Some heavy business hath my lord in hand, Enter Servant. Serv. He is, my lord, an hour ago. Hot. Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff? Serv. One horse, my lord, he brought even now. Hot. What horse? a roan, a crop-ear, is it not? Serv. It is, my lord. Hot. That roan shall be my throne. Well, I will back him straight: O esperance* ! Bid Butler lead him forth into the park. Lady. But hear you, my lord. [Exit Servant. What say'st, my lady? My horse, Out, you mad-headed ape! Lady. What is it carries you away? Hot. My love, my horse. Lady. I'll know your business, Harry, that I will. In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry, Hot. Away, Away, you trifler! - Love? I love thee not, I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world 8 Motto of the Percy family. 9 Strengthen. To play with mammets', and to tilt with lips: horse! What say'st thou, Kate? what would'st thou have with me? Lady. Do you not love me? do you not, indeed? Well, do not then; for, since you love me not, I will not love myself. Do you not love me? Nay, tell me, if you speak in jest, or no. Hot. Come, wilt thou see me ride? And when I am o'horse-back, I will swear I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate; I must not have you henceforth question me Whither I go, nor reason whereabout: Whither I must, I must; and, to conclude, This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate. I know you wise; but yet no further wise, Than Harry Percy's wife: constant you are; But yet a woman: and for secresy, No lady closer; for I well believe, Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know; Hot. Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate? Whither I go, thither shall you go too; To-day will I set forth, to-morrow you. Lady. It must, of force. [Exeunt. 1 Puppets. SCENE IV. Eastcheap. A Room in the Boar's Head Tavern. Enter Prince HENRY and POINS. P. Hen. Ned, pr'ythee, come out of that fat room, and lend me thy hand to laugh a little. Poins. Where hast been, Hal? P. Hen. With three or four loggerheads, amongst three or four score hogsheads. I have sounded the very base string of humility. Sirrah, I am sworn brother to a leash of drawers; and can call them all by their Christian names, as Tom, Dick, and Francis. They take it already upon their salvation, that, though I be but prince of Wales, yet I am the king of courtesy; and tell me flatly I am no proud Jack, like Falstaff; but a lad of mettle, a good boy, so they call me; and when I am king of England, I shall command all the good lads in Eastcheap. To conclude, I am so good a proficient in one quarter of an hour, that I can drink with any tinker in his own language during my life. I tell thee, Ned, thou hast lost much honour, that thou wert not with me in this action. sweet Ned,- to sweeten which name of Ned, I give thee this pennyworth of sugar, clapped even now in my hand by an under-skinker'; one that never spake other English in his life, than― Eight shillings and sixpence, and You are welcome; with this shrill addition, Anon, anon, sir! Score a pint of Bastard in the Half-moon, or so. But, Ned, to drive away the time till Falstaff come, I pr'ythee, do thou stand in some by-room, while I question my puny drawer, to what end he gave me the sugar; and do thou never leave calling 2 Tapster. But, Francis, that his tale to me may be nothing but anon. Step aside, and I'll show thee a precedent. Poins. Francis! P. Hen. Thou art perfect. Poins. Francis ! Enter FRANCIS. [Exit POINS. Fran. Anon, anon, sir. - Look down into the Pomegranate, Ralph. P. Hen. Come hither, Francis. Fran. My lord. P. Hen. How long hast thou to serve, Francis? Fran. Forsooth, five year, and as much as to Poins. [Within.] Francis! Fran, Anon, anon, sir. P. Hen. Five years! by'r lady, a long lease for the clinking of pewter. But, Francis, darest thou be so valiant, as to play the coward with thy indenture, and to show it a fair pair of heels, and run from it? Fran. Q, sir! I'll be sworn upon all the books in England, I could find in my heart Poins. [Within.] Francis! Fran. Anon, anon, sir. P. Hen. How old art thou, Francis? shall be - About Michaelmas next I Poins. [Within.] Francis! Fran. Anon, sir.-Pray you, stay a little, my lord. P. Hen. Nay, but hark you, Francis: For the sugar thou gavest me, 'twas a pennyworth, was't not? Fran. O, sir! I would it had been two. P. Hen. I will give thee for it a thousand pound: ask me when thou wilt, and thou shalt have it. Poins. [Within.] Francis! Fran. Anon, anon. P. Hen. Anon, Francis? No, Francis: but tomorrow, Francis; or Francis, on Thursday; or, indeed, Francis, when thou wilt. But, Francis, Fran. My lord? P. Hen. Wilt thou rob this leathern-jerkin, crystal-button, nott-pated, agate-ring, caddis-garter, smooth-tongue, Spanish-pouch, Fran. O sir, who do you mean? P. Hen. Why then, your brown bastard3 is your only drink: for, look you, Francis, your white canvass doublet will sully in Barbary, sir, it cannot come to so much. Fran. What, sir? Poins. [Within.] Francis! P. Hen. Away, you rogue; Dost thou not hear them call? [Here they both call him; the Drawer stands amazed, not knowing which way to go. Enter Vintner. Vint. What! stand'st thou still, and hear'st such a calling? Look to the guests within. [Exit FRAN.] My lord, old sir John, with half a dozen more, are at the door; Shall I let them in? P. Hen. Let them alone awhile, and then open the door. [Exit Vintner.] Poins! Re-enter POINS. Poins. Anon, anon, sir. P. Hen. Sirrah, Falstaff and the rest of the thieves are at the door; Shall we be merry? Poins. As merry as crickets, my lad. But hark ye; What cunning match have you made with this jest of the drawer? come, what's the issue? P. Hen. I am now of all humours, that have show'd themselves humours, since the old days of 3 A sweet wine. |