The First Part of King Henry the Fourth

off. To 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, clapp'd
even
now into my hand by an under-skinker, 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 be 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.
Poins. Francis!
Prince. Thou art perfect.
Poins. Francis! [Exit Poins.]

Enter [Francis, a] Drawer.

Fran. Anon, anon, sir. – Look down into the Pomgarnet, Ralph.
Prince. Come hither, Francis.
Fran. My lord?
Prince. How long hast thou to serve, Francis?
Fran. Forsooth, five years, and as much as to-
Poins. [within] Francis!
Fran. Anon, anon, sir.
Prince. Five year! by'r Lady, a long lease for the clinking of
Pewter. But, Francis, darest thou be so valiant as to play
the
coward with thy indenture and show it a fair pair of heels
and
run from it?
Fran. O Lord, sir, I'll be sworn upon all the books in England
I
could find in my heart-
Poins. [within] Francis!
Fran. Anon, sir.
Prince. How old art thou, Francis?
Fran. Let me see. About Michaelmas next I shall be-
Poins. [within] Francis!
Fran. Anon, sir. Pray stay a little, my lord.
Prince. Nay, but hark you, Francis. For the sugar thou gavest
me-
'twas a pennyworth, wast not?
Fran. O Lord! I would it had been two!
Prince. I will give thee for it a thousand pound. Ask me when
thou
wilt, and, thou shalt have it.
Poins. [within] Francis!
Fran. Anon, anon.
Prince. Anon, Francis? No, Francis; but to-morrow, Francis; or,
Francis, a Thursday; or indeed, Francis, when thou wilt. But
Francis-
Fran. My lord?
Prince. Wilt thou rob this leathern-jerkin, crystal-button,
not-pated, agate-ring, puke-stocking, caddis-garter,
smooth-tongue, Spanish-pouch-
Fran. O Lord, sir, who do you mean?
Prince. Why then, your brown bastard is your only drink; for
look
you, Francis, your white canvas doublet will sully. In
Barbary,
sir, it cannot come to so much.
Fran. What, sir?
Poins. [within] Francis!
Prince. Away, you rogue! Dost thou not hear them call?
Here they both call him. The Drawer stands amazed,
not knowing which way to go.

Enter Vintner.

Vint. What, stand'st thou still, and hear'st such a calling?
Look
to the guests within. [Exit Francis.] My lord, old Sir John,
with
half-a-dozen more, are at the door. Shall I let them in?
Prince. Let them alone awhile, and then open the door.

[Exit Vintner.]

Poins!
Poins. [within] Anon, anon, sir.

Enter Poins.

Prince. Sirrah, Falstaff and the rest of the thieves are at the