There was some difficulty in getting the knight to arrest his course.
In the first place, he was afflicted with a sudden deafness. This temporary obstacle overcome, he showed an obtuseness of understanding as to what was said to him that was really surprising in a man of his intellectual antecedents. At length the Justice attacked him personally, with—
“Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.”
The Chief Justice had his wish—rather more than his wish, in fact. Sir John Falstaffs manner of gratifying it shall be given in the exact words of the chronicler *:—
* “Henry IV” (Part II.) Act I. Sc. 2.
Sir John Falstaff.—My good lord! God give your lordship good time of day. I am glad to see your lordship abroad; I heard say your lordship was sick: I hope your lordship goes abroad by advice. Your lordship, though not clean past your youth, hath yet some smack of age in you, some relish of the saltness of time; and I most humbly beseech your lordship, to have a reverend care of your health.
Chief Justice.—Sir John, I sent for you before your expedition to Shrewsbury.
Sik John Falstaff.—An’t please your lordship, I hear his majesty is returned with some discomfort from Wales.
Chief Justice.—I talk not of his majesty:—You would not come when I sent for you.
Sir John Falstaff__And I hear, moreover, his highness is fallen into this same villainous apoplexy.