Page 1017 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

SNARE

It may chance cost some of us our lives, for he will stab.

HOSTESS
Alas the day! Take heed of him. He stabbed me in mine own house, [and
that] most beastly. In good faith, he cares not what mischief he does, if his
weapon [15] be out. He will foin like any devil; he will spare neither man,

woman, nor child.

FANG
If I can close with him, I care not for his thrust.

HOSTESS
No, nor I neither. I’ll be at your elbow.

FANG
An I but fist him once, an ’a come but within my [20] vice −

HOSTESS
I am undone by his going. I warrant you, he’s an infinitive thing upon my
score. Good Master Fang, hold him sure. Good Master Snare, let him not

’scape. ’A comes continuantly to Pie Corner − saving your manhoods [25] −
to buy a saddle; and he is indited to dinner to the Lubber’s Head in Lumbert
Street, to Master Smooth’s the silkman. I pray you, since my exion is entered
and my case so openly known to the world, let him be brought in to his

answer. A hundred mark is a [30] long one for a poor lone woman to bear,
and I have borne, and borne, and borne, and have been fubbed off, and
fubbed off, and fubbed off, from this day to that day, that it is a shame to be
thought on. There is no honesty in such dealing, unless a woman should be

made [35] an ass and a beast, to bear every knave’s wrong. Yonder he
comes, and that arrant malmsey-nose knave, Bardolph, with him. Do your
offices, do your offices. Master Fang and Master Snare, do me, do me, do me
your offices. [40]

Enter Sir John [Falstaff] and Bardolph, and the Boy [Page].

FALSTAFF

How now! Whose mare ’s dead? What’s the matter?