Page 673 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

POINS

Why, we will set forth before or after them and [160] appoint them a place of
meeting, wherein it is at our pleasure to fail; and then will they adventure
upon the exploit themselves, which they shall have no sooner achieved, but

we’ll set upon them.

PRINCE

Yea, but ’tis like that they will know us by our [165] horses, by our habits,
and by every other appointment, to be ourselves.

POINS
Tut! our horses they shall not see − I’ll tie them in the wood; our vizards we
will change after we leave them; and, sirrah, I have cases of buckram for the
nonce, [170] to immask our noted outward garments.

PRINCE

Yea, but I doubt they will be too hard for us.

POINS

Well, for two of them, I know them to be as true-bred cowards as ever turned
back; and for the third, if he fight longer than he sees reason, I’ll forswear
arms. [175] The virtue of this jest will be the incomprehensible lies that this

same fat rogue will tell us when we meet at supper: how thirty, at least, he
fought with; what wards, what blows, what extremities he endured; and in
the reproof of this lives the jest. [180]

PRINCE
Well, I’ll go with thee. Provide us all things necessary and meet me to-
morrow night in Eastcheap. There I’ll sup. Farewell.

POINS
Farewell, my lord.

Exit.

PRINCE
I know you all, and will a while uphold [185]
The unyoked humour of your idleness.