Page 707 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Are not you a coward? Answer me to that − and Poins there?

POINS
Zounds, ye fat paunch, an ye call me coward, by the Lord, I’ll stab thee. [135]

FALSTAFF
I call thee coward? I’ll see thee damned ere I call thee coward, but I would
give a thousand pound I could run as fast as thou canst. You are straight
enough in the shoulders; you care not who sees your back. Call you that

backing of your friends? A plague upon such [140] backing! Give me them
that will face me. Give me a cup of sack. I am a rogue if I drunk to-day.

PRINCE
O villain! thy lips are scarce wiped since thou drunk’st last.

FALSTAFF
All is one for that. (He drinketh.) A plague of all [145] cowards, still say I.

PRINCE
What’s the matter?

FALSTAFF
What’s the matter? There be four of us here have ta’en a thousand pound this

day morning.

PRINCE
Where is it, Jack? where is it? [150]

FALSTAFF
Where is it? Taken from us it is. A hundred upon poor four of us!

PRINCE
What, a hundred, man?

FALSTAFF
I am a rogue if I were not at half-sword with a dozen of them two hours
together. I have scaped by miracle. [155] I am eight times thrust through the