The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Chapter 95

SCENE II. Britain. A public placeEnter CLOTEN and two LORDS

FIRST LORD. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence

of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice. Where air comes out,

air comes in; there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

CLOTEN. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift it. Have I hurt him?

SECOND LORD. [Aside] No, faith; not so much as his patience.

FIRST LORD. Hurt him! His body's a passable carcass if he be not

hurt. It is a throughfare for steel if it be not hurt.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] His steel was in debt; it went o' th' back

side the town.

CLOTEN. The villain would not stand me.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] No; but he fled forward still, toward your

face.

FIRST LORD. Stand you? You have land enough of your own; but he

added to your having, gave you some ground.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] As many inches as you have oceans.

Puppies!

CLOTEN. I would they had not come between us.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] So would I, till you had measur'd how long a

fool you were upon the ground.

CLOTEN. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

SECOND LORD. [Aside] If it be a sin to make a true election, she is

damn'd.

FIRST LORD. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go

not together; she's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection

of her wit.

SECOND LORD. [Aside] She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection

should hurt her.

CLOTEN. Come, I'll to my chamber. Would there had been some hurt

done!

SECOND LORD. [Aside] I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of

an ass, which is no great hurt.

CLOTEN. You'll go with us?

FIRST LORD. I'll attend your lordship.

CLOTEN. Nay, come, let's go together.

SECOND LORD. Well, my lord. Exeunt