drew that is, he idealized living or real characters, and made them show themselves more completely themselves than they ever actually did in life. A word or an incident often unfolded to him the whole soul of a man, and when he wanted to portray him, he showed him as he saw him; he knew how he would think, talk, and act on given occasions, and painted him accordingly. Thus many a scene in which Falstaff appears is not an actual transcript of what occurred, but of what would occur were he actually in that situation. "I have little doubt," says Washington Irving, "that in early life, when running like an unbroken colt about the neighborhood of Stratford, Shakespeare was to be found in the company of all kinds of anomalous characters [is it not a peculiarity of genius to seek out such characters ?]; that he associated with all the madcaps of the place, and was one of those unlucky urchins, at mention of whom old men shake their heads, and predict that they will one day come to the gallows." Precisely. So did people

predict of Prince Henry; so have people predicted of many another man of genius. Shakespeare well remembered these predictions; and he makes the Prince determine, like him, to disappoint those who 'did forethink his fall."

To show that the Poet was in the habit of portraying real characters and real scenes, let me quote a striking passage from Halliwell-Phillipps' "Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare," wherein he describes the origin of Christopher Sly in the Induction to the Taming of the Shrew. "That delicious episode," says he, "presents us with a fragment of the rural life with which Shakespeare himself must have been familiar in his native county. With such animated power is it written, that we almost appear to personally witness the affray between Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, and Christopher Sly; to see the nobleman on his return from the chase discovering the insensible drunkard; and to hear the strolling actors make the offer of professional services, which was re

quited by the cordial welcome to the buttery. Wincot is a secluded hamlet near Stratford-on-Avon, and there is an old tradition that the ale-house frequented by Sly was often resorted to by Shakespeare for the sake of diverting himself with a fool who belonged to a neighboring mill. [Could anything be more like the conduct of the Prince?] Stephen Sly, one of the tinker's friends or relatives, was a known character at Stratfordon-Avon, and is several times mentioned. in the records of that town. This fact, taken in conjunction with the references. to Wilmecote and Burton-on-the-Heath, definitely prove that the scene of the Induction was intended to be in the neighborhood of Stratford-on-Avon, the watermill tradition leading to the belief that little Wilmecote, the part of the hamlet nearest to the Poet's native town, is the Wincot alluded to in the comedy."

Now, as Justice Shallow is universally acknowledged to be the portrait of a Stratfordian, and as I wish to let the reader see the Visor satire and the truth

of Mr. Halliwell's conclusions, I think it worth his while for him to take a glance at the character, as presented in the Second Part of Henry IV., Act V.

SCENE I.-Gloucestershire.

low's House.

A Hall in Shal

Enter SHALLOW, Falstaff, BARDOLPH, and Page. Shal. By cock and pye, sir, you shall not away to-night.—What, Davy, I say!

Fal. You must excuse me, master Robert Shallow.

Shal. I will not excuse you; you shall not be excused; excuses shall not be admitted; there is no excuse shall serve; you shall not be excused.— Why, Davy!

Davy. Here, sir.

Enter DAVY.

Shal. Davy, Davy, Davy,-let me see, Davy; let me see :-yea, marry, William cook, bid him come hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.

Davy. Marry, sir, thus :-those warrants cannot be served and, again, sir,—shall we sow the headland with wheat?

Shal. With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook-Are there no young pigeons?

Davy. Yes, sir.-Here is now the smith's note, for shoeing, and for plough-irons.

Shal. Let it be cast up, and paid.-Sir John, you shall not be excused.

Davy. Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must

needs be had.-And, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages, about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair?

Shal He shall answer it :-Some pigeons, Davy; a couple of short legged hens; a joint of mutton; and any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.

Davy. Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?

Shal. Yes, Davy, I will use him well. A friend i'the court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men well, Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite.

Davy. No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have marvelous foul linen.

Shal. Well conceited, Davy. About thy business, Davy.

Davy. I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of Wincot, against Clement Perkes of the hill.

Shal. There are many complaints, Davy, against that Visor; that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge.

Davy. I grant your worship, that he is a knave, sir; but yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance at his friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not. I have served your worship truly, sir, this eight years; and if I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very little credit with your worship. The knave is mine honest friend, sir; there