Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-10-15
rALsrAFF A MAN OF COURAGE.
iCvntiaued.)
Ma. EpIToR,

military character a Falstsff, II Is neces-
sary to observe that courage is Of two
kinds: courage in principle. or rather
principle independent OF animal hardi-
hsod, which preers desth 70 shame. but
winch always uses i'seit othe prevailing
modes Of honor and the Iashiun Of the
age; and natural courage, which is a
widely difsren, thug, and depends not
on opinion--adapts itself tn occasions,
preserves itself under every shape, and
will avail itself Of h.ght as well as &c ion.
To the former species FalstsH has no
clsim--wisness his running away at
Gzdshi,l, and his fictitious death at
Shrewsbury; but to .he latter his title
appears TO me 10 be clear, however dis
guised and disfgured BY accidental dis
grace and apparent disEoaor. Witness
his primary character. courage but Sc
.cOndary, and when they clashed, tits ca
sy to foresse the event. Life, and esPe-
cially ihe lie Of Fa.staff, misht be a jest,
bat he could see TO joke whatever in dy.
ias: to De chop.fallsn was, with hi@, to
lose both life and character tose,her-hs
sac the point IF kOaOr. as he did susry
tang as, iGs rdicH!ogs light. and he
began to rem .unce its tyranny!
The tairest and most obvious way to
ascertain the caG age ot iae ia k'isht is
70 enqvle What vas his gsSera! repu;a-
ton ia that respect with his con; empora-
Ties IN ,he dracsa. We vii begin with
tue very vulgar, The Hos,ess dame
Quickly employs I've officers to arrest
FalstaS; at the men,ioC, OF his name one
Of them immediately observes. that " II
may chance to cost some OF them their
lives, for that he will stab" Alas =! a
day." cries the hostess, take Of him,
be cares not ahat .nischief ne doth; it
h;s weapon be out he will foin like any
devil; he VII spare neither man, woman,
nor child" Accordingly, when he is
seized, he resists TO the utmost OF his
power. and calls on BsrdolPh, ahose
arms are at liberty, 10 draw. "Away
vsrlets! Draw Bardolph! Cut me Cd
the villains head-throw the qsean into
the kenaei." Nor does the scafle cease
but By the interpOsitinn Of the lord chief
Justice. Dol Tearsheet asks him, When
wilt thou leave fighting O'days and FUN
ius OF nights, and begin 10 patch ~ thy
old body for Heaven ?" This is occa-
sisueJ by his drawing his sword and dri-
VIM, on very great prCvOcation, Pistol
down stairs. "a rascal, Dragging slave"
says he. /" the rogue fed like quicksil-
YER" Expressions which, ss they recog-
nize the cowardice Of Pistol. are intend
ed TO show tina, Falstaf did not value
himself on the adventure In all these
instances his conduct, so far irom being
tinctured with cowardice, is rather that
Of father RurFIAs," as the Prince
Of Wales calls him and rot sylla-
BILE is drOpt BY these people, or either oil
his followers, from which can be inferred
the least suspicion of his courage.
Justice Shallow remembers him very
early in his life. page TO Thomas Now
BRAY, duke Of Norfolk IN those days Of
chivslry a very honorable situation. " |
saw him (says shallow break 'Scogan's
head ut the court gate, When he Uas a
crack not above thus high" Indeed, the
JUST considers him oil along as a great
camSiauder and valiant soldier Now,
be must have picked up these impress
scns somewhere, and he picked up none
Of contrary tendency; aproof that Fall
staff food we'll in the report Of common
fame as to courage; and he was now,
/" By'r lady, inclinins to three score"
and had then passed in military line
the active part of his life.
Had Falstaf been coward. a prince
Of ssch ability rs Henry V. would