The Character of an HUMOURIST, I expect, will be strange to most of my Readers; and if no Gentleman is acquainted with a Person of this Cast, it must pass for a Monster of my own Creation;—­As to the Character of Sir John Falstaff, it is chiefly extracted from Shakespear, in his 1st Part of King Henry the IVth; But so far as Sir John in Shakspear’s Description, sinks into a Cheat or a Scoundrel, upon any Occasion, he is different from that Falstaff, who is designed in the following Essay, and is entirely an amiable Character.

It is obvious, that the Appearance, which Falstaff makes, in the unfinished Play of The Merry Wives of Windsor, is in general greatly below his true Character.  His Imprisonment and Death in the latter Part of King Henry the IVth, seem also to have been written by Shakespear in Compliance with the Austerity of the Times; and in order to avoid the Imputation of encouraging Idleness and mirthful Riot by too amiable and happy an Example.

The Criticism, which I have made, upon Horace’s Narrative of his
Adventure with an Impertinent Fellow, I offer with Respect; And
beg leave to observe that the chief Part which I object to, is the
Propriety of his introducing himself in so ridiculous a Plight;
  —­Dum sudor ad imos
  Manaret Talos;
And
  Demitto Auriculas, ut iniquae mentis Acellus
  Cum gravius dorso subiit onus. 
And other Representations of the same sort, seem to place Horace
in a very mean and ludicrous Light; which it is probable he never
apprehended in the full Course of exposing his Companion;—­Besides,
the Conduct of his Adversary is in several Places, excessively, and,
as it may be construed, designedly, insolent and contemptuous; and
as no Merit or Importance belongs to this Person, there appears no
Reason why Horace should endure such Treatment; or, if the other was
too powerful for him, it is not an Adventure of Honour; or what
Horace should chuse to expose to the World in this manner, with all
the Particulars of his own despicable Distress.

However, the Mirth which results from this Narrative, as it now stands, is perhaps rather the stronger at first, by the full Ridicule which lies against Horace, and his Adversary;—­But, upon Reflection, there arises a Disgust, at the Impropriety of Horace’s exposing his own Meanness, as well as at the nauseous Impudence of his Companion.