Bardolph, banish Poins: but for sweet Jack Fal-
staff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, val-
iant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant, 510
being, as he is, old Jack Falstaff, banish not him
thy Harry's company, banish not him thy
Harry's company: banish plump Jack, and ban-
ish all the world.

Prince. I do, I will.

[A knocking heard. [Exeunt Hostess, Francis, and Bardolph.

Re-enter Bardolph, running.

Bard. O, my lord, my lord! the sheriff with a most monstrous watch is at the door.

Fal. Out, ye rogue! Play out the play: I have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff.

Re-enter the Hostess.

Host. O Jesu, my lord, my lord!—

Prince. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a fiddlestick: what's the matter?

Host. The sheriff and all the watch are at the door : they are come to search the house. Shall I let them in?

Fal. Dost thou hear, Hal? never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit: thou art essentially mad, without seeming so.

520

Prince. And thou a natural coward, without instinct. Fal. I deny your major: if you will deny the sheriff, 530 so; if not, let him enter: if I become not a cart as well as another man, a plague on my bringing up! I hope I shall as soon be strangled with a halter as another.

Prince. Go, hide thee behind the arras: the rest walk up above. Now, my masters, for a true face and good conscience.

Fal. Both which I have had: but their date is out, and therefore I'll hide me.

Prince. Call in the sheriff.

540

[Exeunt all except the Prince and Peto.

Enter Sheriff and the Carrier.

Now, master sheriff, what is your will with me? Sher. First, pardon me, my lord. A hue and cry Hath follow'd certain men unto this house.

Prince. What men?

Sher. One of them is well known, my gracious lord,
A gross fat man.

Car.

As fat as butter.

Prince. The man, I do assure you, is not here;
For I myself at this time have employ'd him.
And, sheriff, I will engage my word to thee
That I will, by to-morrow dinner-time,
Send him to answer thee, or any man,
For any thing he shall be charged withal:
And so let me entreat you leave the house.
Sher. I will, my lord. There are two gentlemen
Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks.
Prince. It may be so: if he have robb'd these men,
He shall be answerable; and so farewell.

Sher. Good night, my noble lord.

Prince. I think it is good morrow, is it not?
Sher. Indeed, my lord, I think it be two o'clock.

550

560

[Exeunt Sheriff and Carrier.

Prince. This oily rascal is known as well as Paul's.
Go, call him forth.

Peto. Falstaff!-Fast asleep behind the arras, and
snorting like a horse.

Prince. Hark, how hard he fetches breath. Search his pockets. [He searcheth his pockets and findeth certain papers.] What hast thou found? Peto. Nothing but papers, my lord.

Prince. Let's see what they be read them.

Peto. [Reads] Item, A capon,

Item, Sauce,

2s. 2d.
4d.

570

Prince. O monstrous! but one half-pennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack! What there is else, keep close; we'll read it at more advantage: there let him sleep till day. I'll to the court in the morning. We must all to 580 the wars, and thy place shall be honourable. I'll procure this fat rogue a charge of foot; and I know his death will be a march of twelvescore. The money shall be paid back again with advantage. Be with me betimes in the morning; and so, good morrow, Peto.

Peto. Good morrow, good my lord.

[Exeunt.