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Edward "Ned" Poins, generally referred to as "Poins", is a fictional character who appears in two plays by Shakespeare, ''Henry IV, Part 1'' and ''Henry IV, Part 2''. He is also mentioned in ''The Merry Wives of Windsor''. Poins is Prince Hal's closest friend during his wild youth. He devises various schemes to ridicule Falstaff, his rival for Hal's affections. Unlike Hal's other principal low-life associates, who all reappear in ''Henry V'', Poins disappears from the narrative with no explanation. ==In the plays== Poins appears early in ''Henry IV, Part I'' to inform Falstaff that at Gads Hill there will be unprotected "pilgrims going to Canterbury with rich offerings, and traders riding to London with fat purses". He suggests that they organise a robbery. When Falstaff and the others agree, Poins says to Hal that the pair of them should play trick on Falstaff by letting them rob the travellers, but then robbing the robbers of their haul. The point of the jest will be to hear the "incomprensible (enormous ) lies" Falstaff will tell to excuse himself. Poins and Hal disguise themselves. When they surprise Falstaff, he and his followers instantly run away. Poins is with Hal when Hal plays a joke on Francis, a drawer (waiter) at the Boar's Head. He also listens to Falstaff's increasingly ridiculous lies. In Part 2 Poins discusses the illness of Hal's father the king, expecting Hal to be pleased at the prospect of his father's death. Hal gets a letter from Falstaff, in which Falstaff tells him not to trust Poins because he has been telling people that Hal will be marrying Poins' sister Nell. Poins denies it. Bardolph and a boy arrive with news that Falstaff is metting Doll Tearsheet at the tavern. Poins suggests that they disguise themselves again, this time as waiters, to overhear the conversation. At the tavern, Doll asks why Hal likes Poins, Falstaff says that they are both similar in size and shape, and equally empty headed: "His wit’s as thick as Tewkesbury mustard. There’s no more conceit in him than is in a mallet (he's got no more brains than a hammer )."〔''Henry IV Part 2'', Act 2, Scene 4, l.201.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ned Poins」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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