Ill-weav'd ambition, how much art thou shrunk!
When that this body did contain a spirit, 89
A kingdom for it was too small a bound;
But now, two paces of the vilest earth
Is room enough: this earth, that bears thee dead, 92
Bears not alive so stout a gentleman.
If thou wert sensible of courtesy,
I should not make so dear a show of zeal:
But let my favours hide thy mangled face, 96
And, even in thy behalf, I'll thank myself
For doing these fair rites of tenderness.
Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!
Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave, 100
But not remember'd in thy epitaph!
What! old acquaintance! could not all this flesh
Keep in a little life? Poor Jack, farewell!
I could have better spar'd a better man. 104
O! I should have a heavy miss of thee
If I were much in love with vanity.
Death hath not struck so fat a deer to-day,
Though many dearer, in this bloody fray. 108
Embowell'd will I see thee by and by:
Till then in blood by noble Percy lie. Exit.
Falstaff riseth up.
Fal. Embowelled! if thou embowel me to-
day, I'll give you leave to powder me and
eat me too, to-morrow. 'Sblood! 'twas time to
counterfeit, or that hot termagant Scot had paid
me scot and lot too. Counterfeit? I lie, I am no
93 stout: valiant
95 dear: affectionate
96 favours: a knot of ribbons worn by a knight, the gift of his lady
109 Embowell'd: disembowelled for embalming
112 powder: salt
114 termagant: violent; cf. n.
115 scot and lot: a tax paid according to one's ability and resources
