980they cry hem, and bid you play it off. To conclude, I am

981so good a proficient in one quarter of an houre, that I can

982drinke with any Tinker in his owne Language during my

983life. I tell thee Ned, thou hast lost much honor, that thou

984wer't not with me in this action: but sweet Ned, to swee-

985ten which name of Ned, I giue thee this peniworth of Su-

986gar, clapt euen now into my hand by an vnder Skinker,

987one that neuer spake other English in his life, then Eight

988shillings and six pence, and, You are welcome: with this shril

989addition, Anon, Anon sir, Score a Pint of Bastard in the

990Halfe Moone, or so. But Ned, to driue away time till Fal-

991staffe come, I prythee doe thou stand in some by-roome,

992while I question my puny Drawer, to what end hee gaue

993me the Sugar, and do neuer leaue calling Francis, that his

994Tale to me may be nothing but, Anon: step aside, and Ile

995shew thee a President.

996Poines. Francis.

997Prin. Thou art perfect.

998Poin. Francis.

1000Fran. Anon, anon sir; looke downe into the Pomgar-

1001net, Ralfe.

1002Prince. Come hither Francis.

1003Fran. My Lord.

1004Prin. How long hast thou to serue, Francis?

1005Fran. Forsooth fiue yeares, and as much as to---

1006Poin. Francis.

1007Fran. Anon, anon sir.

1008Prin. Fiue yeares: Berlady a long Lease for the clin-

1009king of Pewter. But Francis, darest thou be so valiant, as

1010to play the coward with thy Indenture, & shew it a faire

1011paire of heeles, and run from it?

1012Fran. O Lord sir, Ile be sworne vpon all the Books in

1013England, I could finde in my heart.

1014Poin. Francis.

1015Fran. Anon, anon sir.

1016Prin. How old art thou, Francis?

1017Fran. Let me see, about Michaelmas next I shalbe---

1018Poin. Francis.

1019Fran. Anon sir, pray you stay a little, my Lord.

1020Prin. Nay but harke you Francis, for the Sugar thou

1021gauest me, 'twas a penyworth, was't not?

1022Fran. O Lord sir, I would it had bene two.

1023Prin. I will giue thee for it a thousand pound: Aske

1024me when thou wilt, and thou shalt haue it.

1025Poin. Francis.

1026Fran. Anon, anon.

1027Prin. Anon Francis? No Francis, but to morrow Fran-

1028cis: or Francis, on thursday: or indeed Francis when thou

1029wilt. But Francis.

1030Fran. My Lord.

1031Prin. Wilt thou rob this Leatherne Ierkin, Christall

1032button, Not-pated, Agat ring, Puke stocking, Caddice

1033garter, Smooth tongue, Spanish pouch.

1034Fran. O Lord sir, who do you meane?

1035Prin. Why then your browne Bastard is your onely

1036drinke: for looke you Francis, your white Canuas doub-

1037let will sulley. In Barbary sir, it cannot come to so much.

1038Fran. What sir?

1039Poin. Francis.

1040Prin. Away you Rogue, dost thou heare them call?

1044Vint. What, stand'st thou still, and hear'st such a cal-

1045ling? Looke to the Guests within: My Lord, olde Sir

1046Iohn with halfe a dozen more, are at the doore: shall I let

1047them in?

1048Prin. Let them alone awhile, and then open the doore.

1049Poines.

1051Poin. Anon, anon sir.

1052Prin. Sirra, Falstaffe and the rest of the Theeues, are at

1053the doore, shall we be merry?

1054Poin. As merrie as Crickets my Lad. But harke yee,

1055What cunning match haue you made this iest of the

1056Drawer? Come, what's the issue?

1057Prin. I am now of all humors, that haue shewed them-

1058selues humors, since the old dayes of goodman Adam, to

1059the pupill age of this present twelue a clock at midnight.

1060What's a clocke Francis?

1061Fran. Anon, anon sir.

1062Prin. That euer this Fellow should haue fewer words

1063then a Parret, and yet the sonne of a Woman. His indu-

1064stry is vp-staires and down-staires, his eloquence the par-

1065cell of a reckoning. I am not yet of Percies mind, the Hot-

1066spurre of the North, he that killes me some sixe or seauen

1067dozen of Scots at a Breakfast, washes his hands, and saies

1068to his wife; Fie vpon this quiet life, I want worke. O my

1069sweet Harry sayes she, how many hast thou kill'd to day?

1070Giue my Roane horse a drench (sayes hee) and answeres,

1071some fourteene, an houre after: a trifle, a trifle. I prethee

1072call in Falstaffe, Ile play Percy, and that damn'd Brawne

1073shall play Dame Mortimer his wife. Riuo, sayes the drun-

1074kard. Call in Ribs, call in Tallow.

1076Poin. Welcome Iacke, where hast thou beene?

1077Fal. A plague of all Cowards I say, and a Vengeance

1078too, marry and Amen. Giue me a cup of Sacke Boy. Ere

1079I leade this life long, Ile sowe nether stockes, and mend

1080them too. A plague of all cowards. Giue me a Cup of

1081Sacke, Rogue. Is there no Vertue extant?

1082Prin. Didst thou neuer see Titan kisse a dish of Butter,

1083pittifull hearted Titan that melted at the sweete Tale of

1084the Sunne? If thou didst, then behold that compound.

1085Fal. You Rogue, heere's Lime in this Sacke too: there

1086is nothing but Roguery to be found in Villanous man; yet

1087a Coward is worse then a Cup of Sack with lime. A vil-

1088lanous Coward, go thy wayes old Iacke, die when thou

1089wilt, if manhood, good manhood be not forgot vpon the

1090face of the earth, then am I a shotten Herring: there liues

1091not three good men vnhang'd in England, & one of them

1092is fat, and growes old, God helpe the while, a bad world I

1093say. I would I were a Weauer, I could sing all manner of

1094songs. A plague of all Cowards, I say still.

1095Prin. How now Woolsacke, what mntter you?

1096Fal. A Kings Sonne? If I do not beate thee out of thy

1097Kingdome with a dagger of Lath, and driue all thy Sub-

1098iects afore thee like a flocke of Wilde-geese, Ile neuer

1099weare haire on my face more. You Prince of Wales?

1100Prin. Why you horson round man? what's the matter?

1101Fal. Are you not a Coward? Answer me to that, and

1102Poines there?

1103Prin. Ye fatch paunch, and yee call mee Coward, Ile

1104stab thee.

1105Fal. I call thee Coward? Ile see thee damn'd ere I call

1106the Coward: but I would giue a thousand pound I could

1107run as fast as thou canst. You are straight enough in the

1108shoulders, you care not who sees your backe: Call you