Page:Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale.djvu/68

54

 Bard. O! my lord, my lord, the sheriff with a

most monstrous watch is at the door.

Fal. Out, ye rogue! Play out the play: I

have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff.

Host. O Jesu! my lord, my lord!

Prince. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a

fiddle-stick: what's the matter?

Host. The sheriff and all the watch are at

the door: they are come to search the house.

Shall I let them in?

Fal. Dost thou hear, Hal? never call a true

piece of gold a counterfeit. Thou art essentially

mad without seeming so.

Prince. And thou a natural coward without

instinct.

Fal. I deny your major. If you will deny the

sheriff, so; if not, let him enter: if I become not

a cart as well as another man, a plague on my

bringing up! I hope I shall as soon be strangled

with a halter as another.

Prince. Go, hide thee behind the arras: the

rest walk up above. Now, my masters, for a

true face and good conscience.

Fal. Both which I have had; but their date

is out, and therefore I'll hide me.Exit.

Prince. Call in the sheriff.

Now, master sheriff, what's your will with me?

 547-549 Cf. n.

552 major: major premise

554 cart: cart used for taking criminals to the gallows

557 arras: hanging screen of tapestry placed around the walls of a room

557-558 Cf. n. 