,series ,two3 ,essays on ,wit ,no4 #d ,corbyn ,morris ,an ,essay towards ,fixing the ,true ,standards of ,wit1 ,humour1 ,raillery1 ,satire1 and ,ridicule 7#agdd7 ,with an ,introduction by ,james ,l4 ,clifford and a ,bibliographical ,note ,the ,augustan ,reprint ,society ,november1 #aidg ,price3 #a4jj 99 99 99 99 99 ,,general ,,editors ,,richard ,c4 ,,boys1 ,university of ,michigan ,,edward ,,niles ,,hooker1 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,h4,t4 ,,swedenberg1 ,,jr41 ,university of ,california1 ,los ,angeles ,,advisory ,,editors ,,emmett ,l4 ,,avery1 ,state ,college of ,washington ,,louis ,i4 ,,bredvold1 ,university of ,michigan ,,benjamin ,,boyce1 ,university of ,nebraska ,,cleanth ,,brooks1 ,yale ,university ,,james ,l4 ,,clifford1 ,columbia ,university ,,arthur ,,friedman1 ,university of ,chicago ,,samuel ,h4 ,,monk1 ,university of ,minnesota ,,james ,,sutherland1 ,queen ,mary ,college1 ,london 99 99 99 99 99 ,,introduction ,the ,essay here reproduced was first advertised in the ,london ,daily ,advertiser as this day was published on ,thursday1 #ag ,may #agdd 7,the same advertisement1 except for the change of price from one shilling to two1 appeared in this paper intermittently until #ad ,june74 ,although on the title-page the authorship is given as ,by the ,author of a ,letter from a ,by-stander1 there was no intention of anonymity1 since the ,dedication is boldly signed ,corbyn ,morris1 ,inner ,temple1 ,feb4 #a1 #agdc #dd4 ,not much is known of the early life of ,corbyn ,morris4 ,born #ad ,august #agaj1 he was the eldest son of ,edmund ,morris of ,bishop's ,castle1 ,salop4 7,alumni ,cantabrigienses74 ,on #ag ,september #agbg he was admitted 7pensioner7 at ,queen's ,college1 ,cambridge1 as an exhibitioner from the famous ,charterhouse ,school4 ,exactly when he left the university1 or whether he took a degree1 is not certain4 ,morris first achieved some prominence1 though anonymously1 with ,a ,letter from a ,by-stander to a ,member of ,parliament2 wherein is examined what necessity there is for the maintenance of a large regular land-force in this island4 ,this pamphlet1 dated at the end1 #bf ,february #agda_/db1 is a wholehearted eulogy of the ,walpole administration and is filled with statistics and arguments for the ,mercantilist theories of the day4 ,at the time there was some suspicion that the work had been written either by ,walpole himself or by his direction4 ,when the ,letter from a ,by-stander was answered by the historian ,thomas ,carte1 an angry pamphlet controversy ensued1 with ,morris writing under the pseudonym of ,a ,gentleman of ,cambridge4 ,throughout1 ,morris showed himself a violent ,whig1 bitter in his attacks on ,charles ,,ii and the non-jurors2 and it was undoubtedly this fanatical party loyalty which laid the foundation for his later government career4 ,the principal facts of ,morris's later life may be briefly summarized4 ,on #ag ,june #agdc he was admitted at the ,inner ,temple4 ,throughout the ,pelham and ,newcastle administrations he was employed by the government1 as he once put it1 in conciliating opponents4 ,from #agea to #agfc be acted as ,secretary of the ,customs and ,salt ,duty in ,scotland1 in which post he was acknowledged to have shown decided ability as an administrator4 ,from #agfc to #aggh he was one of the commissioners of customs4 ,he died at ,wimbledon #bb ,december #aggi 7,musgrave's ,obituary71 described in the ,gentleman's ,magazine as a gentleman well known in the literary world1 and universally esteemed for his unwearied services and attachment to government4 ,throughout his long years of public service he wrote numerous pamphlets1 largely on economic and political questions4 ,merely the titles of a few may be sufficient to indicate the nature of his interests4 ,an ,essay towards ,deciding the ,question whether ,britain be ,permitted by ,right ,policy to ,insure the ,ships of ,her ,enemies 7#agdg72 ,observations on the ,past ,growth and ,present ,state of the ,city of ,london 7containing a complete table of christenings and burials #afja- #agej7 7#agel72 ,a ,letter ,balancing the ,causes of the ,present ,scarcity of ,our ,silver ,coin 7#ageg74 ,it would be a mistake1 however1 to consider ,morris merely as a statistical economist and ,whig party hack4 ,a gentleman of taste and wit1 the friend of ,hume1 ,boswell1 and other discerning men of the day1 he was elected ,f4,r4,s4 in #ageg1 and appears to have been much respected4 ,in later life ,morris had a country place at ,chiltern ,vale1 ,herts41 where he took an active delight in country sports4 ,one of his late pamphlets1 not listed in the ,d4,n4,b4 account of him1 entertainingly illustrates one of his hobbies4 ,the ,bird-fancier's ,recreation and ,delight1 with the newest and very best instructions for catching1 taking1 feeding1 rearing1 c all the various sorts of ,,song ,,birds444 containing curious remarks on the nature1 sex1 management1 and diseases of ,,english ,,song ,,birds1 with practical instructions for distinguishing the cock and hen1 for taking1 choosing1 breeding1 keeping1 and teaching them to sing1 for discovering and caring their diseases1 and of learning them to sing to the greatest perfection4 ,although there is little surviving evidence of ,morris's purely literary interests1 a set of verses combining his economic and artistic views appeared in a late edition of ,the ,new ,foundling ,hospital for ,wit 7new edition1 #aghd1 ,,vi1 #ie74 ,occasioned by seeing ,bowood in ,wiltshire1 the home of the ,earl of ,shelburne1 the lines are entitled3 ,on ,reading ,dr4 ,goldsmith's ,poem1 the ,deserted ,village4 ,this was the man who at the age of thirty-three brought out ,an ,essay towards ,fixing the ,true ,standards of ,wit1 ,humour1 ,raillery1 ,satire1 and ,ridicule4 ,that it was ever widely read we have no evidence1 but at least a number of men of wit and judgment found it interesting4 ,horace ,walpole included it in a packet of the only new books at all worth reading sent to ,horace ,mann1 but the fulsome dedication to the elder ,walpole undoubtedly had something to do with this recommendation4 ,more disinterested approval is shown in a letter printed in the ,daily ,advertiser for #ca ,may #agdd4 ,better than any modern critique the letter illustrates the contemporary reaction to the ,essay4 ,christ ,church ,college1 ,oxford1 ,,sir3 ,i have examin'd the ,essay you have sent me for fixing the true ,standards of ,wit1 ,humour1 c4 and cannot perceive upon what pretence the ,definitions1 as you tell me1 are censured for ,obscurity1 even by ,gentlemen of ,abilities1 and such as in other ,parts of the ,work very frankly allow it's ,merit3 the ,definition of ,wit1 which presents itself at first1 you say is1 particularly objected to1 as dark and involv'd2 in answer to which ,i beg ,leave to give you my plain ,sentiments upon it1 and which ,i apprehend should naturally occur to every ,reader3 ,in treating upon ,wit1 the ,author seems constantly to carry in his ,view a ,distinction between ,this and ,vivacity3 there is a ,lustre or ,brilliancy which often results from wild unprovok'd ,sallies of ,fancy2 but such unexpected ,objects1 which serve not to elucidate each other1 discover only a ,flow of ,spirits1 or rambling ,vivacity2 whereas1 says he1 ,wit is the ,lustre which results from the quick ,elucidation of one ,subject1 by the just and unexpected ,arrangement of it with another ,subject4--,to constitute ,wit1 there must not only arise a ,lustre from the quick ,arrangement together of two ,subjects1 but the new ,subject must be naturally introduced1 and also serve to elucidate the original one3 the ,word ,elucidation1 though it be not new1 is elegant1 and very happily applied in this ,definition2 yet ,i have seen some old ,gentlemen here stumble at it1 and have found it difficult to persuade them to advance farther3--,i have also heard ,objections made to the ,words ,lustre and ,brilliancy of ,ideas1 though they are ,terms which have been used by the ,greeks and ,romans1 and by elegant ,writers of all ,ages and ,nations2 and the ,effect which they express1 is perfectly conceiv'd and felt by every ,person of true ,genius and ,imagination4 ,the ,distinctions between ,wit and ,humour1 and the ,reasons why ,humour is more pleasurably felt than ,wit1 are new and excellent3 as is the ,definition of an ,humourist1 and the happy ,analysis of the ,characters of ,falstaff1 ,sir ,roger de ,coverly1 and ,don ,quixote2 ,but1 as you say1 the ,merit of these ,parts is universally allowed2 as well as the ,novelty1 and liberal ,freedom of the word apparently omitted2 which have such ,charms in my ,eye1 as ,i had long ceased to expect in a ,modern ,writer4 ,i am1 c #be ,may1 #agdd ,j---- ,w---- not identified ,if the ,gentlemen of ,abilities of the day found some of ,morris's definitions obscure1 modern readers will find them more precise than those of most of his predecessors4 ,all who had gone before--,cowley1 ,barrow1 ,dryden1 ,locke1 ,addison1 and ,congreve 7he does not mention ,hobbes7--,morris felt had bungled the job4 ,and although he apologizes for attempting what the great writers of the past had failed to do1 he has no hesitation in setting forth exactly what he believes to be the proper distinctions in the meanings of such terms as wit1 humour1 judgment1 invention1 raillery1 and ridicule4 ,the mathematician and statistician in ,morris made him strive for precise accuracy4 ,it was all very clear to him1 and by the use of numerous anecdotes and examples he hoped to make the distinctions obvious to the general reader4 ,the ,essay shows what a man of some evident taste and perspicacity1 with an analytical mind1 can do in defining the subtle semantic distinctions in literary terms4 ,trying to fix immutably what is certain always to be shifting1 ,morris is noteworthy not only because of the nature of his attempt1 but because he is relatively so successful4 ,as ,professor ,edward ,hooker has pointed out in an ,introduction to an earlier ,,ars issue 7,series ,i1 ,no4 #b71 his is probably the best and clearest treatment of the subject in the first half of the eighteenth century4 ,it may be regretted that political and economic concerns occupied so much of his later life1 leaving him no time for further literary essays4 ,in the present facsimile edition1 for reasons of space1 only the ,introduction and the main body of the ,essay are reproduced4 ,although ,morris once remarked to ,david ,hume that he wrote all his books for the sake of the ,dedications 7,letters of ,david ,hume ed4 ,greig1 ,i1 #chj71 modern readers need not regret too much the omission of the fulsome #cb page dedication to ,walpole 7,the ,earl of ,orford74 ,morris insists at the beginning that the book was inspired by a fervent desire of attempting a ,composition1 independent of ,politics1 which might furnish an occasional ,amusement to his patron4 ,the praise which follows1 in which ,walpole is said to lead the ,empire of ,letters1 is so excessive as to produce only smiles in twentieth century readers4 ,walpole is praised for not curbing the press while necessarily curbing the theatre1 his aid to commerce and industry1 indeed almost every act of his administration1 is lauded to the skies4 ,the ,church of ,england1 in which the ,exercise of ,reason in the solemn ,worship of ,god1 is the sacred ,right1 and indispensible ,duty1 of ,man1 receives its share of eulogy4 ,in every connection the ,tories are violently attacked4 ,the ,dedication ends in a peroration of praise for ,walpole's public achievements which shall adorn the ,history of ,britain1 and for his ,private ,virtues and all the softer ,features of his mind4 ,his home of retirement is referred to in the lines of ,milton3 ,great ,palace now of ,light6 ,hither1 as to their ,fountain1 other ,stars ,repairing1 in their golden ,urns1 draw ,light2 ,and here sic the ,morning ,planet gilds her ,horns4 ,p4,l4 #g4 #cfc-ff ,thus splendid1 and superior1 your ,lordship now flourishes in honourable ,ease1 exerting universal ,benevolence4444 ,but in dedications1 as in lapidary inscriptions1 as ,dr4 ,johnson might have agreed1 a writer need not be upon oath4 ,at the end of the ,essay ,morris reprinted two essays from ,the ,spectator1 ,nos4 #ce and #fb1 and ,william ,congreve's ,an ,essay concerning ,humour in ,comedy4 ,to ,mr4 ,dennis 7,congreve's ,works1 ed4 ,summers1 ,,iii1 #afa-fh74 ,since these are readily available1 they have not been included in this edition4 ,the present facsimile is made from a copy owned by ,louis ,i4 ,bredvold1 with his kind permission4 ,james ,l4 ,clifford ,columbia ,university 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the ,,ars edition included an errata slip1 reproduced here4 ,where text was changed or deleted1 the original is given in brackets4 ,corrections to the ,essay itself are listed after the ,,ars errata4 ,please paste the following in your copy of ,corbyn ,morris's ,essay towards ,fixing the ,true ,standards of ,wit4444 7,,ars1 ,series ,one1 ,no4 #d7 ,,errata ,,introduction3 page #e1 line #a--word apparently omitted should be inclosed in brackets4 page #e1 line #f--not identified should be inclosed in brackets4 page #f1 line #e--the first of should be omitted4 modern readers need not regret too much of the omission of the fulsome #cb page dedication page #f1 line #ab1 should read ,walpole is praised for not curbing the press while necessarily curbing the theatre1 his aid to commerce4 ,walpole is praised for not curbing the theatre2 his aid to commerce page #f1 line #be--sic should be inclosed in brackets1 as also ,p4,l4 #g4 #cfc-ff in the next line4 ,,essay ,,on ,,wit3 page viii3 ,whence in ,aristotle such ,persons are termed epidexioi1 dexterous ,men ,the ,greek may read epidezioi2 the letter-form is ambiguous4 page #ad3 444 without any ,reference to their whimsical ,oddities or ,foibles2 ,text reads ,oddistie4 page #bj and elsewhere3 ,biass is an attested variant spelling2 it has not been changed4 page #be3 teizes 7modern teases7 is an attested variant spelling2 it has not been changed4 page #dj3 --,it is therefore no wonder that ,signior ,don ,quixote of la ,mancha 444 ,text reads ,quoxote4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,an ,,essay ,towards ,fixing the ,,true ,,standards of ,,wit1 ,,humour1 ,,raillery1 ,,satire1 and ,,ridicule4 ,to which is ,added1 an ,,analysis ,of the ,,characters of ,an ,,humourist1 ,sir ,john ,falstaff1 ,sir ,roger ,de ,coverly1 and ,don ,quixote4 ,inscribed to the ,,right ,,honorable ,,robert ,earl of ,,orford4 ,by the ,,author of a ,,letter from a ,,by-,,stander4 ---- ,jacta est ,alea4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,j4 ,,roberts1 at the ,oxford-,arms1 in ,warwick-lane2 and ,w4 ,,bickerton1 in the ,temple-,exchange1 near the ,inner-,temple-,gate1 ,fleet-,street4 ,m ,,dcc ,,xliv4 ,price #bs4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,introduction4 ,an ,attempt to describe the precise ,limits of ,,wit1 ,,humour1 ,,raillery1 ,,satire and ,,ridicule1 ,i am sensible1 is no easy or slight ,undertaking4 ,to give a ,definition of ,,wit1 has been declared by ,writers of the greatest ,renown1 to exceed their ,reach and ,power2 and ,gentlemen of no less ,abilities1 and ,fame1 than ,cowley1 ,barrow1 ,dryden1 ,locke1 ,congreve1 and ,addison1 have tryed their ,force upon this ,subject1 and have all left it free1 and unconquered4 ,this1 ,i perceive1 will be an ,argument with some1 for condemning an ,essay upon this ,topic by a young ,author1 as rash and presumptious4 ,but1 though ,i desire to pay all proper ,respect to these eminent ,writers1 if a tame ,deference to great ,names shall become fashionable1 and the ,imputation of ,vanity be laid upon those who examine their ,works1 all ,advancement in ,knowledge will be absolutely stopp'd2 and ,literary ,merit will be soon placed1 in an humble ,stupidity1 and solemn ,faith in the ,wisdom of our ,ancestors4 ,whereas1 if ,i rightly apprehend1 an ,ambition to excell is the ,principle which should animate a ,writer1 directed by a ,love of ,truth1 and a free ,spirit of ,candour and ,inquiry4 ,this is the ,flame which should warm the rising ,members of every ,science1 not a poor ,submission to those who have preceded4 ,for1 however it may be with a ,religious ,,devotion1 a ,literary ,one is certainly the ,,child of ,ignorance4 ,however1 ,i must acknowledge1 that where ,i have differed from the great ,authors before mentioned1 it has been with a ,diffidence1 and after the most serious and particular ,examination of what they have delivered4 ,it is from hence1 that ,i have thought it my ,duty1 to exhibit with the following ,essay1 their several ,performances upon the same ,subject1 that every ,variation of mine from their ,suffrage1 and the ,reasons upon which ,i have grounded it1 may clearly appear4 ,the following ,ode upon ,,wit is written by ,mr4 ,cowley4 ,,ode of ,,wit4 ,i4 ,tell me1 oh tell61 what kind of ,thing is ,,wit1 ,thou who ,master art of it2 ,for the first ,matter loves ,variety less2 ,less ,women love't1 either in ,love or ,dress4 ,a thousand diff'rent ,shapes it bears1 ,comely in thousand ,shapes appears2 ,yonder we saw it plain1 and here 'tis now1 ,like ,spirits in a ,place1 we know not how4 ,,ii4 ,london1 that vents of false ,ware so much ,store1 ,in no ,ware deceives us more2 ,for ,men1 led by the ,colour1 and the ,shape1 ,like ,zeuxis' ,bird1 fly to the painted ,grape4 ,some things do through our ,judgment pass1 ,as through a ,multiplying ,glass3 ,and sometimes1 if the ,object be too far1 ,we take a falling ,meteor for a ,star4 ,,iii4 ,hence 'tis a ,wit1 that greatest ,word of ,fame1 ,grows such a common ,name2 ,and ,wits1 by our ,creation1 they become2 ,just so as ,tit'lar ,bishops made at ,rome4 ',tis not a ,tale1 'tis not a ,jest1 ,admir'd with ,laughter at a ,feast1 ,nor florid ,talk which can that ,title gain2 ,the ,proofs of ,wit for ever must remain4 ,,iv4 ',tis not to force some ,lifeless ,verses meet1 ,with their five gouty ,feet4 ,all ev'ry where1 like ,man's1 must be the ,soul1 ,and ,reason the inferior ,pow'rs controul4 ,such were the ,numbers which could call ,the ,stones into the ,theban ,wall4 ,such ,miracles are ceas'd1 and now we see ,no ,towns or ,houses rais'd by ,poetry4 ,v4 ,yet 'tis not to adorn1 and gild each ,part1 ,that shews more ,cost than ,art4 ,jewels at ,nose1 and ,lips1 but ill appear2 ,rather than all ,things ,wit1 let none be there4 ,several ,lights will not be seen1 ,if there be nothing else between4 ,men doubt2 because they stand so thick i' th' ,sky4 ,if those be ,stars which paint the ,galaxy4 ,,vi4 ',tis not when two like ,words make up one ,noise2 ,jests for ,dutch ,men1 and ,english ,boys4 ,in which1 who finds out ,wit1 the same may see ,in ,an'grams and ,acrostiques ,poetry4 ,much less can that have any ,place1 ,at which a ,virgin hides her ,face2 ,such ,dross the ,fire must purge away2 ',tis just ,the ,author blush1 there where the ,reader must4 ,,vii4 ',tis not such ,lines as almost crack the ,stage1 ,when ,bajazet begins to rage2 ,not a tall ,metaphor in th' bombast ,way1 ,nor the dry ,chips of short-lung'd ,seneca4 ,nor upon all ,things to obtrude1 ,and force some odd ,similitude4 ,what is it then1 which like the ,pow'r ,divine1 ,we only can by ,negatives define8 ,,viii4 ,in a true ,piece of ,wit1 all ,things must be1 ,yet all ,things there agree2 ,as in the ,ark1 join 'd without ,force or ,strife1 ,all ,creatures dwelt2 all ,creatures that had ,life4 ,or as the primitive ,forms of all1 7,if we compare great ,things with small7 ,which without ,discord or ,confusion lie1 ,in the strange ,mirror of the ,deity4 ,,ix4 ,but ,love1 that moulds one ,man up out of two1 ,makes me forget1 and injure you4 ,i took ,you for ,myself1 sure when ,i thought ,that ,you in any thing were to be taught4 ,correct my ,error with thy ,pen1 ,and if any ask me then1 ,what thing right ,wit1 and ,height of ,genius is1 ,i'll only shew your ,lines1 and say1 ',tis this4 ,the ,spirit and ,wit of this ,ode are excellent2 and yet it is evident1 through the whole1 that ,mr4 ,cowley had no clear ,idea of ,wit1 though at the same time it shines in most of these ,lines3 ,there is little ,merit in saying what ,,wit is not1 which is the chief ,part of this ,ode4 ,towards the ,end1 he indeed attempts to describe what it is1 but is quite vague and perplex'd in his ,description2 and at last1 instead of collecting his scatter'd ,rays into a ,focus1 and exhibiting succinctly the clear ,essence and ,power of ,,wit1 he drops the whole with a trite ,compliment4 ,the learned ,dr4 ,barrow1 in his ,sermon against foolish ,talking and ,jesting1 gives the following profuse ,description of ,,wit4 ,but first it may be demanded1 ,what the ,thing we speak of is8 ,or what the ,facetiousness 7or ,wit as he calls it before7 doth import8 ,to which ,questions ,i might reply1 as ,democritus did to him that asked the ,definition of a ,man1 ',tis that we all see and know4 ,any one better apprehends what it is by ,acquaintance1 than ,i can inform him by ,description4 ,it is indeed a ,thing so versatile and multiform1 appearing in so many ,shapes1 so many ,postures1 so many ,garbs1 so variously apprehended by several ,eyes and ,judgments1 that it seemeth no less hard to settle a clear and certain ,notion thereof1 than to make a ,portrait of ,proteus1 or to define the ,figure of the fleeting ,air4 ,sometimes it lieth in pat ,allusion to a known ,story1 or in seasonable ,application of a trivial ,saying1 or in forging an apposite ,tale3 ,sometimes it playeth in ,words and ,phrases1 taking ,advantage from the ,ambiguity of their ,sense1 or the ,affinity of their ,sound3 ,sometimes it is wrapp'd in a ,dress of humorous ,expression3 ,sometimes it lurketh under an odd ,similitude3 ,sometimes it is lodged in a sly ,question1 in a smart ,answer1 in a quirkish ,reason1 in a shrewd ,intimation1 in cunningly diverting1 or cleverly retorting an ,objection3 ,sometimes it is couched in a bold ,scheme of ,speech1 in a tart ,irony1 in a lusty ,hyperbole1 in a startling ,metaphor1 in a plausible ,reconciling of ,contradictions1 or in acute ,nonsense2 ,sometimes a scenical ,representation of ,persons or ,things1 a counterfeit ,speech1 a mimical ,look or ,gesture passeth for it4 ,sometimes an affected ,simplicity1 sometimes a presumptuous ,bluntness giveth it ,being4 ,sometimes it riseth from a lucky ,hitting upon what is ,strange2 sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious ,matter to the ,purpose4 ,often it' consisteth in one knows not what1 and springeth up one can hardly tell how4 ,its ways are unaccountable1 and inexplicable1 being answerable to the numberless ,rovings of ,fancy1 and ,windings of ,language4 ,it is1 in short1 a ,manner of ,speaking out of the simple and plain ,way 7such as ,reason teacheth1 and proveth ,things by7 which by a pretty1 surprizing ,uncouthness in ,conceit or ,expression1 doth affect and amuse the ,fancy1 stirring in it some ,wonder1 and breeding some ,delight thereto4 ,it raiseth ,admiration1 as signifying a nimble ,sagacity of ,apprehension1 a special ,felicity of ,invention1 a ,vivacity of ,spirit1 and ,reach of ,wit1 more than vulgar2 it seeming to argue a rare ,quickness of ,parts1 that one can fetch in remote ,conceits applicable2 a notable ,skill that he can dextrously accommodate them to the ,purpose before him2 together with a lively ,briskness of ,humour1 not apt to damp those ,sportful ,flashes of ,imagination4 7,whence in ,aristotle such ,persons are termed epidexioi1 dexterous ,men1 and eutropoi1 ,men of facile or versatile ,manners1 who can easily turn themselves to all ,things1 or turn all ,things to themselves47 ,it also procureth ,delight1 by gratifying ,curiosity with its ,rareness1 or ,semblance of ,difficulty4 7,as ,monsters1 not for their ,beauty1 but their ,rarity2 as juggling ,tricks1 not for their ,use1 but their ,abstruseness1 are beheld with ,pleasure27 by diverting the ,mind from its ,road of serious ,thoughts1 by instilling ,gaiety1 and ,airiness of ,spirit2 by provoking to such ,disposition of ,spirit in ,way of ,emulation1 or ,complaisance2 and by seasoning ,matters otherwise distasteful or insipid1 with an unusual and thence grateful ,tange4 ,this ,description1 it is easy to perceive1 must have cost the ,author of it a great deal of ,labour4 ,it is a very full ,specimen of that ,talent of entirely exhausting a ,subject1 for which ,dr4 ,barrow was remarkable2 and if the ,point was1 to exhibit all the various ,forms and ,appearances1 not of ,,wit only1 but of ,raillery1 ,satire1 ,sarcasms1 and of every ,kind of ,poignancy and ,pleasantry of ,sentiment1 and ,expression1 he seems to have perfectly succeeded2 there being perhaps no ,variety1 in all the ,extent of these ,subjects1 which he has not presented to ,view in this ,description4--,but he does not pretend to give any ,definition of ,,wit1 intimating rather that it is quite impossible to be given3 ,and indeed from his ,description of it1 as a ,proteus1 appearing in numberless various ,colours1 and ,forms2 and from his mistaking1 and presenting for ,,wit1 other different ,mixtures and ,substances1 it is evident that his ,idea of it was quite confused and uncertain3 ,it is true1 he has discovered a vast ,scope of ,fertility of ,genius1 and an uncommon ,power of collecting together a ,multitude of ,objects upon any ,occasion1 but he has here absolutely mistaken his work2 for instead of exhibiting the ,properties of ,,wit in a clearer ,light1 and confuting the false ,claims which are made to it1 he has made it his whole ,business to perplex it the more1 by introducing1 from all ,corners1 a monstrous ,troop of new unexpected ,pretenders4 ,dryden1 in the ,preface to his ,opera1 entitled1 ,the ,state of ,innocence1 or ,fall of ,man1 gives the following ,decree upon ,,wit4 ,the ,definition of ,,wit1 7which has been so often attempted1 and ever unsuccessfully by many ,poets7 is only this3 ,that it is a ,propriety of ,thoughts and ,words2 or in other ,terms1 ,thoughts and ,words elegantly adapted to the ,subject4 ,if ,mr4 ,dryden imagined1 that he had succeeded himself in this ,definition1 he was extremely mistaken2 for nothing can be more distant from the ,properties of ,,wit1 than those he describes4 ,he discovers no ,idea of the ,surprize1 and ,brilliancy of ,,wit1 or of the sudden ,light thrown upon a ,subject4 ,instead of once pointing at these1 he only describes the ,properties of clear ,reasoning1 which are a ,propriety of ,thoughts and ,words2--,whereas ,,wit1 in its sudden ,flashes1 makes no ,pretension to ,reasoning2 but is perceived in the pleasant ,surprize which it starts1 and in the ,light darted upon a ,subject1 which instantly vanishes again1 without abiding a strict ,examination4 ,the other ,definition he gives1 which is1 ,thoughts and ,words elegantly adapted to the ,subject1 is very different from the former1 but equally unhappy4 ,for ,propriety1 in ,thoughts and ,words1 consists in exhibiting clear1 pertinent ,ideas1 in precise and perspicuous ,words4 ,whereas ,,elegance consists in the compt1 well pruned and succinct ,turn of a ,subject4 ,the ,object of the ,first1 is to be clear1 and perspicuous2 whence it often appears in pursuit of these1 not compt or succinct3 ,whereas the ,essence of ,,elegance is to be compt and succinct1 for the ,sake of which ,ornaments it often neglect ,perspicuity1 and ,clearness4--,in short1 a ,propriety of ,thoughts and ,words1 may subsist without any ,elegance2 as an ,elegance of ,thoughts and ,words may appear without a perfect ,propriety4 ,the last ,definition1 as it is thus very different from the former is also equally unhappy3 ,for ,,elegance is no essential ,property of ,,wit4 ,pure ,,wit resulting solely from the quick ,elucidation of one ,subject1 by the sudden ,arrangement1 and ,comparison of it1 with another ,subject4--,if the two ,objects arranged together are elegant1 and polite1 there will then be superadded to the ,,wit1 an ,elegance and ,politeness of ,sentiment1 which will render the ,,wit more amiable4 ,but if the ,objects are vulgar1 obscene1 or deformed1 provided the first be elucidated1 in a lively ,manner1 by1 the sudden ,arrangement of it with the second1 there will be equally ,,wit2 though1 the ,indelicacy of ,sentiment attending it1 will render such ,,wit shocking and abominable4 ,it is with the highest ,respect for the great ,mr4 ,locke1 that ,i deliver his ,sentiments upon this ,subject4 ,and hence1 perhaps1 may be given some ,reason of that common ,observation1 that ,men who have a great deal of ,wit1 and prompt ,memories1 have not always the clearest ,judgment or deepest ,reason3 ,for ,wit lying most in the ,assemblage of ,ideas1 and putting those together with ,quickness and ,variety1 wherein can be found any ,assemblance or ,congruity1 thereby to make up pleasant ,pictures1 and agreeable ,visions in the ,fancy4 ,judgment1 on the contrary1 lies quite on the other side2 in separating carefully one from another1 ,ideas1 wherein can be found the least ,difference1 thereby to avoid being missed by ,similitude1 and by ,affinity to take one thing for another4 ,this is a ,way of proceeding quite contrary to ,metaphor and ,allusion2 wherein for the most ,part lies that ,entertainment and ,pleasantry of ,wit1 which strikes so lively on the ,fancy1 and therefore is acceptable to all ,people1 because its ,beauty appears at first ,sight1 and there is required no ,labour of ,thoughts to examine what ,truth1 or ,reason1 there is in it4 ,the ,mind1 without looking any further1 rests satisfied with the ,agreeableness of the ,picture1 and the ,gaiety of the ,fancy4 ,and it is a kind of an ,affront to go about to examine it by the severe ,rules of ,truth1 and good ,reason1 whereby it appears1 that it conflicts in something that is not perfectly conformable to them4 ,it is to be observed that ,mr4 ,locke has here only occasionally1 and passantly1 delivered his ,sentiments upon this ,subject2 but yet he has very happily explained the chief ,properties of ,,wit4 ,it was his ,remark ,first1 that it lies for the most ,part in assembling together with ,quickness and ,variety ,objects1 which possess an ,affinity1 or ,congruity1 with each other2 which was the first just ,information obtained by the literary ,world1 upon this ,subject4 ,as to what he adds1 ,that the ,intention1 and ,effects1 of this ,assemblage of similar ,objects1 is to make up pleasant ,pictures1 and agreeable ,visions in the ,fancy1 it is1 as ,i humbly apprehend1 not quite perfect3 ,for the ,business of this ,assemblage is not merely to raise pleasant ,pictures in the ,fancy1 but also to enlighten thereby the original ,subject4--,this is evident2 because in such ,assemblages1 the only ,foundation upon which the new ,subject is suddenly introduced1 is the ,affinity1 and consequently the ,illustration1 it bears to the first ,subject4--,the ,introduction of pleasant ,pictures and ,visions1 which present not a new ,illustration1 and ,light1 to the original ,subjects1 being rather wild ,sallies of ,vivacity1 than well-aimed1 apposite ,strokes of ,,wit4 ,it is ,mr4 ,locke's ,conclusion1 at last1 ,that ,,wit consists in something that is not perfectly conformable to ,truth1 and good ,reason4--,this is a ,problem of some ,curiosity2 and ,i apprehend ,mr4 ,locke's ,determination upon it to be right3--,for the ,direction of ,,wit is absolutely different from the ,direction of ,,truth and ,,good ,,reason2 ,it being the ,aim of ,,wit to strike the ,imagination2 of ,,truth and ,,good ,,reason1 to convince the ,judgment3 ,from thence they can never be perfectly coincident4 ,it is however true1 that there may be ,instances of ,,wit1 wherein the ,agreement between the two ,objects shall be absolutely just1 and perceived to be such at the first ,glance4 ,such ,instances of ,,wit1 will be then also ,self-evident ,,truths4 ,they will both agree in their obvious1 and quick ,perspicuity2 but will be still different in this1 that the ,effort of the ,one is to strike the ,fancy1 whereas the ,other is wholly exerted in gratifying the ,judgment4 ,the ,sentiments of ,mr4 ,addison upon ,,wit1 are professedly delivered in the ,spectator ,n4 #fb4 annexed to the following ,essay4 ,he has there justly commended ,mr4 ,locke's ,description of ,,wit2 but what he adds1 by ,way of ,explanation to it1 that the ,assemblage of ,ideas must be