QUOTES FROM THE BARD

PLAY: King Henry IV Part 2 ACT/SCENE: 5.1 SPEAKER: Shallow CONTEXT: SHALLOW
Yea, Davy. I will use him well. A friend i’ th’ court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men well, Davy, for they are arrant knaves and will backbite.
DAVY
No worse than they are back-bitten, sir, for they have marvellous foul linen.
SHALLOW
Well-conceited, Davy. About thy business, Davy. DUTCH: Onthaal zijn manschappen goed, David, want zij zijn aartsschelmen en achter den rug maken zij iemand zwart. MORE:
Proverb: A friend at court is as good as a penny in the purse.

Schmidt:
Conceited=possessed with an idea; fanciful, imaginative
Marvellous foul=very dirty; filthy
Backbite=to slander one absent
Use=treat

Onions:
Conceited=full of imagination or fancy, ingenious; possessed of an idea

Compleat:
Backbite=Achterklappen, belasteren
Marvellous=Wonderlyk

Burgersdijk notes:
Achter den rug maken iemand zwart. In ‘t Engelsch een dergelijke woordspeling met backbite. Topics: law, authority, offence, punishment