Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third, And by their hands this grace of kings must die,- 28 Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton. 122 32 40 Exit. Scene One [London. A street] Enter Corporal Nym and Lieutenant Bardolph. Nym. Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph. Bard. 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; 26 gilt: gold 28 grace of kings: he who does honor to the title of king 31, 32 Cf. n. 41, 42 Cf. n. 34 is set: has set out 3 Ancient: Ensign 39 pass: passage 6 smiles; cf. n. 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. Bard. I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends, and we'll be all three sworn brothers to France: let it 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. Bard. 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] Quickly. Bard. Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife. Good corporal, be patient here. now, mine host Pistol! Pist. Base tike, call'st thou me host? Now, by this hand, I swear, I scorn the term; How Host. 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 8 wink: shut my eyes 11 18 21 32 11 there's an end; cf. n. 18 rendezvous; cf. n. 31 tike: cur needles, but it will be thought we keep a bawdyhouse straight. O well-a-day, Lady! if he be not drawn now: we shall see wilful adultery and murder committed. Bard. Good lieutenant! good corporal! offer nothing here. Nym. Pish! 40 Pist. Pish for thee, Iceland dog! thou prick-ear'd cur of Iceland! Host. Good Corporal Nym, show thy valour and put up your sword. Nym. Will you shog off? I would have you solus. 44 Pist. 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! For I can take, and Pistol's cock is up, 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 that's the humour of it. 53 56 Pist. O braggart vile and damned furious wight! The grave doth gape, and doting death is near; 64 44 Iceland dog; cf. n. 52 perdy: par Dieu 57 Barbason: name of a fiend; cf. n. 50 mervailous: marvelous 66 exhale: draw forth (thy sword) Bard. Hear me, hear me what I say: he that strikes the first stroke, I'll run him up to the hilts, as I am a soldier. [Draws.] Pist. An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate. Give me thy fist, thy fore-foot to me give; Thy spirits are most tall. Nym. I will cut thy throat, one time or other, in fair terms; that is the humour of it. Pist. 'Couple a gorge!' That is the word. I thee defy again. O hound of Crete, think'st thou my spouse to get? And from the powdering-tub of infamy Enter the Boy. Boy. Mine host Pistol, you must come to my master, and your hostess: he is very sick, and would to bed. Good Bardolph, put thy face between his sheets and do the office of a warmingpan. Faith, he's very ill. Bard. Away, you rogue! 72 76 80 88 Host. By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding one of these days. The king has killed his heart. Good husband, come home presently. Exit [with Boy]. Bard. Come, shall I make you two friends? 70 mickle might: great weight 80 the lazar kite of Cressid's kind; cf. n. 72 tall: valiant 77 hound of Crete; cf. n. 79 powdering-tub; cf. n. 83 pauca: briefly 92 presently: immediately We must to France together. Why the devil should we keep knives to cut one another's throats? 96 Pist. Let floods o'erswell, and fiends for food howl on! Nym. You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you at betting? Pist. Base is the slave that pays. Nym. That now I will have; that's the humour of it. Pist. As manhood shall compound: push home. 100 Draw. 105 Bard. By this sword, he that makes the first thrust, I'll kill him; by this sword, I will. Pist. Sword is an oath, and oaths must have their course. Bard. Corporal Nym, an thou wilt be friends, be friends: an thou wilt not, why then, be enemies with me too. Prithee, put up. Nym. I shall have my eight shillings I won of you at betting? Pist. A noble shalt thou have, and present pay; And liquor likewise will I give to thee, 109 113 And friendship shall combine, and brotherhood: Is not this just? for I shall sutler be 116 Unto the camp, and profits will accrue. Nym. I shall have my noble? Pist. In cash most justly paid. Nym. Well then, that's the humour of it. 103 compound: decide 112 noble: 6s. 8d. 116 sutler: one who sells provisions and liquor 121 107 an: if |