Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/44

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member the poor creature, small beer. But,

indeed, these humble considerations make me out

of love with my greatness. What a disgrace is

it to me to remember thy name, or to know

thy face to-morrow! or to take note how many

pair of silk stockings thou hast; viz. these, and

those that were thy peach-coloured ones! or to

bear the inventory of thy shirts; as, one for

superfluity, and another for use! But that the

tennis-court-keeper knows better than I, for it

is a low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest

not racket there; as thou hast not done a great

while, because the rest of thy low-countries have

made a shift to eat up thy holland: and God

knows whether those that bawl out the ruins

of thy linen shall inherit his kingdom; but the

midwives say the children are not in the fault;

whereupon the world increases, and kindreds

are mightily strengthened.

Poins. How ill it follows, after you have

laboured so hard, you should talk so idly! Tell

me, how many good young princes would do

so, their fathers being so sick as yours at this

time is?

Prince. Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?

Poins. Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent

good thing.

Prince. It shall serve among wits of no higher

breeding than thine.

Poins. Go to; I stand the push of your one

thing that you will tell.

Prince. Marry, I tell thee, it is not meet that

I should be sad, now my father is sick: albeit I

 25-31 Cf. n.

42 push: thrust 