This scene is to us the most convincing proof of Falstaff's power of
gaining over the goodwill of those he was familiar with, except
indeed Bardolph's somewhat profane exclamation on hearing the
account of his death, 'Would I were with him, wheresoe'er he is,
whether in heaven or hell.'
One of the topics of exulting superiority over others most common in
Sir John's mouth is his corpulence and the exterior marks of good
living which he carries about him, thus 'turning his vices into
commodity'. He accounts for the friendship between the Prince and
Poins, from 'their legs being both of a bigness'; and compares
Justice Shallow to 'a man made after supper of a cheese-paring'.
There cannot be a more striking gradation of character than that
between Falstaff and Shallow, and Shallow and Silence. It seems
difficult at first to fall lower than the squire; but this fool,
great as he is, finds an admirer and humble foil in his cousin
Silence. Vain of his acquaintance with Sir John, who makes a butt of
him, he exclaims, 'Would, cousin Silence, that thou had'st seen that
which this knight and I have seen!'--'Aye, Master Shallow, we have
heard the chimes at midnight,' says Sir John. To Falstaff's
observation, 'I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this
mettle', Silence answers, 'Who, I? I have been merry twice and once
ere now.
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