Page 747 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Why, Hal, thou knowest, as thou art but man, I dare; but as thou art prince, I
fear thee as I fear the roaring of the lion’s whelp. [145]

PRINCE
And why not as the lion?

FALSTAFF
The king himself is to be feared as the lion. Dost thou think I’ll fear thee as I
fear thy father? Nay, an I do, I pray God my girdle break.

PRINCE
O, if it should, how would thy guts fall about thy [150] knees! But, sirrah,

there’s no room for faith, truth, nor honesty in this bosom of thine. It is all
filled up with guts and midriff. Charge an honest woman with picking thy
pocket? Why, thou whoreson, impudent, embossed rascal, if there were

anything in thy pocket but tavern [155] reckonings, memorandums of bawdy
houses, and one poor pennyworth of sugar candy to make thee longwinded −
if thy pocket were enriched with any other injuries but these, I am a villain.
And yet you will stand to it; you will not pocket up wrong. Art thou not
ashamed? [160]

FALSTAFF
Dost thou hear, Hal? Thou knowest in the state of innocency Adam fell, and
what should poor Jack Falstaff do in the days of villainy? Thou seest I have
more flesh than another man, and therefore more frailty. You confess then,
you picked my pocket? [165]

PRINCE

It appears so by the story.

FALSTAFF

Hostess, I forgive thee. Go make ready breakfast. Love thy husband, look to
thy servants, cherish thy guests. Thou shalt find me tractable to any honest
reason. Thou seest I am pacified still. Nay, prithee be [170] gone.
Exit Hostess.

Now, Hal, to the news at court. For the robbery, lad − how is that answered?