Great Britain -- History -- Henry IV, 1399-1413 -- Drama; Henry IV, King of England, 1367-1413 -- Drama; Historical drama
BARDOLPH.
Sir, pardon. A soldier is better accommodated than with a wife.
SHALLOW.
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. “Accommodated.” It comes of
_accommodo_. Very good, a good phrase.
BARDOLPH.
Pardon, sir, I have heard the word—phrase call you it? By this 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 he may be thought to be accommodated; which is
an excellent thing.
SHALLOW.
It is very just.
Enter Falstaff.
Look, here comes good Sir John. Give me your good hand, give me your
worship’s good hand. By my troth, you like well and bear your years
very well. Welcome, good Sir John.
FALSTAFF.
I am glad to see you well, good Master Robert Shallow. Master Surecard,
as I think?
SHALLOW.
No, Sir John, it is my cousin Silence, in commission with me.
FALSTAFF.
Good Master Silence, it well befits you should be of the peace.
SILENCE.
Your good worship is welcome.
FALSTAFF.
Fie, this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have you provided me here half a
dozen sufficient men?
SHALLOW.
Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?
FALSTAFF.
Let me see them, I beseech you.
SHALLOW.
Where’s the roll? Where’s the roll? Where’s the roll? Let me see, let
me see, let me see. So, so, so, so, so, so, so. Yea, marry, sir: Ralph
Mouldy! Let them appear as I call; let them do so, let them do so. Let
me see; where is Mouldy?
MOULDY.
Here, an it please you.
SHALLOW.
What think you, Sir John? A good-limbed fellow, young, strong, and of
good friends.
FALSTAFF.
Is thy name Mouldy?
MOULDY.
Yea, an’t please you.
FALSTAFF.
’Tis the more time thou wert used.
SHALLOW.
Ha, ha, ha! most excellent, i’ faith! Things that are mouldy lack use.
Very singular good, in faith, well said, Sir John, very well said.
FALSTAFF.
Prick him.
MOULDY.
I was pricked well enough before, an you could have let me alone. My
old dame will be undone now for one to do her husbandry and her
drudgery. You need not to have pricked me, there are other men fitter
to go out than I.
FALSTAFF.
Go to. Peace, Mouldy; you shall go. Mouldy, it is time you were spent.
MOULDY.
Spent?
SHALLOW.
Peace, fellow, peace. Stand aside. Know you where you are? For
th’other, Sir John. Let me see: Simon Shadow!
FALSTAFF.
Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under. He’s like to be a cold
soldier.
SHALLOW.
Where’s Shadow?
SHADOW.
Here, sir.
FALSTAFF.
Shadow, whose son art thou?
SHADOW.
My mother’s son, sir.
FALSTAFF.
Thy mother’s son! Like enough, and thy father’s shadow. So the son of
the female is the shadow of the male. It is often so indeed, but much
of the father’s substance!
SHALLOW.
Do you like him, Sir John?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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