of a calm world and a long peace; 7 ten times more dishonourably ragged, than an old, fac'd ancient; and such have I to fill up the rooms of them that have bought out their services; that you would think, I had a hundred and fifty tatter'd prodigals, lately come from swine-keeping, from eating draft and huiks. A mad fellow met me on the way, and told me, I had 1 ten times more dishonourably ragged, than an old, fac’d ancient;-] Shakespeare uses this word so promiscuously, to fignify an ensign or standard-bearer, and also the colours or standard borne, that I cannot be at a certainty for his allusion here. If the text be genuine, I think the meaning must be; as disonourably ragged as one that has been an enlign all his days; that has let age creep upon him, and never had merit enough to gain preferment. Mr. Warburton, who understands it in the second construction, has suspected the text, and given the following ingenious emendation. 66 How is an old“ fac'd ancient, or enfign, dishonourably ragged on the cona trary, nothing is esteemed more honourable than a ragged pair of colours. A very little alteration will restore it to its “ original sense, which contains a touch of the strongest aad ** most fine-turn'd satire in the world; Ten times more dishonourably ragged than an old feast ancient : “i. e, the colours used by the city-companies in their feasts “ and processions: for each company had one with its peculiar “ device, which was usually displayed and borne about on “ such occafions. Now nothing could be more witty or far“castical than this comparison : for as Falstaff's raggamuffins “ were reduced to their tatter'd condition through their riotous “ excesses ; so this old feast ancient became torn and Thatter'd, “ not in any manly exercise of arms, but amidst the revels of " drunken bacchanals.” THEOBALD. Dr. Warburton's emendation is very acute and judicious ; but I know not whether the licentiousnes of our author's diction may not allow us to suppose that he meant to represent his foldiers, as more ragged, though less honourably ragged, than an old ancient. JCHNSON. An old, fac'd ancient, is an old ftandard mended with a different colour. It Thould not be written in one word, as old and fac'd are two distinct epithets. To face a gown is to trim it; an expression at present in use. In nur author's time the facings of gowns were always of a colour different from the stuff itself. So in this play, To face the garment of rebellion unloaded 2 unloaded all the gibbets, and press’d the dead bodies. No eye hath seen such fcare-crows. I'll not march through Coventry with them, that's flat. Nay, and the villains march wide betwixt the legs, as 'if they had 8 gyves on; for, indeed, I had the most of them out of prison. There's but a shirt and a half in all my company: and the half shirt is two napkins tack'd together, and thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without neeves; and the shirt, to say the truth, stolen from my host of St. Albans, or the rednos'd inn-keeper of Daintry. But that's all one, they'll find linen enough on every hedge. Enter prince Henry and Weftmorland. P. Henry. How now, blown Jack? how now, quilt? Fal. What, Hal-How now, mad wag, what a devil dost thou in Warwickshire ?--My good lord of Westmorland, I cry you mercy; I thought your ho nour had already been at Shrewsbury. Weft. 'Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time that I were there, and you too; but my powers are there already. The king, I can tell you, looks for us all; we must away all to-night. Fal. Tut, never fear me; I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream. P. Henry. I think, to steal cream, indeed; for thy theft hath already made thee butter. But tell me, Jack; whose fellows are these that come after? Fal. Mine, Hal, mine. Fal. Tut, tut ; 9 good enough to tofs : food for powder, food for powder ; they’Il fill a pit, as well as better : tush, man, mortal men, mortal men. syves or ;-] i. e. Mackles. POPE. good enough to toss :-) That is, to toss upon a pike. JOHNSON. Weft. Weft. Ay, but, Sir John, methinks they are exceeding poor and bare ; too beggarly. Fal. Faith, for their poverty, I know not where they had that: and for their bareness, I am sure, they never learn'd that of me. P. Henry. No, I'll be sworn; unless you call three fingers on the ribs, bare. But, lirrah, make hafte. Percy is already in the field. Fal. What, is the king encamp'd ? Weft. He is, Sir John; I fear we shall stay too long Fal. Well, To the latter end of a fray, and beginning of a feast, Fits a dull fighter, and a keen gueft. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Changes to Shrewsbury. Doug. You do not counsel well; Ver. Do me no Nander, Douglas : by my life, Let Let it be seen to-morrow in the battle Doug. Yea, or to-night. Ver. Come, come, it may not be. I wonder much, Hot. So are the horses of the enemy, Wor. The number of the king's exceedeth ours : [The trumpets found a parley. Enter Sir Walter Blunt. Blunt. I come with gracious offers from the king, If you vouchsafe me hearing, and respect. Hot. Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; and would to God, You were of our determination! Some of us love you well; and even those some Envy your great deservings, and good name ; Because you are not of our quality, But stand against us like an enemy, Blunt. And heaven defend, but still I should stand fo, So long, as out of limit, and true rule, You stand against anointed majesty! 'fuch great leading-) Such conduct, such experience in martial business. JOHNSON. But, But, to my charge. - The king hath sent to know king Y Upon |