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.
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
