[ 3^ ] 



'* it will be afterwards no difficult ta{k to difcharge that difgujl 

 " which arifes from vicious manners, and even to attach us to 

 " the caufe and fubjed of our mirth with fome degree of afFedion." 

 That FalftafF is vicious, a rogue, a liar, and a profligate, is al- 

 lowed on all hands ; yet covered with all this infamy, he enter- 

 tains, furprifes and charms, nay he engages our hearts. What 

 then? Shall an infufion of cowardice reduce the charader to a 

 caput mortuum, and no fpirit, no fait remain ? For my part, I 

 can fee no reafon for this. A man may, in my opinion, be very 

 witty and pleafant upon his own dcfeds, and even upon fuch 

 qualities as, though acknowledged vices, cannot be deemed flagiti- 

 ous. Now cowardice, if it can be called by a harflier name than 

 defed, will at leaft be allowed to have in it nothing flagitious. 

 It certainly gives a mean and contemptible idea of its pofl'efl'or ; 

 but fo do fraud and lying. But neither thefe, nor any other 

 qualities beftowed upon Falftaff, are in their nature fo far de- 

 teftablc, but that great endowments of mind, efpecially if they be 

 fuch as univerfally charm, fliall be able completely to difcharge 

 the difgufl: arifing from them. Genius and wit never fail to 

 recommend themfelves to the notice and admiration of mankind ; 

 and always throw a dignity round a charader even above its true 

 merit. Thefe principles are fuflicient to explain the fuperior 

 pleafure and peculiar intereft we feel in Falfl;afF above all other 

 charaders which have not half his vices. His creative fancy, 

 playful wit, charaderiftic humour, admirable judgment and nice 

 difcernment of charader, are fo rare and excellent endowments, 

 that we lofe the exceptionable matter in contemplating them. 

 Nor is it owing to thefe alone that we admire and almoft love 

 FalftafF, but to another exquifite contrivance of the poet in 



catching 



I 



