The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Fal._ O, thou hast damnable iteration and art indeed[2054]
able to corrupt a saint. Thou hast done much harm upon[2055]
me, Hal; God forgive thee for it! Before I knew thee, 90
Hal, I knew nothing; and now am I, if a man should[2056]
speak truly, little better than one of the wicked. I must
give over this life, and I will give it over: by the Lord, an[2057]
I do not, I am a villain: I'll be damned for never a king's
son in Christendom. 95
_Prince._ Where shall we take a purse to-morrow, Jack?
_Fal._ 'Zounds, where thou wilt, lad; I'll make one; an[2058]
I do not, call me villain and baffle me.
_Prince._ I see a good amendment of life in thee; from
praying to purse-taking. 100
_Fal._ Why, Hal, 'tis my vocation, Hal; 'tis no sin for
a man to labour in his vocation.
_Enter_ POINS.[2059]
Poins! Now shall we know if Gadshill have set a match.[2060][2061]
O, if men were to be saved by merit, what hole in hell
were hot enough for him? This is the most omnipotent 105
villain that ever cried 'Stand' to a true man.
_Prince._ Good morrow, Ned.
_Poins._ Good morrow, sweet Hal. What says Monsieur
Remorse? what says Sir John Sack and Sugar?[2062]
Jack! how agrees the devil and thee about thy soul,
that[2062][2063] 110
thou soldest him on Good-Friday last for a cup of Madeira
and a cold capon's leg?
_Prince._ Sir John stands to his word, the devil shall
have his bargain; for he was never yet a breaker of proverbs:[2064]
he will give the devil his due.[2065] 115
_Poins._ Then art thou damned for keeping thy word
with the devil.
_Prince._ Else he had been damned for cozening the[2066]
devil.
_Poins._ But, my lads, my lads, to-morrow morning, by 120
four o'clock, early at Gadshill! there are pilgrims going to[2067]
Canterbury with rich offerings, and traders riding to London
with fat purses: I have vizards for you all; you have
horses for yourselves: Gadshill lies to-night in Rochester:
I have bespoke supper to-morrow night in Eastcheap: we[2068] 125
may do it as secure as sleep. If you will go, I will stuff
your purses full of crowns; if you will not, tarry at home[2069]
and be hanged.
_Fal._ Hear ye, Yedward; if I tarry at home and go[2070]
not, I'll hang you for going. 130
_Poins._ You will, chops?
_Fal._ Hal, wilt thou make one?
_Prince._ Who, I rob? I a thief? not I, by my faith.[2071]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account