Page 864 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

very politic. But couch, ho! Here he comes to beguile two hours in a sleep,
and then to return and swear the lies he forges.

Enter Parolles.

PAROLLES
Ten o’clock. Within these three hours ’twill be time enough to go home. What
shall I say I have done? [25] It must be a very plausive invention that carries

it. They begin to smoke me, and disgraces have of late knocked too often at
my door. I find my tongue is too foolhardy but my heart hath the fear of Mars
before it and of his creatures, not daring the reports of my tongue. [30]

FIRST LORD
This is the first truth that e’er thine own tongue was guilty of.

PAROLLES
What the devil should move me to undertake the recovery of this drum, being

not ignorant of the impossibility, and knowing I had no such purpose? I [35]
must give myself some hurts, and say I got them in exploit. Yet slight ones
will not carry it: they will say ‘Came you off with so little?’ And great ones I
dare not give. Wherefore, what’s the instance? Tongue, I must put you into a

butter-woman’s mouth, and buy myself [40] another of Bajazeth’s mule, if
you prattle me into these perils.

FIRST LORD
Is it possible he should know what he is, and be that he is?

PAROLLES
I would the cutting of my garments would serve [45] the turn, or the breaking
of my Spanish sword.

FIRST LORD
We cannot afford you so.

PAROLLES
Or the baring of my beard, and to say it was in stratagem.