such as shall give ,delight1 and ,surprize1 is not true1 in regard to the ,former1 ,delight being no essential ,property of ,,wit2 for if the original ,subject be unpleasant1 or deformed1 the sudden unexpected ,arrangement of a similar ,object with it1 may give us ,surprize1 and be indisputably ,,wit1 and yet be far from creating any ,delight4 ,this ,gentleman has also given the following ,example1 in order to illustrate the ,necessity there is1 that ,surprize should be always an ,attendant upon ,,wit4 ,when a ,poet tells us1 the ,bosom of his ,mistress is as white as ,snow1 there is no ,wit in the ,comparison2 but when he adds1 with a ,sigh1 that it as cold too1 it then grows to ,wit4 --,to compare a ,girl's ,bosom to ,snow for its ,whiteness ,i apprehend to be ,,wit1 notwithstanding the ,authority of so great a ,writer to the contrary4 ,for there is a ,lustre resulting from the natural and splendid ,agreement between these ,objects1 which will always produce ,,wit2 such1 as cannot be destroyed1 though it will quickly be rendered trite1 by frequent ,repetition4 ,this ,problem1 ,how far ,,surprize is1 or is not1 necessary to ,,wit1 ,i humbly apprehend1 may be thus solved4--,in ,subjects which have a natural and splendid ,agreement1 there will always be ,,wit upon their ,arrangement together2 though when it becomes trite1 and not accompanied with ,surprize1 the ,lustre will be much faded2--,but where the ,agreement is forced and strained1 ,novelty and ,surprize are absolutely necessary to usher it in2 ,an unexpected ,assemblage of this ,sort1 striking our ,fancy1 and being gaily admitted at first to be ,,wit2 which upon frequent ,repetition1 the ,judgment will have examined1 and rise up against it wherever it appears2--,so that in short1 in ,instances where the ,agreement is strained and defective1 which indeed are abundantly the most general1 ,surprize is a necessary ,passport to ,,wit2 but ,surprize is not necessary to ,,wit1 where the ,agreement between the two ,subjects is natural and splendid2 though in these ,instances it greatly heightens the ,brillancy4 ,the subsequent ,remark of ,mr4 ,addison1 ,that the ,poet1 after saying his ,mistress's ,bosom is as white as ,snow1 should add1 with a ,sigh1 that it is as cold too1 in order that it may grow to ,,wit1 is ,i fear1 very incorrect4 ,for as to the ,sigh1 it avails not a ,rush2 and this ,addition will be found to be only a new ,stroke of ,,wit1 equally trite1 and less perfect1 and natural1 than the former ,comparison4 ,it may also be observed1 ,that ,mr4 ,addison has omitted the ,elucidation of the original ,subject1 which is the grand ,excellence of ,,wit4 ,nor has he prescribed any ,limits to the ,subjects1 which are to be arranged together2 without which the ,result will be frequently the ,,sublime or ,,burlesque2 ,in which1 it is true1 ,,wit often appears1 but taking their whole ,compositions together1 they are different ,substances1 and usually ranked in different ,classes4 ,all that ,mr4 ,congreve has delivered upon ,,wit1 as far as ,i know1 appears in his ,essay upon ,,humour1 annexed to this ,treatise4 ,he there says1 ,to define ,,humour1 perhaps1 were as difficult1 as to define ,,wit2 for1 like that1 it is of infinite ,variety4 --,again1 he afterwards adds1 ,but though we cannot certainly tell what ,,wit is1 or what ,,humour is1 yet we may go near to shew something1 which is not ,,wit1 or not ,,humour1 and yet often mistaken for both4 --,in this ,essay1 wherein he particularly considers ,,humour1 and the ,difference between this1 and ,,wit1 he may be expected to have delivered his best ,sentiments upon both3 ,but these ,words1 which ,i have quoted1 seem to be as important and precise1 as any which he has offered upon the ,subject of ,,wit4 ,as such1 ,i present them1 without any ,remarks1 to my ,reader1 who1 if he only goes near to be edified by them1 will discover a great ,share of ,sagacity4 ,the ,sentiments of these eminent ,writers upon ,,wit1 having thus been exhibited1 ,i come next to the ,subject of ,,humour4 ,this has been defined by some1 in the following ,manner1 with great ,perspicuity4 --,,humour is the genuine ,,wit of ,comedies1--which has afforded vast ,satisfaction to many ,connoissures in the ,belles ,lettres2 especially as ,,wit has been supposed to be incapable of any ,definition4 ,this ,subject has also been particularly considered by the ,spectatator ,n4 #ce4 inserted at the ,end of the following ,essay4 ,mr4 ,addison therein gravely remarks1 that ,it is indeed much easier to describe what is not ,,humour1 than what it is2 which1 ,i humbly apprehend1 is no very important ,piece of ,information4--,he adds1 ,and very difficult to define it otherwise1 than as ,cowly has done ,,wit1 by ,negatives4 ,this ,notion of defining a ,subject by ,negatives1 is a favourite ,crotchet1 and may perhaps be assumed upon other ,occasions by future ,writers3 ,i hope therefore ,i shall be pardoned1 if ,i offer a proper ,explanation of so good a ,conceit2--,to declare then1 ,that a ,subject is only to be ,,defined by ,,negatives1 is to cloath it in a respectable ,dress of ,darkness4 ,and about as much as to say1 ,that it is a ,knight of tenebrose ,virtues2 or a serene ,prince1 of the ,blood of ,occult ,qualities4 ,mr4 ,addison proceeds1 ,were ,i to give my own ,notions of ,,humour1 ,i should deliver them after ,plato's ,manner1 in a ,kind of ,allegory2 and by supposing ,,humour to be a ,person1 deduce to him1 all his ,qualifications1 according to the following ,genealogy3 ,,truth was the ,founder of the ,family1 and the ,father of ,,good ,,sense2 ,,good ,,sense was the ,father of ,,wit1 who married a ,lady of a collateral ,line called ,,mirth1 by whom he had ,issue ,,humour4 --,it is very unfortunate for this ,allegorical ,description1 that there is not one ,word of it just3 ,for ,,truth1 ,,good ,,sense1 ,,wit1 and ,,mirth1 represented to be the immediate ,ancestors of ,,humour2 whereas ,,humour is derived from the ,foibles1 and whimsical ,oddities of ,persons in real ,life1 which flow rather from their ,inconsistencies1 and ,weakness1 than from ,,truth and ,,good ,,sense2 ,nor is ,,wit any ,ancestor of ,,humour1 but of a quite different ,family2 it being notorious that much ,,humour may be drawn from the ,manners of ,dutchmen1 and of the most formal and dull ,persons1 who are yet never guilty of ,,wit4 ,again1 ,,mirth is not so properly the ,parent of ,,humour1 as the ,offspring4--,in short1 this whole ,genealogy is a nubilous ,piece of ,conceit1 instead of being any ,elucidation of ,,humour4 ,it is a formal ,method of trifling1 introduced under a deep ,ostentation of ,learning1 which deserves the severest ,rebuke4--,but ,i restrain my ,pen1 recollecting the ,visions of ,,mirza1 and heartily profess my high ,veneration for their admirable ,author4 ,the ,essay upon ,,humour1 at the ,end of this ,treatise1 written by ,mr4 ,congreve1 is next to be considered4 ,it appears1 that at first he professes his absolute ,uncertainty in regard to this ,subject2 and says1 ,we cannot certainly tell what ,,wit is1 or what ,,humour is4 ,but yet1 through his whole ,piece1 he neglects the ,subject of ,,humour in general1 and only discourses upon the ,,humour1 by which he means barely the ,disposition1 of ,persons3 ,this may particularly appear from the following ,words4 ,a ,man may change his ,opinion1 but ,i believe he will find it a ,difficulty to part with his ,,humour2 and there is nothing more provoking than the being made sensible of that ,difficulty4 ,sometimes we shall meet with those1 who perhaps indifferently enough1 but at the same time impertinently1 will ask the ,question1 ,,why ,,are ,,you ,,not ,,merry8 ,,why ,,are ,,you ,,not ,,gay1 ,,pleasant1 ,,and ,,chearful8 ,then instead of answering1 could ,i ask such a ,person1 ,,why ,,are ,,you ,,not ,,handsome8 ,,why ,,have ,,you ,,not ,,black ,,eyes1 ,,and ,a ,,better ,,complexion8 ,nature abhors to be forced4 ,the two famous ,philosophers of ,ephesus and ,abdera1 have their different ,sects at this ,day4 ,some weep1 and others laugh at one and the same ,thing4 ,i don't doubt but you have observed several ,men laugh when they are angry2 others1 who are silent2 some that are loud2 yet ,i cannot suppose that it is the ,passion of ,,anger1 which is in itself different1 or more or less in one than t'other1 but that it is the ,,humour of the ,man that is predominant1 and urges him to express it in that ,manner4 ,demonstrations of ,,pleasure1 are as various3 ,one ,man has a ,,humour of retiring from all ,company1 when any thing has happened to please him beyond ,expectation2 he hugs himself alone1 and thinks it an ,addition to the ,pleasure to keep it a ,secret1 c4 ,all which1 ,i apprehend1 is no more than saying2 ,that there are different ,dispositions in different ,persons4 ,in another ,place1 he seems to understand by ,humour1 not only the ,disposition1 but the ,tone of the ,nerves1 of a ,person1 thus1 ,suppose ,,morose to be a ,man naturally splenetic1 and melancholy2 is there any thing more offensive to one of such a ,,disposition 7where he uses the ,word instead of ,humour7 than ,noise and ,clamour8 ,let any ,man that has the ,spleen 7and there are enough in ,england7 be ,judge4 ,we see common ,examples of this ,,humour in little every ,day4 ',tis ten to one1 but three ,parts in four of the ,company you dine with1 are discomposed1 and started at the cutting of a ,cork1 or scratching of a ,plate with a ,knife2 it is a ,proportion of the same ,,humour1 that makes such1 or any other ,noise1 offensive to the ,person that hears it2 for there are others who will not be disturbed at all by it4 ,at this ,rate every ,weakness of ,nerves1 or ,particularity of ,constitution1 is ,,humour4 ,it is true1 he justly points out in another ,place the different ,sentiments1 which ought to be adapted to different ,characters in ,comedy1 according to their different ,dispositions1 or1 as he phrases it1 ,humours3 ,as for ,instance1 he very rightly observes1 ,that a ,character of a splenetic and peevish ,,humour1 ,should have a satirical ,,wit4 ,a jolly and sanguine ,,humour should have a facetious ,,wit4 --,but still this is no ,description of what is well felt1 and known1 by the general ,name of ,,humour4 ,however1 as what ,i have already quoted1 may appear to be only his looser ,explanations1 it will be necessary to deliver his more closed and collected ,sentiments upon this ,subject4 ,these he gives in the following ,words1 ,i should be unwilling to venture1 even in a bare ,description of ,humour1 much more to make a ,definition of it2 but now my ,hand is in1 ,i will tell you what serves me instead of either4 ,i take it to be1 ,a singular and unavoidable ,manner of doing or saying any thing1 peculiar and natural to one ,man only1 by which his ,speech and ,actions are distinguished from those of other ,men4 --,this ,description is very little applicable to ,,humour1 but tolerably well adapted to other ,subjects4--,thus1 a ,person1 who is happy in a particular ,grace1 which accompanies all his ,actions1 may be said to possess a singular and unavoidable ,manner of doing or saying any thing1 peculiar and natural to him only1 by which his ,speech and ,actions are distinguished from those of other ,men4 ,and the same may be said of a ,person of a peculiar ,vivacity1 ,heaviness1 or ,awkwardness4--,in short1 this ,description is suited to any ,particularity of a ,person in general1 instead of being adapted to the ,foibles and whimsical ,oddities of ,persons1 which alone constitute ,,humour4 ,these are the only ,pieces upon ,,wit1 and ,,humour1 which have fallen within my ,knowledge2 ,i have here fairly delivered them at length2 and from the ,respect which is due to such eminent ,writers1 have distinctly and deliberately examined the ,merit of each4--,as to my own ,performance1 which is now submitted to the ,public1 ,i have to wish1 that it may gain a candid and strict ,examination4 ,it has been my ,endeavour to give ,definitions of the ,subjects1 upon which ,i have treated2 ,a ,plan the most difficult of all others to be executed by an ,author2 ,but such an one1 as ,i apprehend1 deserves to be more generally introduced1 and established4 ,if once it was expected by the ,public1 that ,authors should strictly define their ,subjects1 it would instantly checque an ,inundation of ,scribbling4 ,the desultory ,manner of ,writing would be absolutely exploded2 and ,accuracy and ,precision would be necessarily introduced upon every ,subject4 ,this is the ,method pursued in ,subjects of ,philosophy2 ,without clear and precise ,definitions such noble ,advances could never have been made in those ,sciences2 ,and it is by the ,assistance of these only1 that ,subjects of ,polite ,literature1 can ever be enlightened and embellished with just ,ornaments4 ,if ,definitions had been constantly exacted from ,authors there would not have appeared one hundreth ,part of the present ,books1 and yet every ,subject had been better ascertained4--,nor will this ,method1 as some may imagine1 be encumbered with ,stiffness2 ,on the contrary1 in illustrating the ,truth of ,definitions there is a full ,scope of the utmost ,genius1 ,imagination1 and ,spirit of a ,writer2 and a ,work upon this ,plan is adorned with the highest ,charms appearing with ,propriety1 ,clearness1 and ,conviction1 as well as ,beauty4 ,it is true1 that the ,difficulties1 which attend an able ,execution of this ,method1 are not open to a careless ,eye2 ,and it is some ,mortification to an ,author upon this ,plan1 that his greatest ,merit is likely to lie concealed2 ,a ,definition1 or ,distinction1 which after much ,attention and ,time he has happily delivered with ,brevity and ,clearness1 appearing hereby quite obvious1 to others1 and what they cannot imagine could require ,pains to discover4 ,as to the ,examples1 by which ,i have illustrated the ,definition of ,wit1 they are common and trite2 but are the best1 which ,i could find upon deliberate ,enquiry4 ,many ,modern instances of ,wit1 which left very lively ,impressions upon me1 when ,i heard them1 appearing upon ,re-examination to be quite strained and defective4 ,these1 which ,i have given1 as they are thus trite1 are not designed in themselves for any ,entertainment to the ,reader2 but being various1 and distant from each other1 they very properly serve to explain the ,truth1 and ,extent of the ,definition4 ,the ,character of an ,,humourist1 ,i expect1 will be strange to most of my ,readers2 and if no ,gentleman is acquainted with a ,person of this ,cast1 it must pass for a ,monster of my own ,creation2--,as to the ,character of ,sir ,john ,falstaff1 it is chiefly extracted from ,shakespear1 in his #ast ,part of ,king ,henry the ,i,vth2 ,but so far as ,sir ,john in ,shakspear's ,description1 sinks into a ,cheat or a ,scoundrel1 upon any ,occasion1 he is different from that ,falstaff1 who is designed in the following ,essay1 and is entirely an amiable ,character4 ,it is obvious1 that the ,appearance1 which ,falstaff makes1 in the unfinished ,play of ,the ,merry ,wives of ,windsor1 is in general greatly below his true ,character4 ,his ,imprisonment and ,death in the latter ,part of ,king ,henry the ,i,vth1 seem also to have been written by ,shakespear in ,compliance with the ,austerity of the ,times2 and in order to avoid the ,imputation of encouraging ,idleness and mirthful ,riot by too amiable and happy an ,example4 ,the ,criticism1 which ,i have made1 upon ,horace's ,narrative of his ,adventure with an ,impertinent ,fellow1 ,i offer with ,respect2 ,and beg leave to observe that the chief ,part which ,i object to1 is the ,propriety of his introducing himself in so ridiculous a ,plight2 --,dum sudor ad imos ,manaret ,talos2 ,and ,demitto ,auriculas1 ut iniqu mentis ,acellus ,cum gravius dorso subiit onus4 ,and other ,representations of the same sort1 seem to place ,horace in a very mean and ludicrous ,light2 which it is probable he never apprehended in the full ,course of exposing his ,companion2--,besides1 the ,conduct of his ,adversary is in several ,places1 excessively1 and1 as it may be construed1 designedly1 insolent and contemptuous2 and as no ,merit or ,importance belongs