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HENRY IV, PART I
A monologue from Act II, Scene ii
by: William Shakespeare
NOTE: Henry IV, Part I was originally published in 1598. It is now a public domain work and may be performed without royalties. |
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FALSTAFF: I am accursed to rob in that theive's company. The
rascal hath removed my horse and tied him I know not where. If
I travel but four foot by the squire [1]
further afoot, I shall break my wind. Well, I doubt not but to
die a fair death for all this, if I scape hanging for killing
that rogue. I have forsworn his company hourly any time this
two-and-twenty years, and yet I am bewitched with the rogue's
company. If the rascal have not given me medicines to make me
love him, I'll be hanged. It could not be else: I have drunk
medicines. Poins! Hal! A plague upon you both! Bardolph! Peto!
I'll starve ere I'll rob a foot further. An 'twere not as good
a deed as drink to turn true man and to leave these rogues, I
am the veriest varlet [2] that ever
chewed a tooth. Eight yards of uneven ground is threescore and
ten miles afoot with me, and the stony-hearted villains know
it well enough. A plague upon it when thieves cannot be true
one to another! A plague upon you all! Give me my horse, you
rogues! Give me my horse and be hanged!
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