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Were all thy children kind and natural!

But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out

A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills

With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men-

One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,

Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,

Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,

Have, for the gilt of France- O guilt indeed!-

Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;

And by their hands this grace of kings must die-

If hell and treason hold their promises,

Ere he take ship for France- and in Southampton.

Linger your patience on, and we'll digest

Th' abuse of distance, force a play.

The sum is paid, the traitors are agreed,

The King is set from London, and the scene

Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton;

There is the play-house now, there must you sit,

And thence to France shall we convey you safe

And bring you back, charming the narrow seas

To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,

We'll not offend one stomach with our play.

But, till the King come forth, and not till then,

Unto Southampton do we shift our scene. Exit

SCENE I. London. Before the Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap

Enter CORPORAL NYM and LIEUTENANT BARDOLPH

BARDOLPH.

Well met, Corporal Nym.

NYM.

Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.

BARDOLPH.

What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet?

NYM.

For my part, I care not; I say little, but when time shall

serve, there shall be smiles- but that shall be as it may. I dare

not fight; but I will wink and hold out mine iron. It is a simple

one; but what though? It will toast cheese, and it will endure

cold as another man's sword will; and there's an end.

BARDOLPH.

I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends; and we'll

be all three sworn brothers to France. Let't be so, good Corporal

Nym.

NYM.

Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the certain of it;

and when I cannot live any longer, I will do as I may. That is my

rest, that is the rendezvous of it.

BARDOLPH.

It is certain, Corporal, that he is married to Nell

Quickly; and certainly she did you wrong, for you were

troth-plight to her.

NYM.

I cannot tell; things must be as they may. Men may sleep, and

they may have their throats about them at that time; and some say

knives have edges. It must be as it may; though patience be a

tired mare, yet she will plod. There must be conclusions.

Well, I

cannot tell.

Enter PISTOL and HOSTESS

BARDOLPH.

Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife. Good

Corporal, be patient here.

NYM.

How now, mine host Pistol!

PISTOL.

Base tike, call'st thou me host?

Now by this hand, I swear I scorn the term;

Nor shall my Nell keep lodgers.

HOSTESS.

No, by my troth, not long; for we cannot lodge and board a

dozen or fourteen gentlewomen that live honestly by the prick of

their needles, but it will be thought we keep a bawdy-house

straight. [Nym draws] O well-a-day, Lady, if he be not drawn!

Now

we shall see wilful adultery and murder committed.

BARDOLPH.

Good Lieutenant, good Corporal, offer nothing here.

NYM.

Pish!

PISTOL.

Pish for thee, Iceland dog! thou prick-ear'd cur of Iceland!

HOSTESS.

Good Corporal Nym, show thy valour, and put up your sword.

NYM.

Will you shog off? I would have you solus.

PISTOL.

'Solus,' egregious dog? O viper vile!

The 'solus' in thy most mervailous face;

The 'solus' in thy teeth, and in thy throat,

And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw, perdy;

And, which is worse, within thy nasty mouth!

I do retort the 'solus' in thy bowels;

For I can take, and Pistol's cock is up,

And flashing fire will follow.

NYM.

I am not Barbason: you cannot conjure me. I have an humour to

knock you indifferently well. If you grow foul with me,

Pistol, I

will scour you with my rapier, as I may, in fair terms; if you

would walk off I would prick your guts a little, in good terms,

as I may, and thaes the humour of it.

PISTOL.

O braggart vile and damned furious wight!

The grave doth gape and doting death is near;

Therefore exhale. [PISTOL draws]

BARDOLPH.

Hear