William Shakespeare: King Henry IV Part II

ACT V. 3. SCENE III. Gloucestershire. Shallow's orchard. (continued)

SHALLOW.
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
conceal them.
I am, sir, under the king, in some authority.

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

SHALLOW.
Under King Harry.

PISTOL.
Harry the Fourth? or Fifth?

SHALLOW.
Harry the Fourth.

PISTOL.
A foutre for thine office!
Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is king;
Harry the Fifth's the man. I speak the truth.
When Pistol lies, do this; and fig me, like
The bragging Spaniard.

FALSTAFF.
What, is the old king dead?

PISTOL.
As nail in door: the things I speak are just.

FALSTAFF.
Away, Bardolph! saddle my horse. Master Robert Shallow,
choose what office thou wilt in the land, 'tis thine. Pistol, I
will double-charge thee with dignities.

BARDOLPH.
O joyful day!
I would not take a knighthood for my fortune.

PISTOL.
What! I do bring good news.

FALSTAFF.
Carry Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow,--
be what thou wilt; I am fortune's steward--get on thy boots:
we'll ride all night. O sweet Pistol! Away, Bardolph!

[Exit Bardolph.]

Come, Pistol, utter more to me; and withal devise something to do
thyself good. Boot, boot, Master Shallow: I know the young king is
sick for me. Let us take any man's horses; the laws of England are at
my commandment. Blessed are they that have been my friends; and woe
to my lord chief-justice!

PISTOL.
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also!
"Where is the life that late I led?" say they:
Why, here it is; welcome these pleasant days!

[Exeunt.]