John Falstaff, who is currently living at the Garter Inn, is grumbling over his financial state. He has less money than he once had, and he realizes that he can no longer afford to pay all three of his companions – Bardolph, Pistol, and Nym. Falstaff tells this to the Host of the Garter Inn, and the Host offers to employ Bardolph as his tapster (or bartender).
Falstaff then tells Bardolph, “Let me see thee froth and lime” (12-13). Falstaff is telling Bardolph to accept this new employment, but he is also indicating that tapsters are usually dishonest. To froth means to put a lot of foam on a glass of beer, thus giving the customer less than a full glass. To lime means to add lime to a glass of cheap wine. The lime causes the wine to sparkle, and so the tapster sells the wine for a higher price. Bardolph, who is often drunk, happily accepts the new position.
After Bardolph exits, Falstaff expresses his relief at getting rid of Bardolph. “His thefts were too open” (21-22), he tells Pistol and Nym. Bardolph was not a very clever thief, and Falstaff knows that Bardolph had taken Slender’s money. Bardolph’s excuse was also not very convincing. Falstaff realizes that Bardolph was more of a hindrance than a help.
However, Falstaff still has financial difficulties; and he begins to tell Pistol and Nym about his plan to make some quick and easy money: