From ‘The Second Part of Henry IV’, Act III. Scene 2.
SHALLOW. The mad days that I have spent; and to see how many of mine old acquaintance are dead!
SILENCE. We shall all follow, cousin.
SHALLOW. Certain, ’tis certain; very sure, very sure: death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all; all shall die. How a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford fair?
SILENCE. Truly, cousin, I was not there.
SHALLOW. Death is certain. Is old Double of your town living yet?
SHALLOW. Jesu! Jesu! dead! a’ drew a good bow; and dead! a’ shot a fine shoot: John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head. Dead! a’ would have clapped i’ the clout at twelve score; and carried you a forehand shaft a fourteen and fourteen and a half, that it would have done a man’s heart good to see. How a score of ewes now?
SILENCE. Thereafter as they be: a score of good ewes may be worth ten pounds.
