[ 9 ] 



reafon here afligned for defcribing rather than naming Falflaff, is 

 curious indeed; in truth, it is fo ludicrous that I can hardly 

 think the writer is in earneft ; FalflafF's own rhodomantade cannot 

 exceed it. But with refpedt to the real point here to be con- 

 fidered, viz. the diftindlion between Falftaff and the others, the 

 poet appears to have made it merely becaufe he was defigned to 

 be an extant charader in the drama; for I am perfuaded the 

 words in their original impreffion convey no idea of valour,, 

 unlefs it be of its better part, difcretion, which fo highly diftin- 

 guifhed our hero. And I cannot but obferve here again, that 

 the conftrudion given to this paffage by the able critic confider- 

 ably Icffens its merit; for according to him, though fpoken in. 

 the very fpirit of detradion, it yet contains a reludant admiffion 

 of his courage: whereas the paffage, as commonly underftood, 

 is highly humorous ; one of thofe forms of expreflion, which flily 

 conveys a fareafm under the guife of commendation.. 



The next fcene is the preparation at Gadfliill for the robbery. 

 In this we meet with two expreffions that fcem to reflcd on 

 FalftafFs courage ; the firft, his exclamation upon hearing the 

 number of the travellers^ " Zounds! will they not rob us?" The 

 ingenious vrriter defends his hero from this charge by faying, 

 that the prince had ufed an expreflion of fimilar caution in the 

 laft fcene, " I doubt they will be too hard for us." Let us 

 examine both occafions. The prince, refleding that he and Poins 

 were to be oppofcd to four men in arms, weighed the hazard 

 of the jeft with proper difcretion ; for had they proved too ftrong 

 for them, the joke might have turned out very ferioufly ; or if 

 not, FalftafFs triumph would have been intolerable; his caution 



( B ) was 



