It may be said that the poet, in his delineation of the manners (p. 341) of the time, and in his vivid representations of the sallies and excesses of a prince notorious for his wildness and profligate habits, must not be shackled by the rigid and cold bands of historical verity, any more than we would require of him, in his description of a battle, the accuracy of a general's bulletin. But if a master poet should so describe the battle as to involve on the part of the commander the absence of military skill, and of clear conceptions of a soldier's duty, or ignorance of the enemy's position and strength, and of his own resources, or a suspicion of faintheartedness and ungallant bearing, truth would require us to analyse the description, and either to restore the fair fame of the commander, or to be convinced that he had justly lost his military character. On this principle we must refer Shakspeare's representations to a more unbending standard than a poet's fantasy. The first occasion on which reference is found to the habits and character of Henry, occurs in the tragedy of Richard II, act v. scene 3, in which his father is represented as making inquiries, of "Percy and other lords," in such terms as these: "Can no man tell of my _unthrifty_ son? 'Tis full THREE MONTHS since I did see him last: If any plague hang over us, 'tis he. I would to Heaven, my lords, he might be found! Inquire at London 'mongst the taverns there, For there, they say, he daily doth frequent, With unrestrained loose companions; Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes, (p. 342) And beat our watch, and rob our passengers; While he, young, wanton, and effeminate boy, Takes on the point of honour to support So dissolute a crew." To this inquiry PERCY is made to answer, "My lord! some two days since I saw the Prince, And told him of these triumphs held at Oxford." _Bolinbroke._--"And what said the gallant?" _Percy._--"His answer was--he would unto the stews, And from the common'st creature pluck a glove, And wear it as a favour; and, with that, He would unhorse the lustiest challenger." _Bolinbroke._--"As dissolute as desperate: yet, through both, I see some sparkles of a better hope, Which elder days may happily bring forth."