The effect of taking away the influence of this quality upon the manners of a character, tho’ the quality and the influence be assumed only, is evident in the cases of _Parolles_ and _Bobadil_. _Parolles_, at least, did not seem to want wit; but both these characters are reduced almost to non-entity, and, after their disgraces, walk only thro’ a scene or two, the mere mockery of their former existence. _Parolles_ was so changed, that neither the _fool_, nor the old lord _Le-feu_, could readily recollect his person; and his wit seemed to be annihilated with his Courage. Let it not be here objected that _Falstaff_ is universally considered as a Coward;—we do indeed call him so; but that is nothing, if the character itself does not act from any consciousness of this kind, and if our Feelings take his part, and revolt against our understanding. As to the arts by which _Shakespeare_ has contrived to obscure the vices of _Falstaff_, they are such as, being subservient only to the mirth of the Play, I do not feel myself obliged to detail. But it may be well worth our curiosity to inquire into the composition of _Falstaff_’s character.—Every man we may observe has two characters; that is, every man may be seen externally, and from without;—or a section may be made of him, and he may be illuminated from within. Of the external character of _Falstaff_, we can scarcely be said to have any steady view. _Jack Falstaff_ we are familiar with, but _Sir John_ was better known, it seems, _to the rest of Europe_, than to his intimate companions; yet we have so many glimpses of him, and he is opened to us occasionally in such various points of view, that we cannot be mistaken in describing him as a man of birth and fashion, bred up in all the learning and accomplishments of the times;—of ability and Courage equal to any situation, and capable by nature of the highest affairs; trained to arms, and possessing the tone, the deportment, and the manners of a gentleman;—but yet these accomplishments and advantages seem to hang loose on him, and to be worn with a slovenly carelessness and inattention: A too great indulgence of the qualities of humour and wit seems to draw him too much one way, and to destroy the grace and orderly arrangement of his other accomplishments;—and hence he becomes strongly marked for one advantage, to the injury, and almost forgetfulness in the beholder, of all the rest. Some of his vices likewise strike through, and stain his Exterior;—his modes of speech betray a certain licentiousness of mind; and that high Aristocratic tone which belonged to his situation was pushed on, and aggravated into unfeeling insolence and oppression. “_It is not a confirmed brow_,” says the Chief Justice, “_nor the throng of words that come with such more than impudent sauciness from you, can thrust me from a level consideration_”: “_My lord_,” answers _Falstaff_, “_you call honourable boldness impudent sauciness. If a man will court’sie and say