Prince. It will not be accepted, on my life.
The Douglas and the Hotspur both together 116
Are confident against the world in arms.
King. Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge;
For, on their answer, will we set on them;
And God befriend us, as our cause is just! 120
Fal. Hal, if thou see me down in the battle,
and bestride me, so; 'tis a point of friendship.
Prince. Nothing but a colossus can do thee
that friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell.
Fal. I would it were bed-time, Hal, and all
well. 126
Prince. Why, thou owest God a death.
Fal. 'Tis not due yet: I would be loath to
pay him before his day. What need I be so
forward with him that calls not on me? Well,
'tis no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea, but
how if honour prick me off when I come on?
how then? Can honour set to a leg? No. Or an
arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound?
No. Honour hath no skill in surgery then? No.
What is honour? a word. What is that word,
honour? Air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it?
he that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it?
No. Doth he hear it? No. It is insensible
then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live
with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not
suffer it. Therefore I'll none of it: honour is a
mere scutcheon; and so ends my catechism. 143
127-128 Cf. n.
143 scutcheon: shield with armorial bearings, carried in funeral processions
