Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/31

King Henry the Fourth, I. ii

too impatient to bear crosses. Fare you well:

commend me to my cousin Westmoreland.

[Exeunt Chief Justice and Servant.]

Fal. If I do, fillip me with a three-man beetle.

A man can no more separate age and covetous-

ness than a' can part young limbs and lechery;

but the gout galls the one, and the pox pinches

the other; and so both the degrees prevent my

curses. Boy!

Page. Sir!

Fal. What money is in my purse?

Page. Seven groats and twopence.

Fal. I can get no remedy against this con-

sumption of the purse: borrowing only lingers

and lingers it out, but the disease is incurable.

Go bear this letter to my Lord of Lancaster;

this to the prince; this to the Earl of Westmore-

land; and this to old Mistress Ursula, whom I

have weekly sworn to marry since I perceived

the first white hair on my chin. About it: you

know where to find me. A pox of this gout!

or, a gout of this pox! for the one or the

other plays the rogue with my great toe. 'Tis

no matter if I do halt; I have the wars for my

colour, and my pension shall seem the more

reasonable. A good wit will make use of any-

thing; I will turn diseases to commodity.

 257 Cf. n.

259 Cf. n.

263 prevent: anticipate

267 groat: a coin worth fourpence

279 halt: limp

280 colour: excuse

282 commodity: merchandise to be sold at a profit 