Fal. Why, Hal, 'tis my vocation, Hal; 'tis no
sin for a man to labour in his vocation.
Enter Poins.
Poins! Now shall we know if Gadshill have set
a match. O! if men were to be saved by merit,
what hole in hell were hot enough for him? This
is the most omnipotent villain that ever cried
'Stand!' to a true man. 122
Prince. Good morrow, Ned.
Poins. Good morrow, sweet Hal. What says
Monsieur Remorse? What says Sir John Sack-
and-Sugar? Jack! how agrees the devil and thee
about thy soul, that thou soldest him on Good-
Friday last for a cup of Madeira and a cold
capon's leg? 129
Prince. Sir John stands to his word, the devil
shall have his bargain; for he was never yet a
breaker of proverbs: he will give the devil his due.
Poins. Then art thou damned for keeping thy
word with the devil.
Prince. Else he had been damned for cozen-
ing the devil. 136
Poins. But my lads, my lads, to-morrow
morning, by four o'clock, early at Gadshill!
There are pilgrims going to Canterbury with
rich offerings, and traders riding to London with
fat purses: I have vizards for you all; you have
horses for yourselves. Gadshill lies to-night in
Rochester; I have bespoke supper to-morrow
night in Eastcheap: we may do it as secure as
sleep. If you will go I will stuff your purses full
118 Gadshill; cf. n.
set a match: planned a robbery
135 cozening: cheating
141 vizards: masks
144 Eastcheap; cf. n.
