Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/73

King Henry the Fourth, III. ii

justices of the peace: what is your good pleasure

with me?

Bard. My captain, sir, commends him to you;

my captain, Sir John Falstaff: a tall gentleman,

by heaven, and a most gallant leader.

Shal. He greets me well, sir. I knew him a

good backsword man. How doth the good

knight? may I ask how my lady his wife doth?

Bard. Sir, pardon; a soldier is better accom-

modated than with a wife.

Shal. It is well said, in faith, sir; and it is

well said indeed too. 'Better accommodated!'

it is good; yea indeed, is it: good phrases are

surely and ever were, very commendable. Ac-

commodated! it comes of accommodo: very

good; a good phrase.

Bard. Pardon me, sir; I have heard the

word. 'Phrase' call you it? By this good day,

I know not the phrase; but I will maintain the

word with my sword to be a soldier-like word,

and a word of exceeding good command, by

heaven. Accommodated; that is, when a man

is, as they say, accommodated; or, when a man

is, being, whereby, a' may be thought to be

accommodated, which is an excellent thing.

Shal. It is very just. Look, here comes good

Sir John. Give me your good hand, give me

your worship's good hand. By my troth, you

look well and bear your years very well: wel-

come, good Sir John.

 68 tall: doughty

71 backsword man: fighter at single-sticks

73 accommodated; cf. n. 