Pist. Bardolph, a soldier, firm and sound of heart,[4965]
And of buxom valour, hath, by cruel fate,[4965][4966]25
And giddy Fortune's furious fickle wheel,[4965]
That goddess blind,[4965][4967]
That stands upon the rolling restless stone—[4965][4967][4968]
Flu. By your patience, Aunchient Pistol. Fortune is
painted blind, with a muffler afore her eyes, to signify to[4969]30
you that Fortune is blind; and she is painted also with a
wheel, to signify to you, which is the moral of it, that she is
turning, and inconstant, and mutability, and variation: and[4970]
her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls,
and rolls, and rolls: in good truth, the poet makes a most[4971]35
excellent description of it: Fortune is an excellent moral.[4971][4972]
Pist. Fortune is Bardolph's foe, and frowns on him;[4973]
For he hath stolen a pax, and hanged must a' be:[4973][4974]
A damned death![4973][4975]
Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free[4973]40
And let not hemp his wind-pipe suffocate:[4973]
But Exeter hath given the doom of death[4973]
For pax of little price.[4973][4974]
Therefore, go speak; the duke will hear thy voice;[4973]
And let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut[4973]45
With edge of penny cord and vile reproach:[4973]
Speak, captain, for his life, and I will thee requite.[4973]
Flu. Aunchient Pistol, I do partly understand your
meaning.
Pist. Why then, rejoice therefore.50
Flu. Certainly, aunchient, it is not a thing to rejoice at:
for if, look you, he were my brother, I would desire the
duke to use his good pleasure, and put him to execution;[4976]
for discipline ought to be used.[4976]
Pist. Die and be damn'd! and figo for thy friendship![4977]55
Flu. It is well.
Pist. The fig of Spain! [Exit.
Flu. Very good.