Page:Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale.djvu/51

King Henry the Fourth, II. iv

conclude, I am so good a proficient in one

quarter of an hour, that I can drink with any

tinker in his own language during my life. I

tell thee, Ned, thou hast lost much honour that

thou wert not with me in this action. But, sweet

Ned,—to sweeten which name of Ned, I give thee

this pennyworth of sugar, clapped even now into

my hand by an underskinker, one that never

spake other English in his life than—'Eight

shillings and sixpence,' and—'You are welcome,'

with this shrill addition,—'Anon, anon, sir!

Score a pint of bastard in the Half-moon,' or

so. But, Ned, to drive away the time till Falstaff

come, I prithee do thou stand in some by-room,

while I question my puny drawer to what end

he gave me the sugar; and do thou never leave

calling 'Francis!' that his tale to me may be

nothing but 'Anon.' Step aside, and I'll show

thee a precedent.

Poins. Francis!

Prince. Thou art perfect.

Poins. Francis!

Fran. Anon, anon, sir. Look down into the

Pomgarnet, Ralph.

Prince. Come hither, Francis.

Fran. My lord.

Prince. How long hast thou to serve, Francis?

Fran. Forsooth, five years, and as much as to—

Poins [within.] Francis!

 21 tinker; cf. n.

26 underskinker: under-tapster

30 bastard: sweet Spanish wine

Half-moon: name of a room in the inn

37 precedent: example

42 Pomgarnet: Pomegranate; a room in the inn 