William Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor

ACT II. SCENE 2. A room in the Garter Inn.

[Enter FALSTAFF and PISTOL.]

FALSTAFF.
I will not lend thee a penny.

PISTOL.
Why then, the world's mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.
I will retort the sum in equipage.

FALSTAFF.
Not a penny. I have been content, sir, you should
lay my countenance to pawn; I have grated upon my good
friends for three reprieves for you and your coach-fellow,
Nym; or else you had looked through the grate, like a
geminy of baboons. I am damned in hell for swearing to
gentlemen my friends you were good soldiers and tall fellows;
and when Mistress Bridget lost the handle of her fan,
I took 't upon mine honour thou hadst it not.

PISTOL.
Didst not thou share? Hadst thou not fifteen pence?

FALSTAFF.
Reason, you rogue, reason. Thinkest thou I'll
endanger my soul gratis? At a word, hang no more about me,
I am no gibbet for you: go: a short knife and a throng!--
to your manor of Picht-hatch! go. You'll not bear a letter
for me, you rogue!--you stand upon your honour!--Why,
thou unconfinable baseness, it is as much as I can do to
keep the terms of my honour precise. I, I, I myself
sometimes, leaving the fear of God on the left hand, and hiding
mine honour in my necessity, am fain to shuffle, to hedge,
and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce your rags,
your cat-a-mountain looks, your red-lattice phrases, and
your bold-beating oaths, under the shelter of your honour!
You will not do it, you!

PISTOL.
I do relent; what wouldst thou more of man?

[Enter ROBIN.]

ROBIN.
Sir, here's a woman would speak with you.

FALSTAFF.
Let her approach.

[Enter MISTRESS QUICKLY.]

QUICKLY.
Give your worship good morrow.

FALSTAFF.
Good morrow, good wife.