Page:Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale.djvu/22

8

Prince. What sayest thou to a hare, or the

melancholy of Moor-ditch?

Fal. Thou hast the most unsavory similes,

liest, sweet young prince; but, Hal, I prithee,

trouble me no more with vanity. I would to God

thou and I knew where a commodity of good

names were to be bought. An old lord of the

council rated me the other day in the street about

you, sir, but I marked him not; and yet he

talked very wisely, but I regarded him not; and

yet he talked wisely, and in the street too.

Prince. Thou didst well; for wisdom cries

out in the streets, and no man regards it.

Fal. O! thou hast damnable iteration, and

art indeed able to corrupt a saint. Thou hast

done much harm upon me, Hal; God forgive

thee for it! Before I knew thee, Hal, I knew

nothing; and now am I, if a man should speak

truly, little better than one of the wicked. I

must give over this life, and I will give it over;

by the Lord, an I do not, I am a villain: I'll be

damned for never a king's son in Christendom.

Prince. Where shall we take a purse to-

morrow. Jack?

Fal. 'Zounds! where thou wilt, lad, I'll make

one; an I do not, call me a villain and baffle me.

Prince. I see a good amendment of life in

thee; from praying to purse-taking.

 87 hare; cf. n.

88 Moor-ditch; cf. n.

90 comparative: witty, i.e., full of witty comparisons 93 commodity: supply 101 damnable iteration; cf. n.

112 'Zounds: God's wounds 113 baffle: hang by the heels (a punishment inflicted on recreant knights) 