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42 Pist. And I:

'If wishes would prevail with me, My purpose should not fail with me, But thither would I hie.'

Boy.'As duly,

But not as truly, As bird doth sing on bough.'

Flu. Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions!

Pist. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould!

Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage!

Abate thy rage, great duke!

Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!

Nym. These be good humours! your honour

wins bad humours.

Exit [with Pistol and Bardolph].

Boy. [Aside.] As young as I am, I have ob-

served these three swashers. I am boy to them

all three, but all they three, though they would

serve me, could not be man to me; for indeed

three such antics do not amount to a man. For

Bardolph, he is white-livered and red-faced; by

the means whereof, a' faces it out, but fights not.

For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue and a quiet

sword; by the means whereof a' breaks words,

and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath

heard that men of few words are the best men;

and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a'

should be thought a coward: but his few bad words

 23 cullions: wretches

24 men of mould: men of earth; i.e., mere mortals

27 bawcock, chuck: terms of endearment

31 swashers: braggarts

34 antics: buffoons 