The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [3573]
The seventh, "Between two gentlemen who talk of arms, and of the art of fencing, and of buying and selling."
The eighth chapter, "Between James, and Lippa, his man, wherein they talk of many pleasant and delightsome jests, and in it is described an unpleasant lodging, an illformed old woman, also the beautiful parts that a woman ought to have to be accounted fair in all perfection, and pleasantly blazoned a counterfeit lazy and naught-worth servant."
The ninth, "Between Cæzar and Tiberio; wherein they discourse of news of the Court, of courtiers of this day, and of many other matters of delight."
The tenth chapter, "Between gentlemen and a servant; wherein they talk of going to supper, and familiar speech late in the evening."
The eleventh, "Wherein they talk of going to bed, and many things thereto belonging."
The twelfth, "Wherein proverbially and pleasantly discourse is held of love and women."
He makes one of his characters end this last chapter as follows:
"As for me, I never will be able, nor am I able, to be willing but to love whatsoever pleaseth women, to whom I dedicate, yield, and consecrate what mortal thing soever I possess, and I say, that a salad, a woman, and a capon as yet was never out of season."
The remarkable resemblance between the sentiments here expressed and the characteristics attributed to Falstaff by Prince Henry in the passage quoted above from Henry IV., Act I. Scene ii., suggest Shakespeare's knowledge of the Second Fruites.
He describes the wardrobe of a man of fashion with envious unction, giving a minute inventory of his shirts, handkerchiefs, ruffs, cuffs, towels, quoises, shoes, buskins, daggers, swords, gloves, doublets, jerkins, gowns, hats, caps, and boots. The very superabundance recalling, by contrast, the paucity in this regard in the cases of Armado and Falstaff.
The philosophy of his conversations is selfish and worldly-wise to a degree, with nowhere the slightest suggestion of ideality or altruism.
"T. From those that I do trust, good Lord deliver me, from such as I mistrust, I'll harmless come to be.
G. He gives me so many good words I cannot fail but trust him.
T. Wot you not that fair words and foul deeds are wont to make both fools and wise men fain.
G. I know it, but if he beat me with a sword, I will beat him again with a scabbard.
T. What, will you give him bread for cake then?
G. If any man wrong thee, wrong him again, or else be sure to remember it."
In the conversation concerning meats and repast he is Gargantuan in his descriptions.
"S. The meat is coming in, let us set down.
C. I would wash first if it were not to trouble Robert.
S. What, ho! Bring some water to wash our hands.
Robert. Here it is fresh and good to drinke for a neede.
H. God hath made water for other things than to drinke.
C. Hast thou not heard that water rots, not only men, but stakes?
R. Yet men say that water was made to drinke, to saile, and to wash.
M. It was good to drinke when men did eat acornes.
* * *
T. I pray you set down for I have a good stomach.
N. As for a good stomach, I do yield a jot unto you.
S. My masters, the meat cooles.
* * *
S. My masters, sit down; every man take his place.
N. Tush, I pray you, sit down.
C. With obliging you I shall show myself unmannerly.
H. Of courtesie, Master M., sit here between us two.
M. Virtue consists in the midst quothe the devil when he found himself between two nuns.
S. Bring hither that salad, those steaks, that leg of mutton, that piece of beef with all the boiled meats we have.
S. I pray you, every man serve himself, let everyone cut where he please, and seek the best morsels.
N. Truly these meats are very well seasoned.
* * *
S. Call for drinke when you please, and what kind of wine you like best.
N. Give me some wine but put some water in it.
S. You may well enough drinke it pure, for our wines