to this ,person1 there appears no ,reason why ,horace should endure such ,treatment2 or1 if the other was too powerful for him1 it is not an ,adventure of ,honour2 or what ,horace should chuse to expose to the ,world in this manner1 with all the ,particulars of his own despicable ,distress4 ,however1 the ,mirth which results from this ,narrative1 as it now stands1 is perhaps rather the stronger at first1 by the full ,ridicule which lies against ,horace1 and his ,adversary2--,but1 upon ,reflection1 there arises a ,disgust1 at the ,impropriety of ,horace's exposing his own ,meanness1 as well as at the nauseous ,impudence of his ,companion4 ,as to uncommon ,words1 if any such appear in this ,introduction1 or in the following ,essay1 ,i hope they want neither ,propriety1 ,clearness1 nor ,strength2--,and if the ,lengthof this ,piece to an ,essay so short shall happen at first to disturb any ,critic1 ,i beg leave to inform him1 that all1 which can be fairly collected from it1 is only1 that it may have cost me the more ,trouble2--,but upon mentioning the ,length of this ,piece1 what behoves me the most1 is1 to return my ,thanks to two ,gentlemen1 who suffered me to read to them the whole1 as it was gradually written2 ,and by whose judicious and friendly ,instructions in the ,course of it1 my own ,imagination was often prevented from running into ,riots4 ,however1 ,i am far from imagining1 that ,i have always been reduced within just ,bounds2 ,and now feel a sufficient ,share of ,concern and ,anxiety1 for the ,fate of this ,work2--,yet1 ,i humbly apprehend1 that this must freely be allowed me1 that ,i have not been a ,plagiary2 ,but have constantly delivered my own original ,sentiments1 without purloining or disfiguring the ,thoughts of others2 ,an ,honesty1 which1 ,i hope1 is laudable in an ,author2 ,and as ,i have not stolen1 neither have ,i concealed1 the ,merit of other ,writers4 ,it will also be found1 as ,i humbly apprehend1 that ,i have never shunned the ,subject3 ,i mention this particularly1 because it is the ,practice of many eminent ,writers1 after much curvetting and prauncing1 suddenly to wheel1 and retire1 when they are expected to make their most full ,attack4--,these ,gentlemen1 it is true1 very happily avoid ,danger1 and advance and retreat in excellent ,order3 ,but1 with their ,leave1 ,i must observe that they never do any ,execution2 ,for ,subjects1 which have not been surveyed1 and laid open1 are like fortified ,places2 and it is the ,business of a ,writer1 as well as of a ,soldier1 to make an ,attack2--,this has been the ,conduct ,i have held in the following ,essay2 and however ,i may be shattered upon any ,occasion1 ,i hope it will appear 7if ,i may be allowed the ,expression7 that ,i have fairly charged the ,subjects4 ,having offered these ,circumstances in my ,favour1 ,i must frankly acknowledge1 that ,i am not able to plead any ,hurry or ,precipitancy in the publishing of this ,work1 in ,excuse of its ,errors2 ,though ,i clearly understand1 that by making this ,discovery1 ,i absolutely deprive myself of the most genteel and fashionable ,screen now used by ,authors2--,but ,i imagined1 that it became me to spare no ,labour or ,attention upon a ,work1 which ,i should presume to offer to the ,world2 ,happening to esteem this ,care and ,concern1 a ,respect due to the ,public1 and the proper ,species of ,humility and ,modesty in an ,author4 99 99 99 99 99 ,an ,,essay on ,wit1 ,humour1 ,raillery1 c4 ,,wit is the ,,lustre resulting from the quick ,,elucidation of one ,subject1 by a just and unexpected ,,arrangement of it with another ,subject4 ,this ,definition of ,,wit will more clearly appear by a short ,explanation4 ,it is the ,province of ,,wit to elucidate1 or enlighten a ,subject1 not by reasoning upon that ,subject1 but by a just and unexpected ,introduction of another similar1 or opposite ,subject2 whereby1 upon their ,arrangement together1 the original ,subject may be set off1 and more clearly enlighten'd1 by their obvious ,comparison4 ,it may be proper1 for the sake of ,distinction1 to call the ,subject1 which is the ,basis and ,ground-work1 the original ,subject2 and that which is introduced1 in order to elucidate it1 the auxiliary ,subject4 ,that there be always an apparent ,chain or ,connexion1 or else an obvious ,agreement or ,contrast1 between the two ,subjects1 is absolutely requir'd1 in order that the ,auxiliary one may be justly introduced2 otherwise1 instead of ,,wit1 there will only appear a rambling ,vivacity1 in wild1 unprovoked ,sallies4 ,and yet every just or natural ,introduction of an auxiliary ,subject will not produce ,,wit1 unless a new ,lustre is reflected from thence upon the original ,subject4 ,it is further to be observed1 that the ,introduction of the auxiliary ,subject ought not only to be just1 but also unexpected1 which are entirely consistent together2 ,for as every ,subject bears various ,relations and ,oppositions to other ,subjects1 it is evident that each of these ,relations and ,oppositions upon being exhibited1 will be unexpected to the ,persons1 who did not perceive them before2 and yet they are just by ,supposition4 ,it is upon such unexpected ,introductions of auxiliary ,subjects1 that we are struck with a ,surprize2 from whence the high ,brilliancy and ,sparkling of ,,wit1 result4 ,whereas ,auxiliary ,subjects1 introduced upon such ,occasions1 as they have been frequently exhibited before1 are apt to fall dull1 and heavy upon the ,fancy2 and unless they possess great natural ,spirit1 will excite no sprightly ,sensation4 ,it is also necessary to observe1 that1 in ,,wit1 the ,subjects concern'd must be ordinary and level2 ,by which are intended1 not such as are common1 but such as have no extraordinarily exalted1 or enlarged1 ,qualities2 and are not unsizeable in the particular ,circumstances in which they are compared to each other2--otherwise it is easy to perceive1 that the ,result of their ,arrangement will not be so properly ,,wit1 as either the ,,sublime1 or ,,burlesque4 ,to all this is to be added1 that either ,gallantry1 ,raillery1 ,humour1 ,satire1 ,ridicule1 ,sarcasms1 or other ,subjects1 are generally blended with ,,wit2 ,it has been for want of this ,discovery1 and of a proper ,separation of these ,subjects1 that the ,attempts which have hitherto been made to define ,,wit1 have been all involv'd and overwhelm'd in ,perplexity2 ,for the different ,mixtures of these foreign ,ingredients with ,,wit1 have discover'd such various and opposite ,colours and ,substances1 as were impossible to be comprehended in one certain steady ,definition2--,whereas pure ,,wit alone1 constantly appears in one uniform ,manner2 which is1 ,in the quick ,elucidation of one ,subject1 by unexpectedly exhibiting its ,agreement or ,contrast with another ,subject4 ,it is proper in this ,place1 to distinguish between ,,wit1 ,,similes1 and ,,metaphors4 ,,similes1 though they illustrate one ,subject1 by arranging it with another ,subject1 are yet different from ,,wit1 as they want its sudden and quick ,elucidation4 ,again2 ,in ,,wit1 the ,elucidation is thrown only upon one ,point of a ,subject2 or if more ,points be elucidated1 they are so many different ,strokes of ,,wit2--,whereas every ,,simile touches the ,subject it illustrates in several ,points4 ,it is from hence1 that the ,elucidation1 as before mention'd1 arising from a ,,simile1 is slower than from ,,wit2 ,but then is is generally more accurate and compleat2--,in short1 ,,wit1 from its ,quickness1 exhibits more ,brilliancy1 ,but ,,similes possess greater ,perfection4 ,a ,,metaphor1 is the ,arrayment of one ,subject1 with the ,dress1 or ,colour1 or any ,attributes1 of another ,subject4 ,in ,,wit1 the two ,subjects are suddenly confronted with each other1 and upon their joint ,view1 the original one is elucidated by the obvious ,agreement or ,contrast of the auxiliary ,subject4 ,but ,,metaphor goes further1 and not content with arranging the two ,subjects together1 and exhibiting from thence their ,agreement or ,contrast1 it actually snatches the ,properties of the auxiliary one1 and fits them at once upon the original ,subject4 ,it is evident from hence1 that there may be ,,wit without any ,,metaphor2 ,but in every just ,,metaphor there is ,,wit2 ,the ,agreement of the two ,subjects being in a ,,metaphor more strictly and sensibly presented4 ,there is also this ,difference between ,,wit and ,,metaphor1 that in ,,wit the original ,subject is enlighten'd1 without altering its ,dress2 whereas in ,,metaphor the original ,subject is cloathed in a new ,dress1 and struts forwards at once with a different ,air1 and with strange unexpected ,ornaments4 ,it is from hence1 that by ,,metaphor a more masculine ,air and ,vigour is given to a ,subject1 than by ,,wit2 ,but it too often happens1 that the ,,metaphor is carried so far1 as instead of elucidating1 to obscure and disfigure1 the original ,subject4 ,to exhibit some ,examples of ,,wit4 #a4 ,henry the ,i,vth of ,france1 intimating to the ,spanish ,ambassador the ,rapidity1 with which he was able to over-run ,italy1 told him1 that if once he mounted on ,horseback1 he should breakfast at ,milan1 and dine at ,naples2 ,to which the ,ambassador added1 ,since your ,majesty travels at this rate1 you may be at ,vespers in ,sicily4 ,the ,introduction of the ,vespers at ,,sicily is here natural1 and easy2 as it seems only to be carrying on his ,majesty's ,journey at the same rate1 and to compleat the ,progress of the ,day2 ,but it ushers at once into ,view the ,destruction of the ,french upon a similar ,occasion1 when they formerly over-ran ,,sicily1 and were all massacred there at the ringing of the ,bell for ,vespers2--,the sudden ,introduction and ,arrangement of this ,catastrophe1 with the ,expedition then threaten'd1 sets the ,issue of such a ,conquest in a new ,light2 ,and very happily exhibits and elucidates the ,result of such vain and restless ,adventures4 ,it may be observed1 that the quick ,introduction and ,arrangement of any former ,conquest of ,italy by the ,french1 with the ,expedition then threaten'd1 would have exhibited ,,wit2 whatever the ,issue had been of such former ,conquest2 ,but in this ,instance1 there sits couched under the ,,wit1 a very severe ,rebuke upon the ,french ,monarch4 #b4 ,alexander the ,v,ith was very busily questioning the ,ambassador of ,venice1 ,of whom his ,masters held their ,customs and ,prerogatives of the ,sea8 ,to which the ,ambassador readily answer'd2 ,if your ,,holiness will only please to examine your ,charter of ,st4 ,,peter's ,patrimony1 you will find upon the ,back of it1 the ,grant made to the ,,venetians of the ,,adriatic4 ,the ,authority of the ,grant to the ,venetians is in this ,instance the original ,subject1 which is thus suddenly elucidated to the ,pope1 by arranging1 and connecting it with the holy ,charter of ,st4 ,peter's ,patrimony2 ,there is a peculiar ,happiness in the ,address of this ,answer to the ,pope1 as he was obliged to receive it as a satisfactory ,account of the ,truth of the ,grant1 and a clear ,elucidation of its sacred ,authority4 ,in this ,instance1 besides the ,,wit which shines forth1 the ,pope is severely expos'd to your ,raillery1 from the ,scrape into which he has brought the ,charter of ,st4 ,peter's ,patrimony1 by his ,attack of the ,ambassador2 ,the fictitious ,existence of both the ,charter and ,grant being sarcastically pointed out1 under this respectable ,air of ,authenticity4 #c4 ,upon the ,restoration ,mr4 ,waller presented a congratulatory ,copy of ,verses to ,king ,charles2 ,his ,majesty1 after reading them1 said1-- ,mr4 ,waller1 these are very good1 but not so fine as you made upon the ,,protector4--,to which ,mr4 ,waller return'd1--,your ,majesty will please to recollect1 that we ,poets always write best upon ,,fictions4 ,the original ,subject in this ,instance is the superior ,excellence of ,mr4 ,,waller's ,verses upon ,cromwell2 ,this he most happily excuses1 by starting at once1 and arranging along with them1 the ,remark1 that ,poets have always excell'd upon ,fiction2 whereby he unexpectedly exhibits his more excellent ,verses to ,cromwell1 as a plain ,elucidation of the fictitious ,glory of the ,protector2 ,and intimates at the same time1 that the ,inferiority of his present ,performance was a natural ,illustration of his ,majesty's real ,glory2--,never was a deep ,reproach averted by a more happy ,reply2 which comprehends both the highest ,compliment to his ,majesty1 and a very firm poetical ,excuse of the different ,performances4 #d4 ,leonidas the ,spartan ,general1 when he advanced near the ,persian ,army1 was told by one of his own ,captains1 that their ,enemies were so numerous1 it was impossible to see the ,sun for the ,multitude of their ,arrows2 ,to which he gallantly reply'd1 ,we shall then have the ,pleasure of fighting in the ,shade4 ,the vast ,cope of ,persian ,arrows is here the original ,subject2 which instead of being observed by ,leonidas with ,terror1 presents to his ,fancy the pleasant ,idea of a cool ,canopy4 ,there is an ,agreement and ,affinity between the two ,objects1 in regard to the ,shelter from the ,sun1 which is at once obvious1 and unexpected2 ,and the ,cloud of the ,enemies ,arrows is thus gaily elucidated1 by the ,arrangement and ,comparison of it with so desirable an ,object as shady ,covering4 ,this ,saying of the ,spartan ,general has been handed through many ,ages to the present ,time2 ,but the chief ,part of the ,pleasure it gives us1 results not so much from the ,,wit it contains1 as from the ,gallantry1 and chearful ,spirit1 discover'd in ,danger1 by ,leonidas4 #e4 ,an ,instance of ,,wit in the ,opposition1 ,i remember to have read somewhere in the ,spectators2 where ,sir ,roger de ,coverley intimating the ,splendor which the perverse ,widow should have appear'd in1 if she had commenced ,lady ,coverley1 says3 ,that he would have given her a ,coalpit to have kept her in clean ,linnen3 ,and that her ,finger should have sparkled with one hundred of his richest ,acres4 ,the joint ,introduction of these opposite ,objects1 as a ,coalpit with clean ,linnen1 and dirty ,acres with the ,lustre of a ,jewel1 is just in this ,instance1 as they really produce each other in their ,consequences2 ,the natural ,opposition between them1 which is strongly elucidated by their ,arrangement together1 and at the same time their unexpected ,connexion in their ,consequences1 strike us with a ,surprize1 which exhibits the ,brilliancy and ,sparkling of ,,wit4 ,there is also in this ,instance1 besides the ,,wit1 a ,spirit of ,generosity1 and ,magnificence1 discover'd by ,sir ,roger1 from the known ,value of a ,coalpit1 and of so many rich ,acres4 ,this ,kind of ,,wit1 resulting from the sudden ,arrangement together of two opposite ,objects1 is rarer1 than that which is obtained from two similar ,objects2 ,it abounds with a high ,surprize1 and ,brilliancy2 and also strongly elucidates the original ,object1 from the ,contrast presented between this1 and the auxiliary one2 ,in the same manner as ,white is more clearly set off1 by being arranged with ,black4 ,it may be proper to observe1 that ,,wit1 besides being struck out by just1 and direct ,introductions of auxiliary ,subjects1 is also sometimes obtain'd by ,transitions from one ,subject to another1 by the ,help of an equivocal ,word2 which like a ,bridge1 with two ,roads meeting at the ,end of it1 leads to two different ,places4 ,transitions1 thus made from the right ,course1 have indeed the ,pretence of being natural2 but they ought always to lead us to something brilliant or poignant1 in order to justify their ,deviation2 and not to end only at a ridiculous ,,pun1 void of all ,spirit and ,poignancy4 ,the ,,wit1 in such ,instances1 results1 as in all others1 from the quick ,arrangement together of two ,subjects2 ,but that1 which was first intended for the original one1 is dropped2 ,and a new original ,subject is started1 through the double ,meaning of a ,word1 and suddenly enlighten'd4 ,to give a trite ,instance of this kind of ,,wit4 ,a ,,peer coming out of the ,house of ,lords1 and wanting his ,servant1 called out1 ,where's my ,fellow8 ,to which another ,,peer1 