Bench, when Henry was Prince of Wales. Sir William was supreme judge of that court, in the reign of Henry the Fourth :-" in which station he acquired the character of a learned, an upright, a wise, and intrepid man. But, above all his other virtues, he is memorable for his dignified courage, in having committed the royal heir apparent to prison, for daring to insult him in his office."

The discarding of his vile companions, by the newly crowned king, as this act describes, is likewise, authenticated by history-and although such an incident is, perhaps, the best moral which can be drawn from any part of the whole play, it is, nevertheless, such a one, as does not come with entire welcome to the breast of every spectator.

KING HENRY IV.

THE SECOND PART.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

A Street in London.

Enter SIR JOHN FALSTAFF, and his PAGE following him, with his Sword and Buckler.

Fal. Sirrah, you giant, what says the doctor to my

water?

Page. He said, sir, the water itself was a good healthy water: but, for the party that ow'd it, he might have more diseases than he knew for.

Fal. Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me: the brain of this foolish-compounded clay, man, is not able to invent any thing that tends to laughter, more than I invent, or is invented on me: I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men. I do here walk before thee, like a sow that hath overwhelmed all her litter but one. If the prince put thee into my service for any other reason than to set me off, why, then I have no judgment. Thou

whoreson mandrake, thou art fitter to be worn in my cap, than to wait at my heels.-What said Master Dommelton about the satin for my short cloak, and

my slops?

Page. He said, sir, you should procure him better assurance than Bardolph: he would not take his bond and yours; he liked not the security.

Fal. Let him be damn'd like the glutton! may his tongue be hotter!-A whoreson Achitophel! a rascally, yea-forsooth knave! to bear a gentleman in hand, and then stand upon security!--I had as lief they would put ratsbane in my mouth, as offer to stop it with security. I looked he should have sent me two-and-twenty yards of satin, as I am a true knight, and he sends me security.-Well, he may sleep in security; for he hath the horn of abundance, and the lightness of his wife shines through it: and yet cannot he see, though he have his own lantern to light him. Where's Bardolph ?

Page. He's gone into Smithfield, to buy your worship a horse.

Fal. I bought him in Paul's, and he'll buy me a horse in Smithfield. If I could get me but a wife in the stews, I were mann'd, hors'd, and wiv'd.

Page. Sir, here comes the nobleman that committed the prince, for striking him about Bardolph.

Enter the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE and Two Ap

PARITORS.

Fal. Wait close, I will not see him.
Ch. Just. What's he that goes there?

App. Falstaff, an't please your lordship.

Ch. Just. He that was in question for the robbery? Call him back again.

App. Sir John Falstaff!

Fal. Boy, tell him, I am deaf.

Page. You must speak louder, my master is deaf. Ch. Just. I am sure he is, to the hearing of any

thing good.-Go, pluck him by the elbow; I must speak with him.

App. Sir John,

Fal. What, a young knave, and beg? Is there not wars? Is there not employment?

App. You mistake me, sir.

Fal. Why, sir, did I say you were an honest man? setting my knighthood and my soldiership aside, I had lied in my throat, if I had said so.-Hence! avaunt!

App. Sir, my lord would speak with you.

Ch. Just. Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.

Fal. My good lord !-Heaven give your lordship good time of day. I am glad to see your lordship abroad: I heard say, your lordship was sick: I hope your lordship goes abroad by advice. Your lordship, though not clean past your youth, hath yet some smack of age in you, some relish of the saltness of time; and I most humbly beseech your lordship, to have a reverend care of your health.

Ch. Just. Sir John, I sent for you before your expedition to Shrewsbury.

Fal. An't please your lordship, I hear his majesty is returned with some discomfort from Wales.

Ch. Just. I talk not of his majesty:-you would not come when I sent for you.

Fal. And I hear moreover, his highness is fallen into this same whoreson apoplexy.

Ch. Just. Well, Heaven mend him!-I pray, let me speak with you.

Fal. This apoplexy, as I take it, is a kind of lethargy, an't please your lordship; a kind of sleeping in the blood, a whoreson tingling.

Ch. Just. What tell you me of it? be it as it is. Fal. It hath its original from much grief; from study, and perturbation of the brain: I have read the cause of his effects in Galen; it is a kind of deaf

ness,