conclude, I am so good a proficient in one
quarter of an hour, that I can drink with any
tinker in his own language during my life. I
tell thee, Ned, thou hast lost much honour that
thou wert not with me in this action. But, sweet
Ned,—to sweeten which name of Ned, I give thee
this pennyworth of sugar, clapped even now into
my hand by an underskinker, one that never
spake other English in his life than—'Eight
shillings and sixpence,' and—'You are welcome,'
with this shrill addition,—'Anon, anon, sir!
Score a pint of bastard in the Half-moon,' or
so. But, Ned, to drive away the time till Falstaff
come, I prithee do thou stand in some by-room,
while I question my puny drawer to what end
he gave me the sugar; and do thou never leave
calling 'Francis!' that his tale to me may be
nothing but 'Anon.' Step aside, and I'll show
thee a precedent. 37
Poins. Francis!
Prince. Thou art perfect.
Poins. Francis! [Exit Poins.]
Enter Drawer [Francis].
Fran. Anon, anon, sir. Look down into the
Pomgarnet, Ralph.
Prince. Come hither, Francis.
Fran. My lord. 44
Prince. How long hast thou to serve, Francis?
Fran. Forsooth, five years, and as much as to—
Poins [within.] Francis!
21 tinker; cf. n.
26 underskinker: under-tapster
30 bastard: sweet Spanish wine
Half-moon: name of a room in the inn
37 precedent: example
42 Pomgarnet: Pomegranate; a room in the inn
