William Shakespeare: King Henry IV Part I

ACT III. 3. Scene III. Eastcheap. A Room in the Boar's-Head Tavern. (continued)

FAL.
The King himself is to be feared as the lion: dost thou think I'll
fear thee as I fear thy father? nay, an I do, I pray God my girdle
break.

PRINCE.
Sirrah, there's no room for faith, truth, nor honesty in this
bosom of thine; it is all fill'd up with midriff.
Charge an honest woman with picking thy pocket! why, thou whoreson,
impudent, emboss'd rascal, if there were anything in thy pocket but
tavern-reckonings, and one poor pennyworth of sugar-candy to make thee
long-winded,--if thy pocket were enrich'd with any other injuries but
these, I am a villain: and yet you will stand to it; you will not
pocket-up wrong. Art thou not ashamed!

FAL.
Dost thou hear, Hal? thou know'st, in the state of innocency Adam fell;
and what should poor Jack Falstaff do in the days of villainy?
Thou see'st I have more flesh than another man; and therefore more
frailty. You confess, then, you pick'd my pocket?

PRINCE.

It appears so by the story.

FAL.
Hostess, I forgive thee: go, make ready breakfast; love thy husband,
look to thy servants, cherish thy guests: thou shalt find me tractable
to any honest reason; thou see'st I am pacified.--Still? Nay, pr'ythee,
be gone.

[Exit Hostess.]

Now, Hal, to the news at Court: for the robbery, lad, how is
that answered?

PRINCE.
O, my sweet beef, I must still be good angel to thee: the money
is paid back again.

FAL.
O, I do not like that paying back; 'tis a double labour.

PRINCE.
I am good friends with my father, and may do any thing.

FAL.
Rob me the exchequer the first thing thou doest, and do it with
unwash'd hands too.

BARD.
Do, my lord.

PRINCE.
I have procured thee, Jack, a charge of Foot.