William Shakespeare: King Henry IV Part II

ACT II. 1. SCENE I. London. A street. (continued)

FALSTAFF.
Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking: and for thy walls, a pretty
slight drollery, or the story of the Prodigal, or the German hunting
in water-work, is worth a thousand of these bed-hangings and
these fly-bitten tapestries. Let it be ten pound, if thou canst.
Come, an 'twere not for thy humours, there's not a better wench in
England. Go, wash thy face, and draw the action. Come, thou must not be
in this humour with me; dost not know me? come, come, I know thou wast
set on to this.

HOSTESS.
Pray thee, Sir John, let it be but twenty nobles: i' faith,
I am loath to pawn my plate, so God save me, la!

FALSTAFF.
Let it alone; I'll make other shift: you'll be a fool still.

HOSTESS.
Well, you shall have it, though I pawn my gown. I hope
you'll come to supper. You'll pay me all together?

FALSTAFF.
Will I live? [To Bardolph.] Go, with her, with her;
hook on, hook on.

HOSTESS.
Will you have Doll Tearsheet meet you at supper?

FALSTAFF.
No more words; let 's have her.

[Exeunt Hostess, Bardolph, Officers, and Boy.]

CHIEF JUSTICE.
I have heard better news.

FALSTAFF.
What 's the news, my lord?

CHIEF JUSTICE.
Where lay the king last night?

GOWER.
At Basingstoke, my lord.

FALSTAFF.
I hope, my lord, all 's well: what is the news, my lord?

CHIEF JUSTICE.
Come all his forces back?

GOWER.
No; fifteen hundred foot, five hundred horse,
Are march'd up to my Lord of Lancaster,
Against Northumberland and the Archbishop.

FALSTAFF.
Comes the king back from Wales, my noble lord?