Pleading so wisely in excuse of it! 190 210 To be again displac'd: which to avoid, May waste the memory of the former days. 221 You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me: Then plain and right must my possession be; Which I with more than with a common pain 'Gainst all the world will rightfully maintain. Enter PRINCE JOHN OF LANCASTER. King. Look, look, here comes my John of Lancaster. Lan. Health, peace, and happiness to my royal father! King. Thou bring'st me happiness and peace, son John; But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown From this bare wither'd trunk: upon thy. sight My wordly business makes a period. 230 My Lord of Warwick! Enter WARWICK, and others. King. Doth any name particular belong Unto the lodging where I first did swoon? War. 'T is call'd Jerusalem, my noble lord. King. Laud be to God! even there my life must end. 470 Shal. Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy; let me see, Davy; let me see: yea, marry, William cook, bid him come hither.Sir John, you shall not be excus'd. Davy. Marry, sir, thus; those precepts1 cannot be serv'd: and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland with wheat? Shal. With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook;-are there no young pigeons? Davy. Yes, sir.-Here is now the smith's note for shoeing and plough-irons. 20 Shal. Let it be cast2 and paid.--Sir John, you shall not be excus'd. Davy. Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must needs be had;-and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages, about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair? Shal. A' shall answer it.-Some pigeons, Davy, a couple of short-legg'd hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook. 30 Davy. No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have marvellous foul linen. Shal. Well conceited, Davy. About thy business, Davy. 40 Davy. I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill. Shal. There is many complaints, Davy, Davy. I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance at his friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not. I have serv'd your worship truly, sir, this eight years; and if I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very little credit with your worship. The knave is mine honest friend, sir; SCENE II. Westminster. therefore, I beseech your worship, let him be countenanc'd. 57 Shal. Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look about, Davy.-[Exit Davy.] Where are you, Sir John? Come, come, come, off with your boots.-Give me your hand, Master Bardolph. Bard. I am glad to see your worship. Shal. I thank thee with all my heart, kind Master Bardolph;-and welcome, my tall fellow [to the Page].—Come, Sir John. 3 66 Fal. I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.-[Exit Shallow.] Bardolph, look to our horses.-[Exeunt Bardolph and Page.] If I were saw'd into quantities,1 I should make four dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as Master Shallow. It is a wonderful thing to see the semblable2 coherence of his men's spirits and his: they, by observing of him, do bear themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing with them, is turned into a justice-like serving-man. Their spirits are so married in conjunction with the participation of society that they flock together in consent, like so many wild-geese. If I had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humour his men with the imputation of being near their master; if to his men, I would curry with Master Shallow that no man could better command his servants. It is certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take heed of their company. I will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions, which is four terms, or two actions, and a' shall laugh without intervallums. O, it is much that a lie with a slight oath and a jest with a sad brow I will do with a fellow that never had the ache in his shoulders! O, you shall see him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up! 95 Shal. [Within] Sir John! Fal. I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow. [Exit. 1 Quantities, small pieces. 2 Semblable, similar. 3 Consent, agreement. 4 Intervallums, intervals. Sad, serious. The Palace. Enter WARWICK and the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, meeting. War. How now, my lord chief justice! whither away? Ch. Just. How doth the king? Ch. Just. I hope, not dead. He's walk'd the way of nature, The service that I truly did his life War. Indeed I think the young king loves Ch. Just. I know he doth not, and do arm myself To welcome the condition of the time, Which cannot look more hideously upon me Than I have drawn it in my fantasy. 6 10. The immediate heir of England! Was this easy?1 May this be wash'd in Lethe, and forgotten? Ch. Just. I then did use the person of your father; 81 The image of his power lay then in me: [Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image And mock your workings in a second body. Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours; Be now the father and propose1 a son, 91 95 Hear your own dignity so much profan'd, 101 King. You are right, justice, and you weigh this well; Therefore still bear the balance and the sword: mit me: 110 For which, I do commit into your hand same With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit As you have done 'gainst me.] There is my hand. You shall be as a father to my youth; ear, And I will stoop and humble my intents To your well-practis'd wise directions.11— 121 130 |