young men must live. You are grand-jurors
are ye? We'll jure ye, i' faith. 101
Here they rob them and bind them. Exeunt.
Enter the Prince and Poins.
Prince. The thieves have bound the true men.
Now could thou and I rob the thieves and go
merrily to London, it would be argument for a
week, laughter for a month, and a good jest for
ever. 106
Poins. Stand close; I hear them coming.
Enter the thieves again.
Fal. Come, my masters; let us share, and
then to horse before day. An the Prince and
Poins be not two arrant cowards, there's no
equity stirring: there's no more valour in that
Poins than in a wild duck. 112
Prince. Your money!
Poins. Villains!
As they are sharing, the Prince and Poins set upon them. They all run away; and Falstaff, after a blow or two, runs away too, leaving the booty behind them.
Prince. Got with much ease. Now merrily to horse:
The thieves are scatter'd and possess'd with fear
So strongly that they dare not meet each other;
Each takes his fellow for an officer.
Away, good Ned. Falstaff sweats to death
And lards the lean earth as he walks along: 120
Were 't not for laughing I should pity him.
Poins. How the rogue roar'd! Exeunt.
101 jure: a verb of Falstaff's own making
104 argument: subject for conversation
