Host. O Jesu, my lord, my lord!—[2567]465
Prince. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a[2568]
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[2569]470
a counterfeit: thou art essentially mad, without seeming so.[2570]
Prince. And thou a natural coward, without instinct.[2571]
Fal. I deny your major: if you will deny the sheriff, 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 as475
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[2572]
conscience.
Fal. Both which I have had: but their date is out, and480
therefore I'll hide me.
Prince. Call in the sheriff.
[Exeunt all except the Prince and Peto.