Hazlitt on English Literature: An Introduction to the Appreciation of LiteratureHazlitt, William
History
Hazlitt on English Literature: An Introduction to the Appreciation of Literature
Hazlitt, William
English literature -- History and criticism
_Falstaff._ A goodly portly man, i'faith, and a corpulent; of a
cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a most noble carriage; and, as I
think, his age some fifty, or, by'r-lady, inclining to threescore;
and now I do remember me, his name is Falstaff: if that man should be
lewdly given, he deceiveth me; for, Harry, I see virtue in his looks.
If then the fruit may be known by the tree, as the tree by the fruit,
then peremptorily I speak it, there is virtue in that Falstaff: him
keep with, the rest banish. And tell me now, thou naughty varlet,
tell me, where hast thou been this month?
_P. Henry._ Dost thou speak like a king? Do thou stand for me, and
I'll play my father.
_Falstaff._ Depose me? if thou dost it half so gravely, so
majestically, both in word and matter, hang me up by the heels for a
rabbit-sucker, or a poulterer's hare.
_P. Henry._ Well, here I am set.
_Falstaff._ And here I stand:--judge, my masters.
_P. Henry._ Now, Harry, whence come you?
_Falstaff._ My noble lord, from Eastcheap.
_P. Henry._ The complaints I hear of thee are grievous.
_Falstaff._ S'blood, my lord, they are false:--nay, I'll tickle ye
for a young prince, i'faith.
_P. Henry._ Swearest thou, ungracious boy? henceforth ne'er look on
me. Thou art violently carried away from grace: there is a devil
haunts thee, in the likeness of a fat old man; a tun of man is thy
companion. Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours, that
bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swoln parcel of dropsies, that
huge bombard of sack, that stuft cloak-bag of guts, that roasted
Manning-tree ox with the pudding in his belly, that reverend vice,
that grey iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years?
wherein is he good, but to taste sack and drink it? wherein neat and
cleanly, but to carve a capon and eat it? wherein cunning, but in
craft? wherein crafty, but in villainy? wherein villainous, but in
all things? wherein worthy, but in nothing?
_Falstaff._ I would, your grace would take me with you; whom means
your grace?
_P. Henry._ That villainous, abominable mis-leader of youth,
Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan.
_Falstaff._ My lord, the man I know.
_P. Henry._ I know thou dost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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