He suddenly aroused from
his meditation on the pot of porter, and casting a knowing look
at the goblet, exclaimed, "Ay, ay! the head don't ache now that
made that there article."
The great importance attached to this memento of ancient revelry
by modern churchwardens, at first puzzled me; but there is
nothing sharpens the apprehension so much as antiquarian
research; for I immediately perceived that this could be no other
than the identical "parcel-gilt goblet," on which Falstaff made
his loving but faithless vow to Dame Quickly, and which would, of
course, be treasured up with care among the regalia of her
domains, as a testimony of that solemn contract.*
* "Thou didst swear to me upon a parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in
my Dolphin chamber, at the round table, by a sea-coal fire, on
Wednesday, in Whitsun-week, when the prince broke thy head for
likening his father to a singing man at Windsor; thou didst swear
to me then, as I was washing thy wound, to marry me, and make me
my lady, thy wife. Canst thou deny it?"--Henry IV., Part 2.
Mine hostess, indeed, gave me a long history how the goblet had
been handed down from generation to generation. She also
entertained me with many particulars concerning the worthy
vestrymen who have seated themselves thus quietly on the stools
of the ancient roisterers of Eastcheap, and, like so many
commentators, utter clouds of smoke in honor of Shakespeare.
Pages:
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204