who stood by him1 returned1 ,faith1 my ,lord1 not in ,england4 ,a ,transition is here unexpededly made from the ,sense intended in the ,question to another ,point1 through the double ,meaning of the word ,fellow2 it being obvious1 that his ,lordship's ,servant is the ,sense of the ,word in the ,question2 and what ,person is like to his ,lordship1 the ,construction put upon it in the ,answer3 ,thus a new original ,subject is started1 and being suddenly arranged with all that appear similar to it1 is enlighten'd thereby1 being found to have no equal in ,england4 ,however1 though ,,wit may be thus struck out1 and also appears in the ,contrast with great ,brilliancy1 yet the highest and most perfect ,instances of it result from the sudden and direct ,arrangement together of two ,objects1 which hold a perspicuous and splendid ,agreement with each other2 ,it is then adorn'd with the ,charms of ,propriety1 ,clearness and ,illustration2 ,it dispels the ,darkness around an ,object1 and presents it diftinctly and perfectly to our ,view2 chearing us with its ,lustre1 and at the same time informing us with its ,light4 ,thus1 a ,gentleman was observing1 that there was somewhat extremely pleasing in an excellent ,understanding1 when it appeared in a beautiful ,person2 ,to which another returned1 ,it is like a fine ,jewel well set2 ,you are here pleased with the ,happiness1 ,propriety1 and ,splendor of this new ,object1 which finely elucidates the original ,sentiment2--,in short1 it is the ,excellence of ,,wit1 to present the first ,image again to your mind1 with new unexpected ,clearness and ,advantage4 ,it is also proper to add1 that there may be ,,wit in a ,picture1 ,landscape1 or in any ,prospect1 where a gay unexpected ,assemblage of similar1 or opposite ,objects1 is presented4 ,,judgment1 is the ,faculty of discerning the various ,dimensions1 and ,differences1 of ,subjects4 ,,invention is the ,faculty of finding out new ,assortments1 and ,combinations1 of ,ideas4 ,,humour is any whimsical ,oddity or ,foible1 appearing in the ,temper or ,conduct of a ,person in real ,life4 ,this whimsical ,oddity of ,conduct1 which generally arises from the strange ,cast1 or ,turn of ,mind of a queer ,person1 may also result from accidental ,mistakes and ,embarrassments between other ,persons2 who being misled by a wrong ,information and ,suspicion in regard to a ,circumstance1 shall act towards each other upon this ,occasion1 in the same odd whimsical manner1 as queer ,persons4 ,if a ,person in real ,life1 discovers any odd and remarkable ,features of ,temper or ,conduct1 ,i call such a ,person in the ,book of ,mankind1 a ,character4 ,so that the chief ,subjects of ,,humour are ,persons in real ,life1 who are ,characters4 ,it is easy to be perceived1 that ,,humour1 and ,,wit are extremely different4 ,,humour appears only in the ,foibles and whimsical ,conduct of ,persons in real ,life2 ,,wit appears in ,comparisons1 either between ,persons in real ,life1 or between other ,subjects4 ,,humour is the whimsical ,oddity1 or ,foible1 which fairly appears in its ,subject1 of itself2 whereas ,,wit1 is the ,lustre which is thrown upon one ,subject1 by the sudden ,introduction of another ,subject4 ,to constitute ,,humour1 there need be no more than one ,object concern'd1 and this must be always some ,person in real ,life2-- whereas to produce ,,wit1 there must be always two ,objects arranged together1 and either or both of these may be inanimate4 ,however1 though ,,humour and ,,wit are thus absolutely different in themselves1 yet we frequently see them blended together4 ,thus if any ,foible of a ,character in real ,life is directly attacked1 by pointing out the unexpected and ridiculous ,affinity it bears to some inanimate ,circumstances1 this ,foible is then ridiculed with ,,wit1 from the ,comparison which is made4--,at the same time1 as the whimsical ,oddity of a ,character in real ,life is the ,ground of the whole1 there is also ,humour contain'd in the ,attack4 ,if instead of referring the ,foible of a ,person to any inanimate ,circumstance1 the ,allusion had been made to any other ridiculous ,person in real ,life2 ,as a conceited ,fellow1 perpetually recommending his own ,whims1 to a ,quack-,doctor2--,this ,foible will then be ridiculed with ,,humour2 which is likewise the original ,ground3 ,at the same ,time1 from the ,comparison which is made1 there is apparently ,,wit in the ,description4 ,so that where-ever the ,foible of a ,character in real ,life is concern'd1 there ,,humour comes in2 and wherever a sprightly unexpected ,arrangement is presented of two similar1 or opposite ,subjects1 whether animate or inanimate1 there ,,wit is exhibited4 ,,humour and ,,wit1 as they may thus both be united in the same ,subject1 may also separately appear without the least ,mixture together2 that is1 there may be ,,humour without ,,wit1 and ,,wit without ,,humour4 ,thus1 if in order to expose the ,foible of a ,character1 a real ,person is introduc'd1 abounding in this ,foible1 gravely persisting in it1 and valuing himself upon the ,merit of it1 with great ,self- sufficiency1 and ,disdain of others2 this ,foible is then solely ridiculed with ,,humour4 ,again1 if a gay unexpected ,allusion is made from one inanimate ,object to another1 or from one ,person in real ,life to another1 without any ,reference to their whimsical ,oddities or ,foibles2 there ,,wit only appears4--,various ,instances of which1 independent of ,,humour1 have been already exhibited4 ,a ,man of ,,wit is he1 who is happy in elucidating any ,subject1 by a just and unexpected ,arrangement and ,comparison of it with another ,subject4 ,it may be also proper to describe a ,man of ,,humour1 and an ,,humourist1 which are very different ,persons4 ,a ,man of ,,humour is one1 who can happily exhibit a weak and ridiculous ,character in real ,life1 either by assuming it himself1 or representing another in it1 so naturally1 that the whimsical ,oddities1 and ,foibles1 of that ,character1 shall be palpably expos'd4 ,whereas an ,,humourist is a ,person in real ,life1 obstinately attached to sensible peculiar ,oddities of his own genuine ,growth1 which appear in his ,temper and ,conduct4 ,in short1 a ,man of ,humour is one1 who can happily exhibit and expose the ,oddities and ,foibles of an ,humourist1 or of other ,characters4 ,the ,features of an ,,humourist being very remarkable and singular1 seem justly to deserve an explicit ,description4 ,it is then to be observ'd1 that an ,humourist1 at the same time that he is guided in his ,manners and ,actions by his own genuine original ,fancy and ,temper1 disdains all ,ostentation2 excepting that alone of his ,freedom and ,independency1 which he is forward of shewing upon every ,occasion1 without ,ceremony2 he is quite superior to the ,affectation of a ,virtue or ,accomplishment1 which he thinks does not belong to him2 scorns all ,imitation of others2 and contemns the rest of the ,world for being servilely obedient to ,forms and ,customs2 disclaiming all such ,submission himself1 and regulating his ,conduct in general by his own ,conviction1 ,the ,humourist is forward upon many ,occasions to deliver his ,opinion1 in a peremptory ,manner1 and before he is desir'd2 but he gives it sincerely1 unbiass'd by ,fear or ,regard1 and then leaves it to the ,persons concern'd to determine for themselves2 ,for he is more pleas'd in the ,bottom to find his ,opinion slighted1 and to see the ,conduct of others agreeable to that ,system of ,folly and ,weakness1 which he has established with himself1 to be the ,course of their ,actions4--,to view a rational ,conduct1 even in pursuance of his own ,advice1 would greatly disappoint him2 and be a ,contradiction to this ,system he has laid down2--,besides it would deprive him of an ,occasion of gratifying his ,spleen1 with the ,contempt of that ,folly1 which he esteems to be natural to the rest of ,mankind2 ,for he considers himself in the ,world1 like a sober ,person in the ,company of ,men1 who are drunken or mad2 ,he may advise them to be calm1 and to avoid hurting themselves1 but he does not expect they will regard his ,advice2 ,on the contrary1 he is more pleas'd with observing their ,freaks and ,extravagancies4--,it is from hence that he discourages and depreciates all who pretend to ,discretion2 ,persons of this ,temper not yielding him ,sport or ,diversion4 ,it is certain that the ,humourist is excessively proud1 and yet without knowing or suspecting it4 ,for from the ,liberty which he frankly allows to others1 of rejecting his ,opinion1 he is fully persuaded1 that he is free from all ,pride2 ,but tho' he acts in this ,circumstance without over-bearing1 it has already appear'd1 not to be the ,effect of his ,humility1 but of a different ,motive2 a ,pleasure which he takes in observing the ,extravagancies of others1 rather than their ,discretion4 ,but to demonstrate his ,pride1 besides the peremptory ,manner in which he delivers his ,opinion1 and conducts himself upon every ,occasion1 without any ,deference to others1 there is this ,circumstance against him2 that he is the most stung by a ,defeat1 upon any ,topic1 of all ,men living2 ,and although he disregards ,accusations of ,roughness and ,oddity1 and rather esteems them to be meritorious2 yet he will never admit1 that he has been fairly overthrown in a ,debate4 ,it is odd to observe how the ,humourist is affected by contemptuous ,treatment4 ,an ,insult of this ,sort1 which justly excites the ,resentment of others1 terrifies him3 ,it sets him upon suspecting himself1 and upon doubting whether he be really that ,person of superior ,sense to the rest of the ,world1 which he has long fancied4 ,the ,apprehension1 that he actually deserves the ,contempt which is put upon him1 and that he is no more than one of the common ,herd1 almost distracts him2 ,and instead of violently depreciating1 or attacking again1 the ,person who has contemn'd him1 he will incessantly court his ,favour and good ,opinion1 as a ,cordial he wants1 though without seeming to do so4 ,this is a very extraordinary ,weakness1 and such as the ,humourist would be infinitely uneasy to find ever observ'd4 ,the ,humourist1 though he quickly espies1 and contemns the ,contradictions of others1 is yet wilfully attach'd to several himself1 which he will sometimes persue through a long ,course of his own ,mortification4--,it may be often observ'd1 that he will avoid the ,company he likes1 for fear they should think he needs their ,support4-- ,at the same time1 if he happens to fall into ,company1 which he tallies not with1 instead of avoiding this ,company1 he will continually haunt them3 ,for he is anxious1 lest any ,imputation of a ,defeat should stand out against him1 and extremely sollicitous to wipe it away2 ,besides1 he cannot endure it should be thought that he is driven from the ,pit4 --,thus1 in the first ,instance1 his ,pride shall persuade him to neglect the ,company he likes2 and shall force him1 in the last1 to follow the ,company he hates and despises4 ,it is also observable that the ,humourist1 though he makes it his ,point to regulate his ,conduct only by his own ,conviction1 will sometimes run counter to it1 merely from his ,disdain of all ,imitation4 ,thus he will persist in a wrong ,course1 which he knows to be such1 and refuse his ,compliance with an ,amendment offer'd by others1 rather than endure the ,appearance of being an ,imitator4 ,this is a narrow ,side of the ,humourist2 and whenever he is turn'd upon it1 he feels great ,uneasiness himself4 ,it strikes a durable ,pain into his ,breast1 like the constant gnawing of a ,worm2 and is one considerable ,source of that ,stream of ,peevishnesss incident to ,humourists4 ,upon the same ,principle of scorning all ,imitation1 the ,humourist seldom heartily assents to any speculative ,opinion1 which is deliver'd by another2 for he is above being inform'd or set right in his ,judgment by any ,person1 even by a ,brother ,humourist4 ,if two of this ,cast happen to meet1 instead of uniting together1 they are afraid of each other2 and you shall observe one1 in order to court the good ,opinion of the other1 produce a ,specimen of his own ,perfection as an ,humourist2 by exhibiting some unusual ,strain of sensible ,oddity1 or by unexpectedly biting a poor ,insipid2 which the other ,humourist shall answer again in the same manner1 in order to display his ,talents4 ,these are the ,foibles and narrow ,whims of a perfect ,humourist4 ,but1 on the other hand1 he stands upon a very enlarged ,basis2 ,is a ,lover of ,reason and ,liberty2 and scorns to flatter or betray2 nor will he falsify his ,principles1 to court the ,favour of the ,great4 ,he is not credulous1 or fond of ,religious or ,philosophical ,creeds or ,creed- makers2 ,but then he never offers himself to forge ,articles of ,faith for the rest of the ,world4 ,abounding in poignant and just ,reflections2 ,the ,guardian of ,freedom1 and ,scourge of such as do wrong4 ,it is ,he checks the ,frauds1 and curbs the ,usurpations of every ,profession4 ,the venal ,biass of the assuming ,judge1 the cruel ,pride of the starch'd ,priest1 the empty ,froth of the florid ,counsellor1 the false ,importance of the formal ,man of ,business1 the specious ,jargon of the grave ,physician1 and the creeping ,taste of the trifling ,connoisseur1 are all bare to his ,eye1 and feel the ,lash of his ,censure2 ,it is ,he that watches the daring ,strides1 and secret ,mines of the ambitious ,prince1 and desperate ,minister3 ,he gives the ,alarm1 and prevents their ,mischief4 ,others there are who have ,sense and ,foresight2 but they are brib'd by ,hopes or ,fears1 or bound by softer ,ties2 ,it is ,he only1 the ,humourist1 that has the ,courage and ,honesty to cry out1 unmov'd by personal ,resentment3 ,he flourishes only in a ,land of ,freedom1 and when that ceases he dies too1 the last and noblest ,weed of the ,soil of ,liberty4 ,it is a palpable ,absurdity to suppose a ,person an ,humourist1 without excellent ,sense and ,abilities2 as much as to suppose a ,smith in his full ,business1 without his ,hammers or ,forge4--,but the ,humourist1 as he advances in ,years1 is apt to grow intolerable to himself and the ,world2 becoming at length1 uneasy1 and fatigued with the constant ,view of the same ,follies2 like a ,person who is tir'd with seeing the same ,tragi-,comedy continually acted4 ,this sowres his ,temper2 ,and unless some favorable ,incidents happen to mellow him1 he resigns himself wholly to ,peevishness4--,by which ,time he perceives that the ,world is quite tir'd of him4--,after which he drags on the ,remainder of his ,life1 in a ,state of ,war with the rest of ,mankind4 ,the ,humourist is constitutionally1 and also from ,reflection1 a ,man of ,sincerity4--,if he is a ,rogue upon any ,occasion1 he is more wilfully one1 and puts greater ,violence upon himself in being such1 than the rest of the ,world2 ,and though he may generally seem to have little ,benevolence1 which is the common ,objection against him1 it is only for want of proper ,objects2 for no ,person has certainly a quicker ,feeling2 ,and there are ,instances frequent1 of greater ,generosity and humane ,warmth flowing from an ,humourist1 than are capable of proceeding from a weak ,insipid1 who labours under a continual ,flux of ,civility4 ,upon the whole1 the ,humourist is perhaps the least of all others1 a despicable ,character4 ,but ,imitations1 which are frequently seen of this ,character1 are excessively despicable4--,what can be more ridiculous1 than a ,wretch setting up for an ,humourist1 merely upon the ,strength of disrelishing every ,thing1 without any ,principle2--,the ,servants1 ,drawers1 ,victuals1 ,weather1--and growling without ,poignancy of ,sense1 at every new ,circumstance which appears1 in public or private4 ,a perfect and compleat ,humourist is rarely to be found2 and when you hear his ,voice1 is a different ,creature4--,in writing to ,englishmen1 who are generally tinged1 deeply or slightly1 with the ,dye of the ,humourist1 it seem'd not improper to insist the longer upon this ,character2 ,however1 let none be too fond of it2 ,for though an ,humourist with his ,roughness is greatly to be