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PP

Scene 4

London. A street.

(Beadle; Officers; Hostess Quickly; Doll Tearsheet)

The Beadle arrests Doll and Hostess Quickly, because a man whom they and Pistol beat is dead. The Hostess wishes Falstaff were there to set things right. (14 lines)

Enter Beadle and three or four Officers with Hostess Quickly and Doll Tearsheet.

HOST.

No, thou arrant knave, I would to God that I might die, that I might have thee hang’d. Thou hast drawn my shoulder out of joint.

BEAD.

The constables have deliver’d her over to me, and she shall have whipping cheer, I warrant her. There hath been a man or two kill’d about her.

DOLL.

Nuthook, nuthook, you lie. Come on! I’ll tell thee what, thou damn’d tripe-visag’d rascal, and the child I go with do miscarry, thou wert better thou hadst struck thy mother, thou paper-fac’d villain!

HOST.

O the Lord, that Sir John were come! I would make this a bloody day to somebody. But I pray God the fruit of her womb miscarry.

BEAD.

If it do, you shall have a dozen of cushions again; you have but eleven now. Come, I charge you both go with me, for the man is dead that you and Pistol beat amongst you.

DOLL.

I’ll tell you what, you thin man in a censer, I will have you as soundly swing’d for this—you blue-bottle rogue, you filthy famish’d correctioner, if you be not swing’d, I’ll forswear half-kirtles.

BEAD.

Come, come, you she knight-arrant, come.

HOST.

O God, that right should thus overcome might! Well, of sufferance comes ease.

DOLL.

Come, you rogue, come bring me to a justice.

HOST.

Ay, come, you starv’d bloodhound.

DOLL.

Goodman Death, goodman Bones!

HOST.

Thou atomy, thou!

DOLL.

Come, you thin thing, come, you rascal.

BEAD.

Very well.

Exeunt.

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