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him through the whole to be a very principal figure in the drama ; 

 and, bcfide that he was a very remarkable perfonage for his 

 form, his wit, and many other entertaining quahties, he was 

 univerfally known to be a conftant follower of the prince j fo 

 that we might have reafonably expeded fome mention of him 

 on the occafion. Whether the notice taken of him be refpedlful 

 or otherwife, is, I think, no queftion ; nor can I help thinking 

 that in thus leaving him behind thofe who had efcaped by flight, 

 the poet might have intended to convey an impreflion of his being 

 unable to follow fo fail as the reft, and that his captivity was 

 owing to his corpulence. 



One Ihould hardly think that the ingenious critic would attempt 

 to draw an argument for Falftaif's courage from the mouth of 

 the prince, who feems to take a pride in girding at his cowardice 

 on every occafion. The prince fays, " I will procure this fat 

 " rogue a charge of foot." And again, " I will procure thee, 

 " Jack, a charge of foot; meet me to-morrow in the Temple hall." 

 Both expreflions feem to have been ufed with a view to harrafs 

 and teaze him, by putting him upon a fervice for which he was 

 fo unfit. We are told with much gravity, " that a prince of fo 

 " great ability, whofe wildnefs was only external and afiTumed, 

 " would not have procured in fo nice and critical a conjundlure, 

 " a charge of foot for a known coward." But what was this 

 weighty charge ? Why, no more than was barely enough to 

 fupport the importance of his dramatic charadler, one hundred 

 and fifty men of his own raifing. This wife young prince does 

 not appear to have been aware that the fat rogue would mifufe 

 the king's prefs damnably ; in truth, the thought probably never 



( C 2 ) entered 