preferr'd to a smooth ,insipid1 yet the ,extremes of both are equally wretched3 ,ideots being only the lowest ,scale of ,insipids1 as ,madmen are no other than ,humourists in ,excess4 ,it may be proper to observe in this place1 that though all ,ostentation1 ,affectation1 and ,imitation are excluded from the ,composition of a perfect ,humourist2 yet as they are the obvious ,foibles of some ,persons in ,life1 they may justly be made the ,subject of ,humour4 ,for ,,humour extensively and fully understood1 is any remarkable ,oddity or ,foible belonging to a ,person in real ,life2 whether this ,foible be constitutional1 habitual1 or only affected2 whether partial in one or two ,circumstances2 or tinging the whole ,temper and ,conduct of the ,person4 ,it has from hence been observ'd1 that there is more ,,humour in the ,english ,comedies than in others2 as we have more various odd ,characters in real ,life1 than any other ,nation1 or perhaps than all other ,nations together4 ,that ,,humour gives more ,delight1 and leaves a more pleasurable ,impression behind it1 than ,,wit1 is universally felt and established2 ,though the ,reasons for this have not yet been assign'd4--,i shall therefore beg ,leave to submit the following4 #a4 ,,humour is more interesting than ,,wit in general1 as the ,oddities and ,foibles of ,persons in real ,life are more apt to affect our ,passions1 than any ,oppositions or ,relations between inanimate ,objects4 #b4 ,,humour is ,nature1 or what really appears in the ,subject1 without any ,embellishments2 ,,wit only a ,stroke of ,art1 where the original ,subject1 being insufficient of itself1 is garnished and deck'd with auxiliary ,objects4 #c4 ,,humour1 or the ,foible of a ,character in real ,life1 is usually insisted upon for some ,length of ,time4 ,from whence1 and from the common ,knowledge of the ,character1 it is universally felt and understood4--,whereas the ,strokes of ,,wit are like sudden ,flashes1 vanishing in an ,instant1 and usually flying too fast to be sufficiently marked and pursued by the ,audience4 #d4 ,,humour1 if the ,representation of it be just1 is compleat and perfect in its ,kind1 and entirely fair and unstrain'd4--,whereas in the ,allusions of ,,wit1 the ,affinity is generally imperfect and defective in one ,part or other2 and even in those ,points where the ,affinity may be allow'd to subsist1 some ,nicety and ,strain is usually requir'd to make it appear4 #e4 ,,humour generally appears in such ,foibles1 as each of the ,company thinks himself superior to4--,whereas ,,wit shews the ,quickness and ,abilities of the ,person who discovers it1 and places him superior to the rest of the ,company4 #f4 ,humour1 in the ,representation of the ,foibles of ,persons in real ,life1 frequently exhibits very generous benevolent ,sentiments of the ,heart2 ,and these1 tho' exerted in a particular odd ,manner1 justly command our ,fondness and ,love4--,whereas in the ,allusions of ,,wit1 ,severity1 ,bitterness1 and ,satire1 are frequently exhibited4--,and where these are avoided1 not worthy amiable ,sentiments of the ,heart1 but quick unexpected ,efforts of the ,fancy1 are presented4 #g4 ,the odd ,adventures1 and ,embarrassments1 which ,persons in real ,life are drawn into by their ,foibles1 are fit ,subjects of ,mirth4 --,whereas in pure ,,wit1 the ,allusions are rather surprizing1 than mirthful2 and the ,agreements or ,contrasts which are started between ,objects1 without any relation to the ,foibles of ,persons in real ,life1 are more fit to be admired for their ,happiness and ,propriety1 than to excite our ,laughter4--,besides1 ,,wit1 in the frequent ,repetition of it1 tires the ,imagination with its precipitate ,sallies and ,flights2 and teizes the ,judgment4--,whereas ,,humour1 in the ,representation of it1 puts no ,fatigue upon the ,imagination1 and gives exquisite ,pleasure to the ,judgment4 ,these seem to me to be the different ,powers and ,effects of ,,humour and ,,wit4 ,however1 the most agreeable ,representations or ,competitions of all others1 appear not where they separately exist1 but where they are united together in the same ,fabric2 where ,,humour is the ,ground- work and chief ,substance1 and ,,wit happily spread1 quickens the whole with ,embellishments4 ,this is the ,excellency of the ,character of ,sir ,john ,falstaff2 the ,ground-work is ,humour1 the ,representation and ,detection of a bragging and vaunting ,coward in real ,life2 ,however1 this alone would only have expos'd the ,knight1 as a meer ,noll ,bluff1 to the ,derision of the ,company2 ,and after they had once been gratify'd with his ,chastisement1 he would have sunk into ,infamy1 and become quite odious and intolerable3 ,but here the inimitable ,wit of ,sir ,john comes in to his ,support1 and gives a new ,rise and ,lustre to his ,character2 ,for the sake of his ,wit you forgive his ,cowardice2 or rather1 are fond of his ,cowardice for the ,occasions it gives to his ,wit4 ,in short1 the ,humour furnishes a ,subject and ,spur to the ,wit1 and the ,wit again supports and embellishes the ,humour4 ,at the first ,entrance of the ,knight1 your good ,humour and ,tendency to ,mirth are irresistibly excited by his jolly ,appearance and ,corpulency2 you feel and acknowledge him1 to be the fittest ,subject imaginable for yielding ,diversion and ,merriment2 but when you see him immediately set up for ,enterprize and ,activity1 with his evident ,weight and ,unweildiness1 your ,attention is all call'd forth1 and you are eager to watch him to the ,end of his ,adventures2 ,your ,imagination pointing out with a full ,scope his future ,embarrassments4 ,all the while as you accompany him forwards1 he heightens your ,relish for his future ,disasters1 by his happy ,opinion of his own ,sufficiency1 and the gay ,vaunts which he makes of his ,talents and ,accomplishments2 so that at last when he falls into a ,scrape1 your ,expectation is exquisitely gratify'd1 and you have the full ,pleasure of seeing all his trumpeted ,honour laid in the ,dust4 ,when in the midst of his ,misfortunes1 instead of being utterly demolish'd and sunk1 he rises again by the superior ,force of his ,wit1 and begins a new ,course with fresh ,spirit and ,alacrity2 ,this excites you the more to renew the ,chace1 in full ,view of his second ,defeat2 out of which he recovers again1 and triumphs with new ,pretensions and ,boastings4 ,after this he immediately starts upon a third ,race1 and so on2 continually detected and caught1 and yet constantly extricating himself by his inimitable ,wit and ,invention2 thus yielding a perpetual ,round of ,sport and ,diversion4 ,again1 the genteel ,quality of ,sir ,john is of great ,use in supporting his ,character2 ,it prevents his sinking too low after several of his ,misfortunes2 ,besides1 you allow him1 in consequence of his ,rank and ,seniority1 the ,privilege to dictate1 and take the ,lead1 and to rebuke others upon many ,occasions2 ,by this he is sav'd from appearing too nauseous and impudent4 ,the good ,sense which he possesses comes also to his ,aid1 and saves him from being despicable1 by forcing your ,esteem for his real ,abilities4--,again1 the ,privilege you allow him of rebuking and checking others1 when he assumes it with proper ,firmness and ,superiority1 helps to settle anew1 and compose his ,character after an ,embarrassment2 ,and reduces in some measure the ,spirit of the ,company to a proper ,level1 before he sets out again upon a fresh ,adventure2--without this1 they would be kept continually strain'd1 and wound up to the highest ,pitch1 without sufficient ,relief and ,diversity4 ,it may also deserve to be remark'd of ,falstaff1 that the ,figure of his ,person is admirably suited to the ,turn of his ,mind2 so that there arises before you a perpetual ,allusion from one to the other1 which forms an incessant ,series of ,wit1 whether they are in ,contrast or ,agreement together4--,when he pretends to ,activity1 there is ,wit in the ,contrast between his ,mind and his ,person1 --,and ,wit in their ,agreement1 when he triumphs in ,jollity4 ,to compleat the whole1--you have in this ,character of ,falstaff1 not only a free ,course of ,humour1 supported and embellish'd with admirable ,wit2 but this ,humour is of a ,species the most jovial and gay in all ,nature4--,sir ,jobn ,falstaff possesses ,generosity1 ,chearfulness1 ,alacrity1 ,invention1 ,frolic and ,fancy superior to all other ,men2--,the ,figure of his ,person is the ,picture of ,jollity1 ,mirth1 and ,good-nature1 and banishes at once all other ,ideas from your ,breast2 ,he is happy himself1 and makes you happy4--,if you examine him further1 he has no ,fierceness1 ,reserve1 ,malice or ,peevishness lurking in his ,heart2 ,his ,intentions are all pointed at innocent ,riot and ,merriment2 ,nor has the ,knight any inveterate ,design1 except against ,sack1 and that too he loves4--,if1 besides this1 he desires to pass for a ,man of ,activity and ,valour1 you can easily excuse so harmless a ,foible1 which yields you the highest ,pleasure in its constant ,detection4 ,if you put all these together1 it is impossible to hate honest ,jack ,falstaff2 ,if you observe them again1 it is impossible to avoid loving him2 ,he is the gay1 the witty1 the frolicksome1 happy1 and fat ,jack ,falstaff1 the most delightful ,swaggerer in all ,nature4-- ,you must love him for your own sake1--,at the same time you cannot but love him for his own ,talents2 ,and when you have enjoy'd them1 you cannot but love him in ,gratitude2--,he has nothing to disgust you1 and every thing to give you ,joy2--,his ,sense and his ,foibles are equally directed to advance your ,pleasure2 ,and it is impossible to be tired or unhappy in his ,company4 ,this jovial and gay ,humour1 without any thing envious1 malicious1 mischievous1 or despicable1 and continually quicken'd and adorn'd with ,wit1 yields that peculiar ,delight1 without any ,alloy1 which we all feel and acknowledge in ,falstaff's ,company4--,ben ,johnson has ,humour in his ,characters1 drawn with the most masterly ,skill and ,judgment2 ,in ,accuracy1 ,depth1 ,propriety1 and ,truth1 he has no ,superior or ,equal amongst ,ancients or ,moderns2 ,but the ,characters he exhibits are of satirical1 and deceitful1 or of a peevish or despicable ,species2 as ,volpone1 ,subtle1 ,morose1 and ,abel ,drugger2 ,in all of which there is something very justly to be hated or despised2 ,and you feel the same ,sentiments of ,dislike for every other ,character of ,johnson's2 so that after you have been gratify'd with their ,detention and ,punishment1 you are quite tired and disgusted with their ,company3--,whereas ,shakespear1 besides the peculiar ,gaiety in the ,humour of ,falstaff1 has guarded him from disgusting you with his forward ,advances1 by giving him ,rank and ,quality2 from being despicable by his real good ,sense and excellent ,abilities2 from being odious by his harmless ,plots and ,designs2 and from being tiresome by his inimitable ,wit1 and his new and incessant ,sallies of highest ,fancy and ,frolick4 ,this discovers the ,secret of carrying ,,comedy to the highest ,pitch of ,delight2 ,which lies in drawing the ,persons exhibited1 with such chearful and amiable ,oddities and ,foibles1 as you would chuse in your own ,companions in real ,life2 --otherwise1 tho' you may be diverted at first with the ,novelty of a ,character1 and with a proper ,detection and ,ridicule of it1 yet its ,peevishness1 ,meanness1 or ,immorality1 will begin to disgust you after a little ,reflection1 and become soon tiresome and odious2 ,it being certain1 that whoever cannot be endured as an accidental ,companion in real ,life1 will never become1 for the very same ,reasons1 a favorite comic ,character in the ,theatre4 ,this ,relish for generous and worthy ,characters alone1 which we all feel upon the ,theatre1 where no ,biass of ,envy1 ,malice1 or personal ,resentment draws us aside1 seems to be some ,evidence of our natural and genuin ,disposition to ,probity and ,virtue2 tho' the ,minds of most ,persons being early and deeply tinged with vicious ,passions1 it is no wonder that ,stains have been generally mistaken for original ,colours4 ,it may be added1 that ,humour is the most exquisite and delightful1 when the ,oddities and ,foibles introduc'd are not mischievous or sneaking1 but free1 jocund1 and liberal2 and such as result from a generous ,flow of ,spirits1 and a warm universal ,benevolence4 ,it is obviously from hence1 that the ,character of ,sir ,roger de ,coverly in the ,spectators is so extremely agreeable4 ,his ,foibles are all derived from some amiable ,cause4--,if he believes that one ,englishman can conquer two ,frenchmen1 you laugh at his ,foible1 and are fond of a ,weakness in the ,knight1 which proceeds from his high ,esteem of his own ,country-men4--,if he chuses you should employ a ,waterman or ,porter with one ,leg1 you readily excuse the ,inconvenience he puts you to1 for his worthy regard to the ,suffering of a brave ,soldier4--,in short1 though he is guilty of continual ,absurdities1 and has little ,understanding or real ,abilities1 you cannot but love and esteem him1 for his ,honour1 ,hospitality1 and universal ,benevolence4 ,it is indeed true1 that his ,dignity1 ,age1 and ,rank in his ,country1 are of constant ,service in upholding his ,character4 ,these are a perpetual ,guard to the ,knight1 and preserve him from ,contempt upon many ,occasions4--,all which corresponds entirely with the fore-going ,remark4 ,for you would be fond of ,sir ,roger's ,acquaintaince and ,company in real ,life1 as he is a ,gentleman of ,quality and ,virtue2 ,you love and admire him in the ,spectators for the same ,reasons2 ,and for these also he would become1 if he was rightly exhibited1 a favorite ,character in the ,theatre4 ,it may be proper to observe in this ,place1 that the ,business of ,,comedy is to exhibit the whimsical unmischievous ,oddities1 ,frolics1 and ,foibles of ,persons in real ,life2 ,and also to expose and ridicule their real ,follies1 ,meanness1 and ,vices4 ,the former1 it appears1 is more pleasurable to the ,audience1 but the latter has the ,merit of being more instructive4 ,the ,business of ,,tragedy is to exhibit the ,instability of human ,grandeur1 and the unexpected ,misfortunes and ,distresses incident to the ,innocent and ,worthy in all ,stations4--,and also to shew the terrible ,sallies and the miserable ,issue and ,punishment of ungovern'd ,passions and ,wickedness4--,the former softens the ,heart and fills it with ,compassion1 ,humility and ,benevolence4--,compositions of this ,sort are the highest1 most admirable1 and useful in all ,nature1 when they are finish'd with ,propriety and ,delicacy1 and justly wrought up with the ,sublime and ,simplicity4--,the latter ,species of ,tragedy terrifies and shocks us1 in exhibiting both the ,crimes and the ,punishments4 ,it threatens us into ,moderation and ,justice1 by shewing the terrible ,issue of their ,contraries4 ,pieces of this ,sort1 conducted with ,propriety1 and carrying ,application to ourselves1 can scarcely be desireable2 ,but as they are generally conducted1 they amount only to giving us an absurd ,representation of a ,murther committed by some furious foaming ,basha1 or ,sultan4 ,to return4--,johnson in his ,,comic ,scenes has expos'd and ridicul'd ,folly and ,vice2 ,shakespear has usher'd in ,joy1 ,frolic and ,happiness4--,the ,alchymist1 ,volpone and ,silent ,woman of ,johnson1 are most exquisite ,satires4 ,the comic ,entertainments of ,shakespear are the highest ,compositions of ,raillery1 ,wit and ,humour4 ,johnson conveys some ,lesson in every ,character4 ,shakespear some new ,species of ,foible and ,oddity4 ,the one pointed his ,satire with masterly ,skill2 the other was inimitable in touching the ,strings of ,delight4 ,with ,johnson you are confin'd and instructed1 with ,shakespear unbent and dissolv'd in ,joy4 ,johnson excellently concerts his ,plots1 and all his ,characters unite in the one ,design4 ,shakespear is superior to such ,aid or ,restraint2 ,his ,characters continually sallying from one independent ,scene to another1 and charming you in each with fresh ,wit and ,humour4 ,it may be further remark'd1 that ,johnson by