19 The First Part of King Henry the Fourth Act II
ACT II
SCENE I. Rochester. An Inn-Yard.
Enter a Carrier with a lantern in his hand.
FIRST CARRIER.
Heigh-ho! an it be not four by the day, I’ll be hang’d.
Charles’ wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse not
pack’d.—What, ostler!
OSTLER.
[within.] Anon, anon.
FIRST CARRIER.
I prithee, Tom, beat Cut’s saddle, put a few flocks in the point;
poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess.
Enter another Carrier.
SECOND CARRIER.
Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog, and that is the next way to give poor
jades the bots. This house is turned upside down since Robin ostler died.
FIRST CARRIER.
Poor fellow never joyed since the price of oats rose, it was the death of him.
SECOND CARRIER.
I think this be the most villainous house in all London road for fleas. I am
stung like a tench.
FIRST CARRIER.
Like a tench! By the Mass, there is ne’er a king christen could be
better bit than I have been since the first cock.
SECOND CARRIER.
FIRST CARRIER.
What, ostler! Come away and be hanged, come away.
SECOND CARRIER.
I have a gammon of bacon and two razes of ginger, to be delivered as far as
Charing Cross.
FIRST CARRIER.
God’s body! The turkeys in my pannier are quite starved.—What,
ostler! A plague on thee! Hast thou never an eye in thy head? Canst not hear?
An ’twere not as good deed as drink to break the pate on thee, I am a
very villain. Come, and be hanged. Hast no faith in thee?
Enter Gadshill.
GADSHILL.
Good morrow, carriers. What’s o’clock?
FIRST CARRIER.
I think it be two o’clock.
GADSHILL.
I prithee, lend me thy lantern, to see my gelding in the stable.
FIRST CARRIER.
Nay, by God, soft! I know a trick worth two of that, i’faith.
GADSHILL.
I pray thee, lend me thine.
SECOND CARRIER.
Ay, when? Canst tell? “Lend me thy lantern,” quoth he! Marry,
I’ll see thee hanged first.
GADSHILL.
Sirrah carrier, what time do you mean to come to London?
SECOND CARRIER.
Time enough to go to bed with a candle, I warrant thee. Come, neighbour
Mugs, we’ll call up the gentlemen. They will along with company, for
they have great charge.
[Exeunt Carriers.]
GADSHILL.
What, ho! Chamberlain!
Enter Chamberlain.
CHAMBERLAIN.
At hand, quoth pick-purse.
GADSHILL.
That’s even as fair as “at hand, quoth the chamberlain,” for thou
variest no more from picking of purses than giving direction doth from
labouring; thou layest the plot how.
CHAMBERLAIN.
Good morrow, Master Gadshill. It holds current that I told you yesternight:
there’s a franklin in the Wild of Kent hath brought three hundred marks
with him in gold. I heard him tell it to one of his company last night at
supper; a kind of auditor, one that hath abundance of charge too, God knows
what. They are up already, and call for eggs and butter. They will away
presently.
GADSHILL.
Sirrah, if they meet not with Saint Nicholas’ clerks, I’ll give
thee this neck.
CHAMBERLAIN.
No, I’ll none of it. I pray thee, keep that for the hangman, for I
know thou worshippest Saint Nichola