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he Ihould obtain his v'l^oxyjine pulvere, and what is more ftrange, 

 Jine Judore ; and ^t the fame time he has furnifhed appearances, 

 which Falftaff might turn to his advantage in his account of this 

 exploit. Had FalftafF's military condud been praife-worthy or 

 indifferent on former occafions, or had there been any thing of 

 real courage in the tranfadlion before us, Lancafter's imputation' 

 bad been imprudent and prepofterous in the extreme ; and Fal- 

 ftafFs vindication might have brought the mahce of his com- 

 mander to open fhame in the face of the whole army. This too 

 might have been done with his ufual pleafantry and witj but 

 there is no fuch thing. As the vidory was but a ceremony, fo his 

 defence is but 2ijeji. 



The writer makes an appeal likewife to fadls. Let us fee 

 how far thefe eftablifh his courage. We have had occafion to 

 examine fome already, the affair of Gadfhill and others, that 

 incidentally occurred in treating of opinions. At the battle of 

 Shrewfbury Falftaff is introduced fpeaking thus in foliloquyi 

 •' I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered ; there's 

 •' not three of my hundred and fifty alive." In reading this paf- 

 fage it never occurred to me to fuppofe that Falftaff chofe for 

 himfelf the defperate fcene of adion here defcribed ; it feems 

 utterly inconfiftent with that better part of valour, called difcretion, 

 of which he was fo great a mafter on all other occafions, nay 

 in this very battle. " But there is no queftioning the fadl he 

 " had led them." I am not at all fure that we are obliged or 

 even warranted to abide a literal conftrudion, which violates all 

 probability. The writer may fay, this is taking for granted what 

 is to be proved, Falftaffs cowardice. But I think it as in- 



( D 3 ) confiftent 



