings? Deny it if thou canft!

Fal. My Lord, this is a poor mad foul. She hath been in good cafe, but the truth is, poverty has distracted her. But for these foolish officers, I befeech you let me have redrefs against them.

Ch. Just. Sir John, Sir John! I am well acquainted with your manner of wrenching the true cause the falfe way. It is not a confident brow, or a throng of words, that come with fuch impudent faucinefs from you, can stop the courfe of juftice. You have practifed on the eafy fpirit of this woman, and made free with her purfe.

Host. Yes, in troth, my Lord.

Ch. Just. Pay her the debt you owe her, and unpay your villainous abuse; the one you may do with fterling money, the other with current repentance.

Fal. My Lord, I will not undergo this charge without reply. You call honorable boldnefs impudent faucinefs -If a man will make courtesy, and cringe, and fay nothing, you call him virtuous. No, my Lord, my humble duty remembered, I will not be your fuitor. I do defire deliverance frem thefe officers: I am in the King's employment!

Ch. Just. You fpeak as if you had power to do

wrong:

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Fal. Come hither, hoftefs!

(FALSTAFF and HOSTESS go aside.

Enter GoWER.

Ch. Just. Now, Mafter Gower, what's the news?

Gow. The King, my Lord, and Henry Prince

of Wales

Are near at hand: the reft this

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Fal. As I am a Gentleman!

paper tells.

Host. Nay, you faid fo a thousand times before. Fal. As I am a gentleman-Come, no more words!

Host. By this ground, I must be fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my dining

chambers.

Fal. Glaffes, glafles, are the only things for drinking, and for thy walls, a flight picture, the ftory of the Prodigal in water colours, is worth a thousand of these fly-bitten tapeftries. Let it be ten pounds if thou canft. Come, if it were not for thy humors, there is not a better wench in England. Go, wash thy face, and withdraw thy action Come, come, thou must not be in this humor with me!

Host.

Host. Prythee, Sir John, let it be but twenty nobles: I am loth to pawn my plate, in good carneft, la.

Fal. Let it alone then, and be a fool ftill.

Host. Well, you fhall have it, tho' I pawn my gown. I hope you will come to fupper :You'll pay me altogether?

Fal. Will I live? Go with her, go with her, (to BARDOLPH) hook on, hook on!

(Exeunt HosT. BAR. PAGE and OFFICERS. Ch. Just. Where lay the King last night? Gower. At Bafingftoke, my Lord.

Fal. I hope, my Lord, all is well. What's the news, my Lord?

Ch. Just. (turning away from FALSTAFF.)

Come all his forces back?

Gower. No, fifteen hundred foot, five hun. dred horse,

Are march'd to join Lord John of Lancaster, Against Northumberland, and th' Archbishop.

Fal. Comes the King back from Wales, my noble Lord?

Ch. Just. You fhall have letters of me prefently: Come, go along with me, good Mafter Gower. Fal. My Lord!

Ch. Just.

Ch Just. What's the matter?

Fal. (turning away from CH. Jus.) Mafter Gower, shall I entreat you with me to dinner?

Gower. I must wait upon my Lord here: I thank you, good Sir John.

Ch. Just. Sir John, you loiter here too long, as you are to raise soldiers as you go.

Fal. Will you fup with me, Master Gower?

Ch. Just. What foolish mafter taught you these manners, Sir John?

Fal. Mafter Gower, if they become me not, he was a fool that taught them me. So fair we part. Master Gower, I fly-I fly, Master Gower!

Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS.

(Exeunt.

P. Hen. Trust me, I am exceeding weary. Poins. Is it come to that? I thought weariness durft not have attacked one of fo high blood.

P. Hen. It doth me; tho' it difcolors the complexion of my greatness to acknowledge it. Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?

Poins. Yes, fo it be an excellent thing.

P. Hen. It fhall ferve among wits of no higher breeding than thine. Thou will not think it

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