Henry IV Part II: Act 3

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BARDOLPH
Pardon me, sir; I have heard the word. Phrase call you it? by this good day, I know not the phrase; but I will maintain the word with my sword to be a soldier-like word, and a word of exceeding good command, by heaven. Accommodated; that is, when a man is, as they say, accommodated; or when a man is, being, whereby a' may be thought to be accommodated; which is an excellent thing.

SHALLOW
It is very just.

Enter FALSTAFF

Look, here comes good Sir John. Give me your good hand, give me your worship's good hand: by my troth, you like well and bear your years very well: welcome, good Sir John.

FALSTAFF
I am glad to see you well, good Master Robert Shallow: Master Surecard, as I think?

SHALLOW
No, Sir John; it is my cousin Silence, in commission with me.

FALSTAFF
Good Master Silence, it well befits you should be of the peace.

SILENCE
Your good-worship is welcome.

FALSTAFF
Fie! this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have you provided me here half a dozen sufficient men?

SHALLOW
Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?

FALSTAFF
Let me see them, I beseech you.

SHALLOW
Where's the roll? where's the roll? where's the roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see. So, so: yea, marry, sir: Ralph Mouldy! Let them appear as I call; let them do so, let them do so. Let me see; where is Mouldy?

MOULDY
Here, an't please you.

SHALLOW
What think you, Sir John? a good-limbed fellow; young, strong, and of good friends.

FALSTAFF
Is thy name Mouldy?

MOULDY
Yea, an't please you.

FALSTAFF
'Tis the more time thou wert used.

SHALLOW
Ha, ha, ha! most excellent, i' faith! Things that are mouldy lack use: very singular good! in faith, well said, Sir John, very well said.

FALSTAFF
Prick him.

MOULDY
I was pricked well enough before, an you could have let me alone: my old dame will be undone now for one to do her husbandry and her drudgery: you need not to have pricked me; there are other men fitter to go out than I.

FALSTAFF
Go to: peace, Mouldy; you shall go. Mouldy, it is time you were spent.

MOULDY
Spent!

SHALLOW
Peace, fellow, peace; stand aside: know you where you are? For the other, Sir John: let me see: Simon Shadow!

FALSTAFF
Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under: he's like to be a cold soldier.

SHALLOW
Where's Shadow?

SHADOW
Here, sir.

FALSTAFF
Shadow, whose son art thou?

SHADOW
My mother's son, sir.

FALSTAFF
Thy mother's son! like enough, and thy father's shadow: so the son of the female is the shadow of the male: it is often so, indeed; but much of the father's substance!

SHALLOW
Do you like him, Sir John?

FALSTAFF
Shadow will serve for summer; prick him, for we have a number of shadows to fill up the muster-book.

SHALLOW
Thomas Wart!

FALSTAFF
Where's he?

WART
Here, sir.

FALSTAFF
Is thy name Wart?

WART
Yea, sir.

FALSTAFF
Thou art a very ragged wart.

SHALLOW
Shall I prick him down, Sir John?

FALSTAFF
It were superfluous; for his apparel is built upon his back and the whole frame stands upon pins: prick him no more.

SHALLOW
Ha, ha, ha! you can do it, sir; you can do it: I commend you well. Francis Feeble!

FEEBLE
Here, sir.

FALSTAFF
What trade art thou, Feeble?

FEEBLE
A woman's tailor, sir.

SHALLOW
Shall I prick him, sir?

FALSTAFF
You may: but if he had been a man's tailor, he'ld ha' pricked you. Wilt thou make as many holes in an enemy's battle as thou hast done in a woman's petticoat?

FEEBLE
I will do my good will, sir; you can have no more.

FALSTAFF
Well said, good woman's tailor! well said, courageous Feeble! thou wilt be as valiant as the wrathful dove or most magnanimous mouse. Prick the woman's tailor: well, Master Shallow; deep, Master Shallow.

FEEBLE
I would Wart might have gone, sir.

 

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