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The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare
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Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso
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08
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02_01
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1991-04-10
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129 lines
Rochester. An Inn yard.
Enter a CARRIER with a lantern in his hand.
1st Carrier Heigh-ho! An it be not four by the day, I'll be hanged.
Charles' Wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse
not packed. What, ostler!
Ostler [Within.] Anon, anon.
1st Carrier I prithee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the
point; poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess.
Enter another CARRIER.
2nd Carrier Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog, and that is the
next way to give poor jades the bots. This house is turned
upside down since Robin Ostler died.
1st Carrier Poor fellow never joyed since the price of oats rose - it
was the death of him.
2nd Carrier I think this be the most villainous house in all London
road for fleas; I am stung like a tench.
1st Carrier Like a tench? By the mass, there is ne'er a king christen
could be better bit than I have been since the first cock.
2nd Carrier Why, they will allow us ne'er a jordan, and then we leak
in your chimney, and your chamber-lye breeds fleas like a
loach.
1st Carrier What, ostler! Come away and be hanged, come away!
2nd Carrier I have a gammon of bacon and two razes of ginger to be
delivered as far as Charing Cross.
1st Carrier Godsbody! The turkeys in my pannier are quite starved.
What, ostler! A plague on thee! Hast thou never an eye in
thy head? Canst not hear? And 'twere not as good deed as
drink to break the pate on thee, I am a very villain.
Come, and be hanged! Hast no faith in thee?
Enter GADSHILL.
Gadshill Good morrow, carriers, what's o'clock?
1st Carrier I think it be two o'clock.
Gadshill I prithee lend me thy lantern to see my gelding in the
stable.
1st Carrier Nay, by God, soft! I know a trick worth two of that,
i'faith.
Gadshill [To 2nd CARRIER.] I pray thee lend me thine.
2nd Carrier Ay, when? Canst tell? Lend me thy lantern, quoth he!
Marry, I'll see thee hanged first.
Gadshill Sirrah carrier, what time do you mean to come to London?
2nd Carrier Time enough to go to bed with a candle, I warrant thee.
Come, neighbour Mugs, we'll call up the gentlemen; they
will along with company, for they have great charge.
[Exeunt CARRIERS.
Gadshill What ho, Chamberlain!
Enter CHAMBERLAIN.
Chamberlain "At hand, quoth pick-purse."
Gadshill That's even as fair as "At hand, quoth the chamberlain";
for thou variest no more from picking of purses than
giving direction doth from labouring: thou layst the plot
how.
Chamberlain Good morrow, master Gadshill. It holds current that I told
you yesternight: there's a franklin in the Wild of Kent
hath brought three hundred marks with him in gold. I heard
him tell it to one of his company last night at supper - a
kind of auditor, one that hath abundance of charge too,
God knows what. They are up already, and call for eggs and
butter. They will away presently.
Gadshill Sirrah, if they meet not with Saint Nicholas' clerks, I'll
give thee this neck.
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 John
hangs with me, and thou knowest he is no starveling. Tut,
there are other Trojans 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 with no
foot-landrakers, no long-staff sixpenny strikers, none of
these mad mustachio purple-hued 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 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? 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 fern-seed,
we walk invisible.
Chamberlain Nay, by my faith, I think you are more beholding to the
night than to fern-seed 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 false thief.
Gadshill Go to; homo is a common name to all men. Bid the ostler
bring my gelding out of the stable. Farewell, you muddy
knave.
[Exeunt.