thy face, the son of utter darkness. When thou
rannest up Gadshill in the night to catch my
horse, if I did not think thou hadst been an
ignis fatuus or a ball of wildfire, there's no
purchase in money. O! thou art a perpetual
triumph, an everlasting bonfire-light. Thou hast
saved me a thousand marks in links and torches,
walking with thee in the night betwixt tavern
and tavern: but the sack that thou hast drunk
me would have bought me lights as good cheap
at the dearest chandler's in Europe. I have
maintained that salamander of yours with fire
any time this two-and-thirty years; God reward
me for it! 55
Bard. 'Sblood, I would my face were in your belly.
Fal. God-a-mercy! so should I be sure to be
heart-burned.
Enter Hostess.
How now, Dame Partlet the hen! have you
inquired yet who picked my pocket? 61
Host. Why, Sir John, what do you think,
Sir John? Do you think I keep thieves in my
house? I have searched, I have inquired, so has
my husband, man by man, boy by boy, servant
by servant: the tithe of a hair was never lost in
my house before. 67
Fal. You lie, hostess: Bardolph was shaved
and lost many a hair; and I'll be sworn my
pocket was picked. Go to, you are a woman; go.
Host. Who, I? No; I defy thee: God's light!
45 ignis fatuus: will o' the wisp
48 links: torches
51 as good cheap: at as good a bargain
53 salamander: mythical animal supposed to live in fire
60 Partlet; cf. n.
