Page 1056 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

indeed too, and roundly too. There was I, and little John Doit of Staffordshire,
and black George Barnes, and Francis Pickbone, and Will Squele, a Cotswold
man; you had not four such swingebucklers in all the Inns o’ Court again. And
I may say to you we [20] knew where the bona-robas were and had the best

of them all at commandment. Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir John, a boy,
and page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.

SILENCE
This Sir John, cousin, that comes hither anon [25] about soldiers?

SHALLOW
The same Sir John, the very same. I see him break Scoggin’s head at the
court-gate, when ’a was a crack not thus high. And the very same day did I

fight with one Sampson Stockfish, a fruiterer, behind Gray’s [30] Inn. Jesu,
Jesu, the mad days that I have spent! And to see how many of my old
acquaintance are dead!

SILENCE
We shall all follow, cousin.

SHALLOW
Certain, ’tis certain, very sure, very sure. Death, as the Psalmist saith, is

certain to all, all shall die. [35] How a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford fair?

SILENCE
By my troth, I was not there.

SHALLOW
Death is certain. Is old Double of your town living yet?

SILENCE
Dead, sir. [40]

SHALLOW
Jesu, Jesu, dead! ’A drew a good bow, and dead! ’A shot a fine shoot. John a
Gaunt loved him well and betted much money on his head. Dead! ’A would

have clapped i’ the clout at twelve score, and carried you a forehand shaft a