Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/28

16

''Ch. Just.'' Your means are very slender, and

your waste is great.

Fal. I would it were otherwise: I would my

means were greater and my waist slenderer.

''Ch. Just.'' You have misled the youthful prince.

Fal. The young prince hath misled me: I

am the fellow with the great belly, and he my

dog.

''Ch. Just.'' Well, I am loath to gall a new-healed

wound: your day's service at Shrewsbury hath a

little gilded over your night's exploit on Gads-

hill: you may thank the unquiet time for your

quiet o'er-posting that action.

Fal. My lord!

''Ch. Just.'' But since all is well, keep it so:

wake not a sleeping wolf.

Fal. To wake a wolf is as bad as to smell a

fox.

''Ch. Just.'' What! you are as a candle, the

better part burnt out.

Fal. A wassail candle, my lord; all tallow:

if I did say of wax, my growth would approve

the truth.

''Ch. Just.'' There is not a white hair on your

face but should have his effect of gravity.

Fal. His effect of gravy, gravy, gravy.

''Ch. Just.'' You follow the young prince up

and down, like his ill angel.

Fal. Not so, my lord; your ill angel is light,

but I hope he that looks upon me will take me

without weighing: and yet, in some respects, I

grant, I cannot go, I cannot tell. Virtue is of

 166-168 Cf. n.

173 o'er-posting: getting over rapidly

181 wassail candle: large candle used at a feast

182 wax; cf. n.

approve: prove

188 ill: evil

189-192 Cf. n. 