Prince. And why not as the lion?
Fal. The king himself is to be feared as the lion: dost
thou think I'll fear thee as I fear thy father? nay, an I do,[2843]
I pray God my girdle break.[2844]
Prince. O, if it should, how would thy guts fall about145
thy knees! But, sirrah, there's no room for faith, truth,
nor honesty in this bosom of thine; it is all filled up with[2845]
guts and midriff. Charge an honest woman with picking[2846]
thy pocket! why, thou whoreson, impudent, embossed
rascal, if there were anything in thy pocket but150
tavern-reckonings, memorandums of bawdy-houses, and one poor
penny-worth of sugar-candy to make thee long-winded, if
thy pocket were enriched with any other injuries but
these, I am a villain: and yet you will stand to it; you will
not pocket up wrong: art thou not ashamed?155
Fal. Dost thou hear, Hal? thou knowest in the state
of innocency Adam fell; and what should poor Jack Falstaff[2847]
do in the days of villany? Thou seest I have more
flesh than another man; and therefore more frailty. You
confess then, you picked my pocket?160
Prince. It appears so by the story.
Fal. Hostess, I forgive thee: go, make ready breakfast;[2848]
love thy husband, look to thy servants, cherish thy[2848][2849]
guests: thou shalt find me tractable to any honest reason:[2848][2850]
thou seest I am pacified still. Nay, prithee, be gone.[2848][2851]165
[Exit Hostess.] Now, Hal, to the news at court: for the[2852]
robbery, lad, how is that answered?
Prince. O, my sweet beef, I must still be good angel[2853][2854]
to thee: the money is paid back again.[2853]
Fal. O, I do not like that paying back; 'tis a double170
labour.
Prince. I am good friends with my father, and may
do any thing.
Fal. Rob me the exchequer the first thing thou doest,
and do it with unwashed hands too.175