Chapter 45

“No more the thirsty entrance of this soil Shall daub her lips with her own children’s blood.”

A most obscure passage: but I think Theobald’s interpretation right, namely, that “thirsty entrance” means the dry penetrability, or bibulous drought, of the soil. The obscurity of this passage is of the Shakespearian sort.

_Ib._ sc. 2. In this, the first introduction of Falstaff, observe the consciousness and the intentionality of his wit, so that when it does not flow of its own accord, its absence is felt, and an effort visibly made to recall it. Note also throughout how Falstaff’s pride is gratified in the power of influencing a prince of the blood, the heir apparent, by means of it. Hence his dislike to Prince John of Lancaster, and his mortification when he finds his wit fail on him:—

“_P. John._ Fare you well, Falstaff: I, in my condition, Shall better speak of you than you deserve.

_Fal._ I would you had but the wit; ’twere better than your dukedom.—Good faith, this same young sober-blooded boy doth not love me;—nor a man cannot make him laugh.”