member the poor creature, small beer. But,
indeed, these humble considerations make me out
of love with my greatness. What a disgrace is
it to me to remember thy name, or to know 16
thy face to-morrow! or to take note how many
pair of silk stockings thou hast; viz. these, and
those that were thy peach-coloured ones! or to
bear the inventory of thy shirts; as, one for 20
superfluity, and another for use! But that the
tennis-court-keeper knows better than I, for it
is a low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest
not racket there; as thou hast not done a great 24
while, because the rest of thy low-countries have
made a shift to eat up thy holland: and God
knows whether those that bawl out the ruins
of thy linen shall inherit his kingdom; but the 28
midwives say the children are not in the fault;
whereupon the world increases, and kindreds
are mightily strengthened.
Poins. How ill it follows, after you have 32
laboured so hard, you should talk so idly! Tell
me, how many good young princes would do
so, their fathers being so sick as yours at this
time is? 36
Prince. Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?
Poins. Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent
good thing.
Prince. It shall serve among wits of no higher 40
breeding than thine.
Poins. Go to; I stand the push of your one
thing that you will tell.
Prince. Marry, I tell thee, it is not meet that 44
I should be sad, now my father is sick: albeit I
25-31 Cf. n.
42 push: thrust
