panied: for though the camomile, the more it is
trodden on the faster it grows, yet youth, the
more it is wasted the sooner it wears: That thou
art my son, I have partly thy mother's word, part-
ly my own opinion; but chiefly, a villainous trick
of thine eye and a foolish hanging of thy nether
lip, that doth warrant me. If then thou be son to
me, here lies the point; why, being son to me,
art thou so pointed at? Shall the blessed sun of
heaven prove a micher and eat blackberries? a
question not to be asked. Shall the son of Eng-
land prove a thief and take purses? a question
to be asked. There is a thing, Harry, which thou
hast often heard of, and it is known to many in
our land by the name of pitch: this pitch, as an-
cient writers do report, doth defile; so doth the
company thou keepest; for, Harry, now I do not-
speak to thee in drink, but in tears, not in plea-
sure but in passion, not in words only, but in
woes also. And yet there is a virtuous man
whom I have often noted in thy company, but I
know not his name. 467
Prince. What manner of man, an it like your
majesty?
Fal. A goodly portly man, i' faith, and a cor-
pulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a
most noble carriage; and, as I think, his age
some fifty, or by'r lady, inclining to threescore;
and now I remember me, his name is Falstaff: if
that man should be lewdly given, he deceiveth
me; for, Harry, I see virtue in his looks. If then
the tree may be known by the fruit, as the fruit
446 camomile: a strong-scented herb
451 nether: lower
455 micher: truant
