same fat rogue will tell us when we meet at
supper: how thirty, at least, he fought with;
what wards, what blows, what extremities he
endured; and in the reproof of this lies the jest.
Prince. Well, I'll go with thee: provide us
all things necessary and meet me to-morrow
night in Eastcheap; there I'll sup. Farewell.
Poins. Farewell, my lord. Exit Poins.
Prince. I know you all, and will awhile uphold 217
The unyok'd humour of your idleness:
Yet herein will I imitate the sun,
Who doth permit the base contagious clouds
To smother up his beauty from the world, 221
That when he please again to be himself,
Being wanted, he may be more wonder'd at,
By breaking through the foul and ugly mists
Of vapours that did seem to strangle him. 225
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wish'd for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents. 229
So, when this loose behaviour I throw off,
And pay the debt I never promised,
By how much better than my word I am 232
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes;
And like bright metal on a sullen ground,
My reformation, glittering o'er my fault,
Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes
Than that which hath no foil to set it off. 237
I'll so offend to make offence a skill;
Redeeming time when men think least I will. Exit.
211 wards: guards in fencing
212 reproof: refutation
218 unyok'd humour: unrestrained caprices
220 contagious: pestilential
229 accidents: events
234 sullen: dull
