It is obvious, that the Appearance, which _Falstaff_ makes, in the
unfinished Play of _The Merry Wives of Windsor_, is in general greatly
below his true Character. His Imprisonment and Death in the latter
Part of King _Henry_ the _IVth_, seem also to have been written by
_Shakespear_ in Compliance with the _Austerity_ of the Times; and in
order to avoid the Imputation of encouraging _Idleness_ and mirthful
_Riot_ by too amiable and happy an Example.
The Criticism, which I have made, upon _Horace_'s Narrative of his
_Adventure_ with an _Impertinent Fellow_, I offer with Respect; And
beg leave to observe that the chief Part which I object to, is the
_Propriety_ of his introducing himself in so _ridiculous a Plight_;
--Dum sudor ad imos
Manaret Talos;
And
Demitto Auriculas, ut iniquae mentis Acellus
Cum gravius dorso subiit onus.
And other Representations of the same sort, seem to place _Horace_
in a very mean and ludicrous Light; which it is probable he never
apprehended in the full Course of exposing his Companion;--Besides,
the Conduct of his Adversary is in several Places, excessively, and,
as it may be construed, _designedly_, insolent and contemptuous; and
as no Merit or Importance belongs to this Person, there appears no
Reason why _Horace_ should endure such Treatment; or, if the other was
too _powerful_ for him, it is not an _Adventure_ of _Honour_; or what
_Horace_ should chuse to expose to the World in this manner, with all
the Particulars of his own despicable Distress.
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