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entered into his head, at leaft gave him no concern. Falftai? 

 ought to appear in the battle, and could not well aflume a 

 charader below that of a commander : befides, this very capacity 

 furnifhes matter of excellent wit and humour, which very naturally 

 accounts for the introdudion of him on this and other occafions ; 

 and I muft obferve that the critic feems to have overlooked this 

 remark too much, in fearch of thofe fubtle and remote im- 

 prcfTions on which he has formed his theory. What was the 

 conduct of the prince, when he had adually difcovered this grofs 

 abufe of the king's prefs ? One might expedt from his wifdom 

 and ability to hear a moft fevere rebuke, or even to find Sir John 

 very gravely cathiered ; but the fame vein of humour and en- 

 tertainment which procured him his commiiTion ftill continues. 

 " Tell me, Jack," fays the prince, " whofe fellows are thefe that 

 " come after ? 



Faljiaff. " Mine, Hal. mine. 



P. Henry. " I did never fee fuch pitiful rafcals. 



Faljiaff. " Tut, tut, good enough to tofs j food for powder j 

 " they'll fill a pit as well as other men : Tufh, man, mortal 

 •' men, mortal men." And again, " Faithv-fer their poverty I 

 •' know not where they had that; and for their barcnefs, I, am 

 " fure they never learned that of me. 



P. Henry. " No, I'll be fworn, unlefs you call three inches on 

 " the ribs bare." 



The 



