novelty of their new possession, and elated with early success, they conceive it greater than can be warranted by their actual progress, and are forward in its display. In perfect honesty, and without any desire of imposing upon others a higher opinion of their merit than they deserve, they assume a degree of consequence suited to their conscious acquirement; and shew a desire of impressing those whom they conceive inferior to themselves, with a sense of their high attainments. Fluellen displays his acquaintance with antient history, and the military discipline of the Romans, so as to become almost pedantic: and ostentatious not only of his knowledge, but of his eloquence, he urges a conversation on a literary subject with a person whom he knows to be illiterate : "Captain Macmorris, I peseech you now, will you vouchsafe me, look you,

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a few disputations with you, as partly touching, or concerning the disciplines "of the war, the Roman wars, in the way "of argument, look you, and friendly com"munication," &c.

6. Were Fluellen's display of learning

with the intention of obtaining deference at any rate, merited or unmerited; and more from the ambition of being distinguished than from the desire of being worthy of distinction; prompted by disingenuous vanity, or even spleen, we should find him unwilling to acknowledge the good desert of others, and inclined of course to detraction. Yet this is so far from being the case, that with spontaneous earnestness, he recognizes in another, the excellence which he esteems, and extols him as an eminent proficient in those endowments and that sort of knowledge for which he conceives himself entitled to particular respect.

Gower. The Duke of Glo'ster, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irishman; a very valiant Gentleman i'faith.

Fluellen. It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

Gower. I think it be.

Fluellen. By Chesu he is an ass, as in the 'orld; I will verify as much in his peard: he has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.

Gower. Here á comes: and the Scots Captain, Captain Jamy with him."

Fluellen. Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gen

tleman, that is certain; and of great expedition, and knowledge in the antient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions: by Chesus he will maintain his argument as well as any military man in the 'orld, in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans.

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7. Yet the learning which Fluellen wishes to display, as in a country where literature is imperfectly cultivated, appears defective and incorrect. The good discipline of a Roman army was to be sought for, not in the camp of Pompey, but in that of Cæsar; yet Fluellen tells us, "If you would take "the pains but to examine the wars of Pom66 pey the great, you shall find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle taddle, nor pibble pabble in Pompey's camp. I war"rant you, you shall find the ceremonies "of the wars, and the cares of it, and the "forms of it, and the sobriety of it, and "the modesty of it, to be otherwise." Nor in giving examples of distinguished heroism should we chiefly select either Mark Antony or Agamemnon. In like manner, his phraseology is not only incorrect in pro,nunciation, but in the application of terms, and accumulation, as in some of the pre

ceding passages, of synonimous words. Not fully assured of his own precision, he entertains some latent apprehension, that he may not appear to others, sufficiently distinct or accurate. He therefore expatiates, and becomes unnecessarily verbose. This, however, may appear to him, no other than the gift of fluency; he is surprized almost at his own endowment; he over-rates it; so that in his inexperienced judgment, multitude of words seems to constitute eloquence; and he indulges in their redundancy. Of this sort is the elocution of many a prolix and unwearied speaker.

8. It was remarked, that Fluellen was irritable. This quality intimates sensibility, or that inherent state of mind which is easily moved or excited; and which was produced, or very much promoted by that situation, and those circumstances which affected his early life. As on occasions of displeasure, it rendered him habitually irascible; so in cases of good-will and complacency, it renders his satisfaction and kindnesses unnecessarily sudden, and excessive. He had been somewhat afraid that King Henry might not

duly estimate his Welch nativity; and finding his wishes on this subject completely gratified, his exultation bearing no proportion to its occasion, becomes ridiculous.

Fluellen. Your grand-father of famous memory, an't please your Majesty, and your great uncle Edward the plack Prince of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave battle here in France.

King. They did, Fluellen.

Fluellen. Your Majesty says very true: if your Majesty is remembered of it, the Welchmen did goot service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which your Majesty knows, to this hour is an honourable padge of the service: and I do believe your Majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon St. Davy's day.

King. I wear it for a memorable honour: for I am Welch you know, good countryman.

Fluellen. All the water in the Wye cannot wash your Majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that. Got pless it, and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and his Majesty too!

In his reconciliation with Williams after a violent quarrel, he exhibits similar incongruity: his resentment is instantly changed into kindness: he misapprehends his own consequence: he miscalculates the value of his