The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-24
WAS PALsTAFP A oowARpp
An Earnest Defense of shakespeare's
Fat Knight.

Fat Knight.
From the Brooklyn Eagle
There is generalimpression among the
public and most critics that Falstaif, rs he
il depicted in "llenry w." was a knave
and coward, Jester utterly devoid Of
any sense Of hon Or or principle funny,
dirty old rogue, whose only thought was OF
wine and women in general. Such, in
this particular, is not the impression
Shakespeare endeavored 30 convey OF the
man, at least not TO me. lie, FalstaiT. has
been 50 maligned aud set upon that feel
obliged 10 take up the cudgels on his be-
hall, not from the mere controversy that
may arise thercfrom, but from the impress
sion formed Of the man after reading for
the thousandth time my fayorite OF all
shakespeare historical comedies, Henry
w." From the moment FnlstaH asks
Prince llcnry" time % day. lad, until
that period when, ~ Aln. Quickly pathct-
ically describes IL, lac passed away quietly
rs any Christian child, ! liked the man,
liked him for his misiortuncs. 10 which
may be attributed his failures. Ills family,
which he only mentions once, he evidently
had little int, with; the only as
,Dcatc lac seen. nave really cared Tor
was Prince Henry. whom he loved with
III that inialuaiion an old man often has
for the young. That Prince llenry's con-
duct In rcbuking him at the Coronation
procession was the cause Of the old mans
death, have not the slightest doubt. As
Pistol remarked, in Henry V. the old
mans heart was broke DER the young
Prince. Falstail was no coward. We have
ample proof OF that Why. when the
watch, after the highway robbery. although
he knows his neck Ia be- In danger, docs
he not bid Prince Hal ''to play ont the
| playf' And In the battle OF --, In the
midst of the turmoil, be hands the Prince
a bottle Of sack when he tho Prince asks
for a pistol. Again he leads his men TO the
thick Of the fray, when, as lac says.
there were only three lcit-only III
Tor the towns end, l. G., cripplcs 10 beg
/ for the rest Of life. And does not Slender
mention his breaking ScroFnn's head at
the court gate when YOUTH Ills famous
| saying The better part oi yulor Is dis
/ cnrtiuu, Is the keystone OF Falsialls con-
| duct In all the dangerous hours OF his life,
| aud one which lac thoroughly acts up 10.
! Ills running away when set upon BY
| Price Hal aud Poins was only done when
| Bardolph aud the rest OF his companions
had run, and his falling down before
! Douglass appears TO be the weakest spot
| IN my assertion that Fnlsian was no COW.
ard Ills huge gir,h would not permit OF
any heightened duel with an opponent
who was not physically incapiciialcd rs hr
was by adiposc tissue; therefore, after q
| pass Or two he fell down az though dead.
| question very much whether ID DID not
| take morn courage 10 lic still while swords
| we're passing and pJking about In close
proximity 10 his person than "a have CON
! tinuUd his passage with Douglass, had his
physique allowed him. admit Falstail r
gravcr faults. How many OF us
arr without thcm7 Ills good qualities
| fully cqualizcd his bad. lie was generous To
/ fault. DO We not hear him Offering that
/ lazir kite, Doll Icamhcct, q cap aud kirtlc
ot her own choice on the strength Of his
/ having moneys In few days. lie lies at
| times, but his lice ate OF the white kind,
spunWnr NOM from humor than from
/ yiciousncss. lie has borrowed money
! from Mr.. Quickly, at the same time kept
/ hariulph, Nym, Pistol, etc, from starving.
/ lie drank much sack. but amused much
company Ills robbing the Pilgrims on
/ their way 90 Canterbury was brought
about by the iokr.loving Poins, with
Prince Henry at his back, and 80 through
all his life, 10 every fault ho shows some
I cqualizlng virtue. Shakespeare knew this
when, after showing oil his feelings, lac
makes ~ put aside the volume with lin
gcring love Tor Falstan His love for his
/ old associates Is shown by his saying OF
Poins, after that madcap had withdrawn
J his horse. "lhc rascal has given me med.
lcincs TO make mo love him." Pen aud
ink cannot describe the wondrous humor,
pathos aud versatility Of the man who has
been g.rdcd at by all men.