Page 690 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

CHAMBERLAIN

No, I’ll none of it. I pray thee keep that for the hangman; for I know thou
worshippest Saint 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 [65] John hangs with me, and thou knowest he

is no starveling. Tut! there are other Troyans that thou dream’st 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 [70] with no foot land-rakers, no long-staff six-penny strikers, none

of these mad mustachio purplehued maltworms; but with nobility and
tranquillity, burgomasters and great oneyers, such as can hold in, such as will
strike sooner than speak, and speak sooner than drink, and [75] drink sooner
than pray; and yet, zounds, I lie; for they pray continually to their saint, the

commonwealth, or rather, not pray to her, but prey on her, for they ride up
and down on her and make her their boots.

CHAMBERLAIN
What, the commonwealth their boots? [80] Will she hold out water in foul
way?

GADSHILL
She will, she will! Justice hath liquored her. We steal as in a castle, cocksure.

We have the receipt of fernseed, we walk invisible.

CHAMBERLAIN

Nay, by my faith, I think you are more [85] beholding to the night than to
fernseed for your walking invisible.

GADSHILL
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 [90] false thief.