Prince. Belike then my appetite was not princely got;
for, by my troth, I do now remember the poor creature,[3555]10
small beer. But, indeed, these humble considerations make
me out of love with my greatness. What a disgrace is it
to me to remember thy name! or to know thy face
tomorrow! or to take note how many pair of silk stockings[3556]
thou hast, viz. these, and those that were thy peach-coloured[3557]15
ones! or to bear the inventory of thy shirts, as, one for[3558]
superfluity, and another for use! But that the[3559]
tennis-court-keeper knows better than I; for it is a low ebb of linen with
thee when thou keepest not racket there; as thou hast not[3560]
done a great while, because the rest of thy low countries[3561]20
have made a shift to eat up thy holland: and God knows[3562][3563]
whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen shall[3563][3564]
inherit his kingdom: but the midwives say the children[3563]
are not in the fault; whereupon the world increases, and[3563]
kindreds are mightily strengthened.[3563]25
Poins. How ill it follows, after you have laboured so
hard, you should talk so idly! Tell me, how many good
young princes would do so, their fathers being so sick as[3565]
yours at this time is?[3566]
Prince. Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?30
Poins. Yes, faith; and let it be an excellent good thing.[3567]
Prince. It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding
than thine.
Poins. Go to; I stand the push of your one thing that
you will tell.[3568]35
Prince. Marry, I tell thee, it is not meet that I should[3569]
be sad, now my father is sick: albeit I could tell to thee, as
to one it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend,
I could be sad, and sad indeed too.
Poins. Very hardly upon such a subject.40
Prince. By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the[3570]
devil's book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency:
let the end try the man. But I tell thee, my heart
bleeds inwardly that my father is so sick: and keeping such[3571]
vile company as thou art hath in reason taken from me all45
ostentation of sorrow.
Poins. The reason?[3572]