Page 784 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

But, soft! whom have we here?
Did you not tell me this fat man was dead? [130]

PRINCE
I did; I saw him dead,
Breathless and bleeding on the ground. Art thou alive,
Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight?

I prithee speak. We will not trust our eyes
Without our ears. Thou art not what thou seem’st. [135]

FALSTAFF
No, that’s certain, I am not a double man; but if I be not Jack Falstaff, then
am I a Jack. There is Percy. If your father will do me any honour, so; if not,

let him kill the next Percy himself. I look to be either earl or duke, I can
assure you. [140]

PRINCE
Why, Percy I killed myself, and saw thee dead!

FALSTAFF
Didst thou? Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying. I grant you I was
down, and out of breath, and so was he; but we rose both at an instant and

fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock. If I may be believed, so; [145] if not,
let them that should reward valour bear the sin upon their own heads. I’ll
take it upon my death, I gave him this wound in the thigh. If the man were
alive and would deny it, zounds! I would make him eat a piece of my sword.

[150]

JOHN
This is the strangest tale that ever I heard.

PRINCE
This is the strangest fellow, brother John.
Come, bring your luggage nobly on your back.
For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,

I’ll gild it with the happiest terms I have. [155]
A retreat is sounded.