Page:Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale.djvu/101

King Henry the Fourth, IV. ii

herald's coat without sleeves; and the shirt, to

say the truth, stolen from my host at Saint

Alban's, or the red-nose inn-keeper of Daventry.

But that's all one; they'll find linen enough on

every hedge.

Prince. How now, blown Jack! how now,

quilt!

Fal. What, Hal! How now, mad wag! what a

devil dost thou in Warwickshire? My good Lord

of Westmoreland, I cry you mercy: I thought

your honour had already been at Shrewsbury.

West. Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time

that I were there, and you too; but my powers

are there already. The king, I can tell you, looks

for us all: we must away all night.

Fal. Tut, never fear me: I am as vigilant as

a cat to steal cream.

Prince. I think to steal cream indeed, for

thy theft hath already made thee butter. But

tell me. Jack, whose fellows are these that come

after?

Fal. Mine, Hal, mine.

Prince. I did never see such pitiful rascals.

Fal. Tut, tut; good enough to toss; food for

powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well

as better: tush, man, mortal men, mortal men.

West. Ay, but, Sir John, methinks they are

exceeding poor and bare; too beggarly.

Fal. Faith, for their poverty, I know not

where they had that; and for their bareness, I

am sure they never learned that of me.

 54 blown: swollen

58 cry you mercy: beg your pardon

72 to toss: i.e., upon a pike 