Sil. 'Be merry, be merry, my wife has all;
For women are shrews, both short and tall:
'Tis merry in hall when beards wag all,
And welcome merry Shrove-tide. 36
Be merry, be merry.'
Fal. I did not think Master Silence had been
a man of this mettle.
Sil. Who, I? I have been merry twice and 40
once ere now.
[Enter Davy.]
Davy. There's a dish of leather-coats for you.
Shal. Davy!
Davy. Your worship! I'll be with you straight. 44
A cup of wine, sir?
Sil. 'A cup of wine that's brisk and fine
And drink unto the leman mine;
And a merry heart lives long-a.' 48
Fal. Well said, Master Silence.
Sil. And we shall be merry, now comes in the
sweet o' the night.
Fal. Health and long life to you, Master 52
Silence.
Sil. 'Fill the cup, and let it come;
I'll pledge you a mile to the bottom.'
Shal. Honest Bardolph, welcome: if thou want- 56
est anything and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart.
[To the Page.] Welcome, my little tiny thief;
and welcome indeed too. I'll drink to Master
Bardolph and to all the cavaleros about London. 60
36 Shrove-tide: a time of special merriment at the close of the carnival
42 leather-coats: russet apples
47 leman: sweetheart
60 cavaleros: cavaliers
