Pleading so wisely in excuse of it! the King.] God knows, my son, 190 210 To be again displac'd: which to avoid, May waste the memory of the former days. 221 You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me: Then plain and right must my possession be; Which I with more than with a common pain 'Gainst all the world will rightfully maintain. Enter PRINCE JOHN OF LANCASTER. King. Look, look, here comes my John of Lancaster. Lan. Health, peace, and happiness to my royal father! King. Thou bring'st me happiness and peace, son John; But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown From this bare wither'd trunk: upon thy sight My wordly business makes a period. 230 My Lord of Warwick! 470 Shal. Let it be cast2 and paid.-Sir John, you shall not be excus'd. Davy. Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must needs be had;-and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages, about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair? Shal. A' shall answer it.-Some pigeons, Davy, a couple of short-legg'd hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook. 30 Davy. No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have marvellous foul linen. Shal. Well conceited, Davy. About thy business, Davy. 40 Davy. I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill. Shal. There is many complaints, Davy, Shal. Use his men well, Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite.-(Act v. 1. 35, 36.) against that Visor; that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge. 46 Davy. I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance at his friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not. I have serv'd your worship truly, sir, this eight years; and if I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very little credit with your worship. The knave is mine honest friend, sir; 3 66 Fal. I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow. [Exit Shallow.] Bardolph, look to our horses.--[Exeunt Bardolph and Page.] If I were saw'd into quantities,' I should make four dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as Master Shallow. It is a wonderful thing to see the semblable2 coherence of his men's spirits and his: they, by observing of him, do bear themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing with them, is turned into a justice-like serving-man. Their spirits are so married in conjunction with the participation of society that they flock together in consent, like so many wild-geese. If I had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humour his men with the imputation of being near their master; if to his men, I would curry with Master Shallow that no man could better command his servants. It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take heed of their company. I will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions, which is four terms, or two actions, and a' shall laugh without intervallums. O, it is much that a lie with a slight oath and a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that never had the ache in his shoulders! O, you shall see him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up! 95 Shal. [Within] Sir John! Fal. I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow. [Exit. 1 Quantities, small pieces. 2 Semblable, similar. 3 Consent, agreement. 4 Intervallums, intervals. 5 Sad, serious. SCENE II. Westminster. The Palace. Enter WARWICK and the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, meeting. War. How now, my lord chief justice! Ch. Just. How doth the king? Ch. Just. I hope, not dead. He's walk'd the way of nature, The service that I truly did his life War. Indeed I think the young king loves Ch. Just. I know he doth not, and do arm myself To welcome the condition of the time, Which cannot look more hideously upon me Than I have drawn it in my fantasy. 10 War. Here come the heavy issue of dead O that the living Harry had the temper The immediate heir of England! Was this easy?1 May this be wash'd in Lethe, and forgotten? Ch. Just. I then did use the person of your father; The image of his power lay then in me: person; 81 Therefore still bear the balance and the sword: And I do wish your honours may increase, Till you do live to see a son of mine Offend you and obey you, as I did. [So shall I live to speak my father's words: "Happy am I, that have a man so bold, That dares do justice on my proper* son; And not less happy, having such a son, That would deliver up his greatness so Into the hands of justice." You did commit me: 110 For which, I do commit into your hand same With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit ́ As you have done 'gainst me.] There is my hand. You shall be as a father to my youth; ear, And I will stoop and humble my intents 130 8 State, regal character. 10 Remembrance, admonition. 11 Directions, a quadrisyllable here, like affections in 124. 12 Sadly, soberly. |