Act 5. Scene III - Page 2

thy heart.
Welcome, my little tiny thief.

To the Page

And welcome indeed too. I'll drink to Master
Bardolph, and to all the cavaleros about London.

DAVY
I hove to see London once ere I die.

BARDOLPH
An I might see you there, Davy,--

SHALLOW
By the mass, you'll crack a quart together, ha!
Will you not, Master Bardolph?

BARDOLPH
Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.

SHALLOW
By God's liggens, I thank thee: the knave will
stick by thee, I can assure thee that. A' will not
out; he is true bred.

BARDOLPH
And I'll stick by him, sir.

SHALLOW
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing: be merry.

Knocking within

Look who's at door there, ho! who knocks?

Exit DAVY

FALSTAFF
Why, now you have done me right.

To SILENCE, seeing him take off a bumper

SILENCE
[Singing]
Do me right,
And dub me knight: Samingo.
Is't not so?

FALSTAFF
'Tis so.

SILENCE
Is't so? Why then, say an old man can do somewhat.

Re-enter DAVY

DAVY
An't please your worship, there's one Pistol come
from the court with news.

FALSTAFF
From the court! let him come in.

Enter PISTOL

How now, Pistol!

PISTOL
Sir John, God save you!

FALSTAFF
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?

PISTOL
Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. Sweet
knight, thou art now one of the greatest men in this realm.

SILENCE
By'r lady, I think a' be, but goodman Puff of Barson.

PISTOL
Puff!
Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base!
Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend,
And helter-skelter have I rode to thee,
And tidings do I bring and lucky joys
And golden times and happy news of price.

FALSTAFF
I pray thee now, deliver them like a man of this world.

PISTOL
A foutre for the world and worldlings base!
I speak of Africa and golden joys.

FALSTAFF
O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news?
Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.

SILENCE
And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.

Singing

PISTOL
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies' lap.

SILENCE
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.

PISTOL
Why then, lament therefore.

SHALLOW
Give me pardon, sir: if, sir, you come with news
from the court, I take it there's but two ways,
either to utter them, or to conceal them. I am,
sir, under the king, in some authority.

PISTOL
Under which king, Besonian? speak, or die.

SHALLOW