[Enter a Carrier with a lantern in his hand]
First Carrier
Heigh-ho! an it be not four by the day,
I’ll be hanged: Charles’ wain is over the new chimney,
and yet our horse not packed. What, ostler!
Ostler [Within] Anon, anon.
First Carrier I prithee, Tom, beat Cut’s saddle, put
a few flocks in the point; poor jade, is wrung in the
withers out of all cess.
[Enter another Carrier]
Second Carrier
Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog,
and that is the next way to give poor jades the bots:
this house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died.
First Carrier Poor fellow, never joyed since the price
of oats rose; it was the death of him.
Second Carrier I think this be the most villanous house
in all London road for fleas: I am stung like a tench.
First Carrier What, ostler! come away and be hanged!
Second Carrier I have a gammon of bacon and two razors
of ginger, to be delivered as far as Charing-cross.
First Carrier God’s body! the turkeys in my pannier
are quite starved.
Second Carrier Come, neighbour Mugs, we’ll call up
the gentleman: they will along with company,
for they have great charge.
[Exeunt carriers]
GADSHILL What, ho! chamberlain!
Chamberlain [Within] At hand, quoth pick-purse.
Good morrow, Master Gadshill. It holds current that
I told you yesternight: there’s a franklin in the
wild of Kent hath brought three hundred marks with
him in gold: I heard him tell it to one of his
company last night at supper; a kind of auditor; one
that hath abundance of charge too, God knows what.
They are up already, and call for eggs and butter;
they will away presently.
GADSHILL Sirrah, if they meet not with Saint Nicholas’
clerks, I’ll give thee this neck.
Chamberlain No, I’ll none of it: I pray thee keep that for the
hangman; for I know thou worshippest St. Nicholas
as truly as a man of falsehood may.
GADSHILL
What talkest thou to me of the hangman? if I hang,
I’ll make a fat pair of gallows; for if I hang, old
Sir John hangs with me, and thou knowest he is no
starveling. Tut! there are other Trojans that thou
dreamest not of, the which for sport sake are
content to do the profession some grace; that would,
if matters should be looked into, for their own
credit sake, make all whole. I am joined with no
foot-land rakers, no long-staff sixpenny strikers,
none of these mad mustachio purple-hued malt-worms;
but with nobility and tranquillity, burgomasters and
great oneyers…
Give me thy hand: thou shalt have a share in our
purchase, as I am a true man.
Chamberlain Nay, rather let me have it,
as you are a false thief.
GADSHILL Go to; ‘homo’ is a common name to all men.
Bid the ostler bring my gelding out of the stable.
Farewell, you muddy knave.
Playlist Henry IV Part One | Dramatis Personea | Plays & Info