Page 696 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Come, my masters, let us share, and then to horse before day. An the prince
and Poins be not two arrant cowards, there’s no equity stirring. There’s no
[95] more valour in that Poins than in a wild duck.
As they are sharing, the prince and Poins set upon them.

PRINCE
Your money!

POINS
Villains!
They all run away, and Falstaff, after a blow or two, runs away too,
leaving the booty behind them.

PRINCE
Got with much ease. Now merrily to horse. The thieves are all scattered, and

possessed with fear so [100] strongly that they dare not meet each other:
each takes his fellow for an officer. Away, good Ned. Falstaff sweats to death
and lards the lean earth as he walks along. Were’t not for laughing, I should
pity him.

POINS
How the fat rogue roared! [105]

Exeunt.

Scene III IT

Enter Hotspur solus, reading a letter.

HOTSPUR
‘But, for mine own part, my lord, I could be well contented to be there, in

respect of the love I bear your house.’ He could be contented − why is he not
then? In respect of the love he bears our house! He shows in this he loves his
own barn better than he loves [5] our house. Let me see some more. ‘The
purpose you undertake is dangerous’ − why, that’s certain! ’Tis dangerous to

take a cold, to sleep, to drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this nettle,
danger, we pluck this flower, safety. ‘The purpose you undertake is [10]
dangerous, the friends you have named uncertain, the time itself unsorted,