Page:Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale.djvu/56

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ere I call thee coward; but I would give a thou-

sand pound I could run as fast as thou canst.

You are straight enough in the shoulders; you

care not who sees your back: call you that back-

ing of your friends? A plague upon such back-

ing! give me them that will face me. Give me

a cup of sack: I am a rogue if I drunk to-

day.

Prince. O villain! thy lips are scarce wiped

since thou drunkest last.

Fal. All's one for that.

A plague of all cowards, still say I.

Prince. What's the matter?

Fal. What's the matter? there be four of us

here have ta'en a thousand pound this day

morning.

Prince. Where is it, Jack? where is it?

Fal. Where is it! taken from us it is: a hun-

dred upon poor four of us.

Prince. What, a hundred, man?

Fal. I am a rogue, if I were not at half-sword

with a dozen of them two hours together. I

have 'scap'd by miracle. I am eight times thrust

through the doublet, four through the hose;

my buckler cut through and through; my sword

hacked like a hand-saw: ecce signum! I never

dealt better since I was a man: all would not

do. A plague of all cowards! Let them speak:

if they speak more or less than truth, they are

villains and the sons of darkness.

Prince. Speak, sirs; how was it?

Gads. We four set upon some dozen,—

Fal. Sixteen, at least, my lord.

 185 at half-sword: at close quarters

190 ecce signum: behold the proof 