pursuing the most useful ,intention of ,comedy1 is in ,justice oblig'd to hunt down and demolish his own ,characters4 ,upon this ,plan he must necessarily expose them to your ,hatred1 and of course can never bring out an amiable ,person4 ,his ,subtle1 and ,face are detected at last1 and become mean and despicable4 ,sir ,epicure ,mammon is properly trick'd1 and goes off ridiculous and detestable4 ,the ,puritan ,elders suffer for their ,lust of ,money1 and are quite nauseous and abominable2 ,and his ,morose meets with a severe ,punishment1 after having sufficiently tir'd you with his ,peevishness4--,but ,shakespear1 with happier ,insight1 always supports his ,characters in your ,favour4 ,his ,justice ,shallow withdraws before he is tedious2 ,the ,french ,doctor1 and ,welch ,parson1 go off in full ,vigour and ,spirit2 ,ancient ,pistoll indeed is scurvily treated2 however1 he keeps up his ,spirits1 and continues to threaten so well1 that you are still desirous of his ,company2 and it is impossible to be tir'd or dull with the gay unfading ,evergreen ,falstaff4 ,but in remarking upon the ,characters of ,johnson1 it would be unjust to pass ,abel ,drugger without notice2 ,this is a little1 mean1 sneaking1 sordid ,citizen1 hearkening to a ,couple of ,sharpers1 who promise to make him rich2 they can scarcely prevail upon him to resign the least ,tittle he possesses1 though he is assur'd1 it is in order to get more2 and your ,diversion arises1 from seeing him wrung between ,greediness to get ,money1 and ,reluctance to part with any for that ,purpose4 ,his ,covetousness continually prompts him to follow the ,conjurer1 and puts him at the same ,time upon endeavouring to stop his ,fees4 ,all the while he is excellently managed1 and spirited on by ,face4 ,however1 this ,character upon the whole is mean and despicable1 without any of that free spirituous jocund ,humour abounding in ,shakespear4 ,but having been strangely exhibited upon the ,theatre1 a few ,years ago1 with odd ,grimaces and extravagant ,gestures1 it has been raised into more ,attention than it justly deserved2 ,it is however to be acknowledg'd1 that ,abel has no ,hatred1 ,malice or ,immorality1 nor any assuming ,arrogance1 ,pertness or ,peevishness2 ,and his eager ,desire of getting and saving ,money1 by ,methods he thinks lawful1 are excusable in a ,person of his ,business2 ,he is therefore not odious or detestable1 but harmless and inoffensive in private ,life2 and from thence1 correspondent with the ,rule already laid down1 he is the most capable of any of ,johnson's ,characters1 of being a ,favourite on the ,theatre4 ,it appears1 that in ,imagination1 ,invention1 ,jollity and gay ,humour1 ,johnson had little ,power2 ,but ,shakespear unlimited ,dominion4 ,the first was cautious and strict1 not daring to sally beyond the ,bounds of ,regularity4 ,the other bold and impetuous1 rejoicing like a ,giant to run his ,course1 through all the ,mountains and ,wilds of ,nature and ,fancy4 ,it requires an almost painful ,attention to mark the ,propriety and ,accuracy of ,johnson1 and your ,satisfaction arises from ,reflection and ,comparison2 ,but the ,fire and ,invention of ,shakespear in an ,instant are shot into your ,soul1 and enlighten and chear the most indolent ,mind with their own ,spirit and ,lustre4--,upon the whole1 ,johnson's ,compositions are like finished ,cabinets1 where every ,part is wrought up with the most excellent ,skill and ,exactness2-- ,shakespear's like magnificent ,castles1 not perfectly finished or regular1 but adorn'd with such bold and magnificent ,designs1 as at once delight and astonish you with their ,beauty and ,grandeur4 ,,raillery is a genteel poignant ,attack of a ,person upon any slight ,foibles1 ,oddities1 or ,embarrassments of his1 in which he is tender1 or may be supposed to be tender1 and unwilling to come to a free ,explanation4 ,,satire is a witty and severe ,attack of mischievous ,habits or ,vices2 ,,ridicule is a free ,attack of any ,motly ,composition1 wherein a real or affected ,excellence and ,defect both jointly appear1 glaring together1 and mocking each other1 in the same ,subject4 ,hence the ,aim of ,raillery1 is to please you1 by some little ,embarrassment of a ,person2 ,of ,satire1 to scourge ,vice1 and to deliver it up to your just ,detestation2 ,and of ,ridicule1 to set an ,object in a mean ludicrous ,light1 so as to expose it to your ,derision and ,contempt4 ,it appears therefore that ,raillery and ,ridicule differ in several ,circumstances4 #a4 ,raillery can only be employ'd in relation to ,persons1 but ,ridicule may be employ'd in what relates either to ,persons1 or other ,objects4 #b4 ,raillery is us'd only upon slight ,subjects1 where no real ,abilities or ,merit are questioned1 in order to avoid degrading the ,person you attack1 or rendering him contemptible2 ,whereas ,ridicule observes no such ,decency1 but endeavours really to degrade the ,person attack'd1 and to render him contemptible4 #c4 ,raillery may be pointed at a whimsical ,circumstance1 only because a ,person is known to be tender upon it2 and your ,pleasure will arise from the ,embarrassment he suffers1 in being put to an ,explanation2-- ,thus a young ,gentleman may be rallied upon his ,passion for a ,lady2-- ,at the same ,time there may be no ,ground for ,ridicule in this ,circumstance1 as it may no way deserve your ,derision or ,contempt4 #d4 ,as it thus appears that there are ,subjects of ,raillery1 into which ,ridicule cannot justly be admitted2 ,so there are ,subjects of ,ridicule1 wherein your ,derision and ,contempt are so strongly excited1 that they are too gross for ,raillery2--,as a person tossed in a ,blanket2 or the unfortunate ,attack which another has made upon a ,windmill4 #e4 ,in short1 ,raillery1 if the ,adventures it is turn'd upon are too gross and luscious1 becomes ,ridicule2 ,and therefore1 in ,comparison together1 ,raillery appears like ,wine of a thin ,body1 and delicate poignant ,flavour2 ,ridicule1 like a ,wine which is fuller1 and more rich1 and luscious4 ,quixote is a ,character1 wherein ,humour and ,ridicule are finely interwoven2--,it is not a ,subject of ,satire1 as the ,knight is free from all ,badness of ,heart1 and ,immorality2 ,nor properly of ,raillery1 his ,adventures in general being too gross and disastrous2-- ,the ,humour appears1 in the ,representation of a ,person in real ,life1 fancying himself to be1 under the most solemn ,obligations to attempt hardy ,atchievements2 and upon this ,whimsy immediately pursuing the most romantic ,adventures1 with great ,gravity1 ,importance1 and ,self- sufficiency2 ,to heighten your ,mirth1 the hardy ,atchievements to be accomplish'd by this ,hero1 are wittily contrasted by his own meagre weak ,figure1 and the desperate ,unfierceness of his ,steed ,rozinante2--,the ,ridicule appears in the strange ,absurdity of the ,attempts1 upon which the ,knight chuses to exercise his ,prowess2 ,its ,poignancy is highly quicken'd1 and consequently the ,pleasure it gives you1 by his miserable ,disasters1 and the doleful ,mortifications of all his ,importance and ,dignity2--,but here1 after the ,knight1 by diverting you in this manner1 has brought himself down to the lowest ,mark1 he rises again and forces your ,esteem1 by his excellent ,sense1 ,learning and ,judgment1 upon any ,subjects which are not ally'd to his ,errantry2 ,these continually act for the ,advancement of his ,character2 ,and with such ,supports and ,abilities he always obtains your ready ,attention1 and never becomes heavy or tedious4 ,to these you are to add the perfect good ,breeding and ,civility of the ,knight upon every ,occasion2 which are some ,kind of ,merit in his ,favour1 and entitle him to ,respect1 by the ,rules of common ,gentility and ,decency2 ,at the same time his ,courage1 his ,honour1 ,generosity1 and ,humanity1 are conspicuous in every ,act and ,attempt2 ,the ,foibles which he possesses1 besides giving you exquisite ,pleasure1 are wholly inspir'd by these worthy ,principles2 ,nor is there any thing base1 or detestable1 in all his ,temper or ,conduct2 ,it was from hence that the ,,duke and the ,,dutchess were extremely delighted with his ,visit at their ,castle2 ,and you yourself1 if he existed in real ,life1 would be fond of his ,company at your own ,table2 which proves him1 upon the whole1 to be an amiable ,character2--,it is therefore no wonder that ,signior ,don ,quixote of la ,mancha has been so courteously receiv'd in every ,country of ,europe4 ,thus delightfully wrought1 as this ,history is1 with ,humour and ,ridicule1 yet ,cervantes1 still fearful of tiring you with too much of the ,errantry1 has introduc'd the most charming ,variety of other ,adventures2 --,all along in the pacific ,intervals1 you are inform'd of the private ,occurrences between the ,knight and his ',squire2 ,and from these1 where it is least to be expected1 you are surpriz'd with the most high and delicious ,repast2-- ,nothing can be more pregnant with ,mirth1 than the ,opposition continually working between the grave ,solemnity and ,dignity of ,quixote1 and the arch ,ribaldry and ,meanness of ,sancho2 ,and the ,contrast can never be sufficiently admir'd1 between the excellent fine ,sense of the ,,one1 and the dangerous common ,sense of the ,,other4 ,it is here that the ,genius and ,power of ,cervantes is most admirably shewn2 ,he was the greatest ,master that ever appear'd1 in finely opposing1 and contrasting his ,characters4 ,it is from hence that you feel a ,poignancy and ,relish in his ,writings1 which is not to be met with in any others2 ,the natural ,reflexions and ,debates of ,quixote and ,sancho would have been barren1 insipid1 and trite1 under other ,management2 ,but ,cervantes1 by his excellent ,skill in the ,contrast1 has from these drawn a ,regale1 which for high1 quick1 racy ,flavour1 and ,spirit1 has yet never been equall'd4 ,it may here be enquir'd1 ,what ,species of ,composition or ,character is the most pleasurable1 and mirthful1 in all ,nature8--,in ,falstaff1 you have ,humour embelish'd with ,wit2 ,in ,quixote1 ,humour made poignant with ,ridicule2 ,and it is certain that ,humour must always be the ,ground-work of such ,subjects1 no ,oddities in inanimate ,objects being capable of interesting our ,passions so strongly1 as the ,foibles of ,persons in real ,life2--,the chief ,substance of ,johnson's ,compositions is ,humour and ,satire2 upon which ,plan1 as hath been already observ'd1 he is oblig'd to demolish1 and render detestable1 his own ,characters2--,humour and ,raillery are also capable of furnishing a ,repast of quick ,relish and ,flavour2 ,in written ,compositions1 the ,attack of the ,raillery1 as well as the ,reception of it1 may be happily conducted1 which in other accidental ,encounters are liable to ,hazard2 ,all ,peevishness or ,offence is thus easily avoided1 and the ,character attack'd is sav'd from being really contemptible2--,but then indeed the ,pleasure you are to receive generally depends upon the ,confusion of the ,person attack'd1 without there being in reason a sufficient ,cause for this ,confusion2--,it is for want of this just ,foundation1 that the ,pleasure arising from ,raillery is apt to come forth with less ,freedom1 ,fulness1 and ,conviction1 though with more ,delicacy1 than that which is derived from ,wit1 or ,ridicule2--,however1 ,humour and ,raillery united together1 when the ,raillery is founded upon some real ,embarrassment in the ,circumstance1 as well as in the ,confusion of the ,person attack'd1 will furnish a very high ,entertainment2 which has ,pretensions to rival either ,humour and ,wit1 or ,humour and ,ridicule4 ,to give an ,instance of ,humour and ,raillery1 ,i shall insert ,horace's famous ,description of his ,embarrassment with an impertinent ,fellow4 ,this indeed is entitl'd1 in almost all the ,editions of ,horace1 a ,satire1 but very improperly1 as the ,subject is not ,vice or ,immorality2 ,ibam fort vi sacr1 sicut meus est mos1 ,nescio quid meditans nugarum1 at totus in illis3 ,accurrit quidam notus mihi nomine tantum2 ,arreptque manu1 ,quid agis1 dulcissime rerum8 ,suaviter1 ut nunc est1 inquam3 cupio omnia qu vis4 ,cum affectaretur1 ,num quid vis8 occupo4 ,at ille1 ,nris nos1 inquit2 docti sumus4 ,hc ego3 ,pluris ,hoc1 inquam1 mihi eris4 ,miser discedere qurens1 ,ire mod ocys1 interdum consistere3 in aurem ,dicere nescio quid puero3 cm sudor ad imos ,manaret talos4 ,o te1 ,bollane1 cerebri ,felicem3 aiebam tacitus6 ,cm quidlibet ille ,garriret1 vicos1 urbem laudaret2 ut illi ,nil respondebam3 ,miser cupis1 inquit abire4 ,jamdudum video3 sed nil agis3 usque tenebo3 ,persequar3 hinc qu nunc iter est tibi8 ,nil opus est te ,circumagi3 quemdam volo visere1 non tibi notum3 ,trans ,tiberim long cubat is1 prop ,csaris hortos4 ,nil habeo quod agam1 non sum piger3 usque sequar te1 ,demitto auriculas ut iniqu mentis asellus1 ,cm gravius dorso subiit onus4 ,incipit ille3 ,si ben me novi1 non ,viscum pluris amicum1 ,non ,varium facies2 nam quis me scribere plures ,aut citis possit versus8 quis membra movere ,mollius8 invideat quod ,hermogenes1 ego canto4 ,interpellandi locus hic erat3 ,est tibi mater1 ,cognati1 queis te salvo est opus8 ,haud mihi quisquam3 ,omnes composui4 ,felices6 nunc ego resto3 ,confice3 namque instat fatum mihi triste1 ,sabella ,qud puero cecinit divin mota anus urn1 ,hunc neque dira venena1 nec hosticus auferret ensis1 ,nec laterum dolor1 aut tussis1 nec tarda podagra2 ,garrulus hunc quando consumet cumque loquaces4 ,si sapiat1 vitet1 simul atque adoleverit tas4 ,ventum erat ad ,vest1 quart jam parte diei ,prterit2 casu tunc respondere vadato ,debebat3 qud ni fecisset1 perdere litem4 ,si me amas1 inquit1 paulm hc ades4 ,inteream1 si ,aut valeo stare1 aut novi civilia jura3 ,et propero qu scis4 ,dubius sum quid faciam1 inquit2 ,ten relinquam1 an rem4 ,me1 sodes4 ,non faciam1 ille2 ,et prcedere coepit4 ,ego1 ut contendere durum est ,cum victore1 sequor4 ,mecnas quomodo tecum8 ,hinc repetit4 ,paucorum hominum1 mentis ben san4 ,nemo dexteris fortuna est usus4 ,haberes ,magnum adjutorem1 posset qui ferre secundas1 ,hunc hominem velles si tradere3 dispeream1 ni ,summsses omnes4 ,non isto vivimus illic ,qu tu rere modo1 domus hac nec purior ulla est1 ,nec magis his aliena malis3 nil m officit unquam1 ,ditior hic1 aut est quia doctior3 est locus uni ,cuique suus4 ,magnum narras1 vix credibile4 ,atqui ,sic habet4 ,accendis1 quare cupiam magis illi ,proximus esse4 ,veils tantummod3 qu tua virtus1 ,expugnabis2 est qui vinci possit3 eoque ,difficiles aditus primos habet4 ,haud mihi deero1 ,muneribus servos corrumpam3 non1 hodie si ,exclusus fuero1 desistam3 tempera quram3 ,occurram in triviis3 deducam4 ,nil sine magno ,vita labore dedit mortalibus4 ,hc dum agit1 ecce ,fuscus ,aristius occurrit mihi carus1 illum ,qui pulchr nsset4 ,consistimus4 ,unde venis8 ,quo tendis8 rogat1 respondet4 ,vellere coepi1 ,et prensare manu lentissima brachia1 nutans1 ,distorquens oculos1 ut me eriperet4 ,mal salsus ,ridens dissimulare3 mecum jecur urere bilis4 ,cert nescio quid secret velle loqui te ,aiebas mecum4 ,memini ben2 sed meliori ,tempora dicam3 hodie tricesima sabbata1 vin'tu ,curtis ,judis oppedere8 ,nulla mihi1 inquam1 ,religio est4 ,at m1 sum paulo infirmior2 unus ,multorum ignosces2 alis loquar4 ,hunccine solem ,tam nigrum surrexe mihi3 ,fugit improbus1 ac me ,sub cultro linquit4 ,casu venit obvius illi ,adversarius2 1 ,qu tu turpissime6 magn ,inclamat voce2 1 ,licet antestari8 ,ego ver ,oppono auriculam2 rapit in jus4 ,clamor utrinque ,undique concursus4 ,sic me servavit ,apollo4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,see end of ,essay for translation information4 ,the ,intention of ,horace in this ,piece1 is to expose an impertinent ,fellow1 and to give a ludicrous ,detail of his own ,embarrassment2 ,your ,pleasure arises from the ,view which he gives you of his own ,mortification1 whereby he lays himself fairly open to your ,raillery2 ,this is the more poignant1 and quick1 from the real ,distress which you see he endur'd1 in this odd ,attack2 ,at the same ,time the particular ,turn of the ,fellow1 who chose in this ,manner to pin himself upon another1 is a very odd ,species of impertinent ,humour4--,this ,piece1 as it stands1 irresistibly forces your ,mirth1 and shakes you with ,laughter2 ,but to a ,person of ,discernment1 it is chiefly at ,horace's ,expence2 ,who in receiving and enduring such insolent ,treatment1 appears in a ,light too low and ridiculous1 though he has thought fit himself to exhibit the ,scene again for the ,diversion of the ,public2 ,the ,misere1 cupis1 ---- abire1 ,jamdudum video1 sed nil agis1 usque tenebo1 ,persequar2-- was an absolute ,insult2 ,and very unfit to be related by the ,person who suffer'd it1 as a ,matter of ,merriment2--,besides this ,tameness of ,horace1 the ,impudence of the ,fellow is excessively nauseous and disgusting at the ,bottom1 though the whole carries a ,froth of ,raillery and ,humour upon the ,surface4 ,the ,truth is1 that this ,piece1 as it stands1 would have properly proceeded from another ,person1 who had intended to expose the ,impertinence and ,impudence of the ,fellow1 and freely to rally poor ,horace1 with some ,mixture of ,ridicule1 upon his unfortunate ,embarrassment2 upon this ,basis it will appear with ,propriety2 ,without which all ,compositions of ,wit1 or ,humour1 or ,taste1 tho' at first they may pleasurably strike the ,fancy or ,sight1 are at last disgusting to the ,judgment4 ,having here occasionally offer'd some ,remarks upon this ,composition1 as it now stands1 it may be proper to point out the ,manner in which the ,humour and ,raillery of such an ,embarrassment1 might have been carried to the highest ,pitch2 ,and the ,description of it have been given by ,horace himself1 without any ,diminution of his own ,gentility or ,importance2--,imagine then that he had been join'd in his ,walk by a weak1 ignorant ,person1 of ,good-nature1 and the utmost ,civility2 one who fancy'd himself possessed of the greatest ,talents1 and fully persuaded that he gave all he convers'd with a particular ,pleasure2-- ,upon such an ,attack1 no ,resentment or ,anger could have been decently shewn by ,horace1 ,as the ,person thus pestering him1 was all the while intending the highest ,compliment2 ,and must therefore be received1 and attended to1 with perfect ,complaisance2 ,the ,humour of this ,person would have been very entertaining1 in the strange ,conceit which he held of his own ,abilities1 and of the paticular ,pleasure he was granting to ,horace1 in condescending to give him so much of his ,company2 ,in these ,sentiments he should regard all ,horace's ,excuses1 ,endeavours1 and ,struggles to be gone1 as ,expressions of his ,sense of the ,honour done him2 which should be an ,argument with this ,person for obstinately persisting to honour him still further2 ,all the while he must be supported by some real ,importance belonging to him1 attended with good ,breeding1 and strengthened by such occasional ,instances of ,sense1 as may secure him from being trampled upon1 or becoming absolutely contemptible2 ,in such an ,adventure the ,mortification1 and ,distress of ,horace1 would be excessively whimsical and severe2 especially as he would be depriv'd of all ,succour and ,relief2 being in ,decency oblig'd1 not only to suppress all ,anger or ,uneasiness1 but1 what is exquisitely quick1 to receive this whole ,treatment with the utmost ,complacency2 ,an ,embarrassment of this sort1 finely described1 would have yielded the greatest ,pleasure to the ,reader1 and carried the ,raillery upon ,horace1 without hurting or degrading him1 to the highest ,degree of ,poignancy2 ,and from hence may be conceiv'd1 what delightful ,entertainments are capable of being drawn from ,humour and ,raillery4 ,it is also easy to apprehend1 that the several ,subjects of ,wit1 ,humour1 ,raillery1 ,satire1 and ,ridicule1 appear not only singly upon many ,occasions1 or two of them combined together1 but are also frequently united in other ,combinations1 which are more complicate2 ,an ,instance of the ,union together of ,humour1 ,raillery1 and ,ridicule1 ,i remember to have read somewhere in ,voiture's ,letters2 ,he is in ,spain1 and upon the ,point of proceeding from thence to some other ,place in an ,english ,vessel2 ,after he has written this ,account of himself to a ,lady at ,paris1 he proceeds in his ,letter to this ,purpose2 ,you may perhaps apprehend1 that ,i shall be in some ,danger this ,voyage1 of falling into the ,hands of a ,barbary ,corsair2 ,but to relieve you from all such ,fears1 ,i shall beg ,leave to tell you1 what my honest ,captain has inform'd me himself1 for my own ,satisfaction2 ,he suspected1 it seems1 that ,i might have some ,uneasiness upon this ,head2 and has therefore privately assured me1 that ,i have no need to be afraid of being taken with him2 for that whenever it is likely to come to this1 he will infallibly blow up the ,ship with his own ,hands2--,after this1 ,i presume1 you will be perfectly easy1 that ,i am in no ,danger of going to ,sallee2 ,this is exquisitely rich2 ,the brave and odd ,fancy of the ,english ,captain1 in finding out for himself1 and privately communicating to ,voiture1 this ,method of ,security from ,slavery1 abounds with the highest ,humour2 ,at the same time the honest ,tar1 as a ,projecter1 is excessively open to ,ridicule1 for his ,scheme to blow them all up1 in order to prevent their being taken ,prisoners2 ,there is besides these1 a very full ,raillery1 which ,voiture here opens upon himself2 ,for as this ,adventure1 which he is going to be engaged in1 has been attended1 as yet1 with no ,mischief2 nor is certain to be so1 the whole is to be consider'd1 at present1 as only a slight ,scrape2 especially as he exhibits it in this manner himself1 and invites you to make it the ,object of your ,pleasure1 and ,raillery2--,it may also be observ'd1 that the ,humour in this ,subject1 which flows from the ,captain1 is adorn'd with a very peculiar1 and pleasing ,propriety2 ,as it is not barely a ,whim1 or the ,result of an odd ,sourness or queer ,pride1 but the ,effect of his ,courage1 and of that ,freedom from all ,terror at ,death1 which is perfectly amiable in his ,character4 ,there are other ,combinations of ,wit1 ,humour1 ,raillery1 ,satire1 and ,ridicule1 where four of them1 or all five1 are united in one ,subject2--,like various ,notes in ,music1 sounding together1 and jointly composing one exquisite ,piece of ,harmony2--,or like different ,rays of ,light1 shining together in one ,rainbow3 ,it is pleasant to divide these ,combinations1 and to view as with a ,prism1 the different ,rays united in each2 of which ,humour1 like the ,red1 is eminent for its superior ,force and ,excellence2--,when the ,judgment is thus capable of parting1 and easily assigning the several ,quantities1 and ,proportions of each1 it heightens our ,pleasure1 and gives us an absolute ,command over the ,subject2 ,but they are often so intimately mix'd1 and blended together1 that it is difficult to separate them clearly1 tho' they are all certainly felt in the same ,piece2--,like the different ,flavours of rich ,fruits1 which are inseparably mix'd1 yet all perfectly tasted1 in one ,pine-,apple4 ,raillery1 and ,satire1 are extremely different2 #a4 ,raillery1 is a genteel poignant ,attack of slight ,foibles and ,oddities2 ,satire a witty and severe ,attack of mischievous ,habits and ,vices4 #b4 ,the ,intention of ,raillery1 is to procure your ,pleasure1 by exposing the little ,embarrassment of a ,person2 ,but the ,intention of ,satire1 is to raise your ,detestation1 by exposing the real ,deformity of his ,vices4 #c4 ,if in ,raillery the ,sting be given too deep and severe1 it will sink into ,malice and ,rudeness1 ,and your ,pleasure will not be justifiable2 ,but ,satire1 the more deep and severe the ,sting of it is1 will be the more excellent2 ,its ,intention being entirely to root out and destroy the ,vice4 #d4 ,it is a just ,maxim upon these ,subjects1 that in ,raillery a good-natur'd ,esteem ought always to appear1 without any ,resentment or ,bitterness2 ,in ,satire a generous free ,indignation1 without any sneaking ,fear or ,tenderness2 ,it being a sort of partaking in the ,guilt to keep any ,terms with ,vices4 ,it is from hence that ,juvenal1 as a ,satirist1 is greatly superior to ,horace2 ,but indeed many of the short ,compositions of ,horace1 which are indiscriminately ranged together1 under the general ,name of ,satires1 are not properly such1 but ,pieces of ,raillery or ,ridicule4 ,as ,raillery1 in order to be decent1 can only be exercised upon slight ,misfortunes and ,foibles1 attended with no deep ,mischief1 nor with any ,reproach upon real ,merit1 so it ought only to be used between ,equals and ,intimates2 ,it being evidently a ,liberty too great to be taken by an ,inferior2 and too inequitable to be taken by a ,superior1 as his ,rank shields him from any ,return4 ,raillery is the most agreeable1 when it is founded on a slight ,embarrassment or ,foible1 which upon being unfolded1 appears to have arisen from the real ,merit1 or from the ,excess of any ,virtue1 in the ,person attack'd4 ,but yet this ,embarrassment must always be real1 and attended with the ,chagrin or ,confusion of the rally'd ,person1 or capable of being fairly suppos'd to have been so2 otherwise the ,attack will be void of all ,poignancy1 and ,pleasure to the ,company2 ,and evaporate either into indirect ,flattery1 or else into the ,insipid4 ,thus1 to attack a fine ,lady upon the ,enemies she has made1 by the mischievous ,effects of her ,beauty1 will be properly genteel indirect ,flattery--if it be well conducted1--otherwise1 the ,insipid2 ,but it cannot be deem'd ,raillery2 ,it being impossible to suppose the ,lady really chagrin'd by such an imaginary ,misfortune1 or uneasy at any ,explanation upon this ,subject2 ,raillery ought soon to be ended2 ,for by long keeping the ,person attack'd1 even in a slight ,pain1 and continuing to dwell upon his ,mis-adventures1 you become rude and ill-natur'd2--,or if the ,raillery be only turn'd upon an ,embarrassment1 arising from the ,excess of ,merit or ,abilities1 ,yet if it be long confined upon the same ,subject1 the ,person it is pointed at1 will either suspect that your ,aim is1 to leave some ,impression against him1 or else that you are designing him a tedious dark ,compliment2 ,and accordingly he will either regard you with ,hatred or ,contempt2--,much less should a ,person1 who introduces himself as a ,subject of ,raillery1 insist long upon it2 ,for either he will be offensive in engrossing all ,attention to himself2 or if the ,company are pleas'd1 it must be by his ,buffoonery4 ,the ,difference between ,satire1 and ,ridicule1 has been already pointed out2--,satire being always concerned with the ,vices of ,persons2--,whereas ,ridicule is justly employ'd1 not upon the ,vices1 but the ,foibles or ,meannesses of ,persons1 ,and also upon the ,improprieties of other ,subjects2 ,and is directed1 not to raise your ,detestation1 but your ,derision and ,contempt2--,it being evident that ,immoralities and ,vice are too detestable for ,ridicule1 and are therefore properly the ,subject of ,satire2 ,whereas ,foibles and ,meannesses are too harmless for ,satire1 and deserve only to be treated with ,ridicule4 ,the usual ,artillery of ,ridicule is ,wit2 whereby the ,affinity or ,coincidence of any ,object with others1 which are absurd and contemptible1 is unexpectedly exhibited2--,there is also another1 very forcible1 ,manner in which ,ridicule may act2 ,and that is by employing ,humour alone2 ,thus the ,foible or ,queerness of any ,person will be most fully ridicul'd1 by naturally dressing yourself1 or any other ,person in that ,foible1 and exerting its full ,strength and ,vigour4 ,the ,,politeness of a ,subject is the ,freedom of that ,subject from all ,indelicacy1 ,aukardness1 and ,roughness4 ,,good ,,breeding consists in a respectful ,carriage to others1 accompany'd with ,ease and ,politeness4 ,it appears from hence that ,,good ,,breeding and ,,politeness differ in this2 that ,,good ,,breeding relates only to the ,manners of ,persons in their ,commerce together2 ,whereas ,politeness may relate also to ,books1 as well as to ,persons1 or to any ,subjects of ,taste and ,ornament4 ,so that ,politeness may subsist in a ,subject1 as in a ,cornish1 or ,architrave1 where good ,breeding can't enter2 ,but it is impossible for good ,breeding to be offer'd without ,politeness4 ,at the same time good ,breeding is not to be understood1 as merely the ,politeness of ,persons2 ,but as ,respect1 tender'd with ,politeness1 in the ,commerce between ,persons4 ,it is easy to perceive1 that good ,breeding is a different ,behaviour in different ,countries1 and in the same ,countries at different ,periods1 according to the ,manners which are us'd amongst polite ,persons of those ,places and ,seasons4 ,in ,england the chief ,point of it formerly was plac'd1 in carrying a ,respect in our ,manners to all we convers'd with2 whence every ,omission of the slightest ,ceremony1 as it might be construed into a want of ,respect1 was particularly to be avoided2 ,so that good ,breeding became then a precise ,observance and ,exercise of all the ,motions and ,ceremonies1 expressive of ,respect1 which might justly be paid to every ,person2 --,this1 as it is easy to imagine1 requir'd much ,nicety in the ,adjustment upon many ,occasions1 and created immense ,trouble and ,constraint1 and most ridiculous ,embarrassments4 ,however1 these ,modes of good ,breeding were not to be abolished1 as it was impossible to dispense with the ,respect annex'd to them1 without some further ,pretence than of their ,inconvenience only2 which no ,person could decently urge1 or admit in his own behalf1 when it was his ,province to pay any ,ceremonies to another2 ,in this ,difficulty it was at last happily observ'd1 for the ,advantage of genteel ,commerce and ,society1 that whatever gives ,trouble1 is inconsistent with ,respect2 ,upon which ,foundation1 all ,ceremonies which create ,embarrassments or ,trouble to either ,side1 are now justly exploded2 ,and the ,ease of each other is the ,point most peculiarly consulted by well-bred ,persons4 ,if this ,attention to ,ease was properly conducted1 so that it might always appear to have ,respect for its ,motive2 ,and only to act in ,obedience to that1 as the ruling ,principle1 it would then comprehend the just ,plan of good ,breeding2 ,but as this was formerly encumber'd with ,ceremonies and ,embarrassments1 so the modern good ,breeding perhaps deviates too far into ,negligence and ,disregard2 --,a ,fault more unpardonable than the former2 ,as an ,inconvenience1 evidently proceeding from the ,respect which is paid to us1 may be easily excus'd2 ,but a ,freedom1 which carries the ,air of ,neglect with it1 gives a lasting ,offence4 ,,beauty is the delightful ,effect which arises from the joint ,order1 ,proportion1 and ,harmony of all the ,parts of an ,object4 ,and to have a good ,,taste1 is to have a just ,relish of ,,beauty4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,translations of ,horace ,satire ,i4#i are available from ,project ,gutenberg as e-text #edai 7verse translation1 plain text7 or #adjbj 7prose translation1 text or html74 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,corbyn ,,morris ,an _/ ,essay _/ ,towards ,fixing the _/ ,true ,standards _/ of _/ ,wit1 ,humour1 ,raillery1 _/ ,satire1 and ,ridicule4 _/ ,to which is ,added1 an _/ ,analysis _/ ,of the ,characters of _/ ,an ,humourist1 ,sir ,john ,falstaff1 ,sir ,roger _/ ,de ,coverly1 and ,don ,quixote4 _/ ,inscribed1 to the ,right ,honorable _/ ,robert ,earl of ,orford4 _/ rule _/ ,by the ,author of a _/ ,letter from a ,by- ,stander4 _/ rule _/--,jacta est ,alea4 _/ double rule _/ ,london3 _/ ,printed for ,j4 ,roberts1 at the ,oxford-,arms1 in ,war- _/ wick-lane2 and ,w4 ,bickerton1 ,in the ,temple-,ex- _/ change1 near the ,inner-,temple-,gate1 ,fleet-street4 _/ ,m ,,dcc ,,xliv4 ,price #b s4 _/ ,collation3 ,a1 a-c1 in fours2 d in two2 a-d1 in fours2 ,b-,k in fours2 ,l in two4 ,a1 title2 verso blank2 ,a#b-;d1 dedication2 d#b erratum and advertisements2 a-d#d1 ,introduction2 ,b-,l#b1 text4 ,the first edition4 ,a second edition was published in #ageh4 ,colton ,storm ,clements ,library 99 99 99 99 99 ,,announcing the ,publications of ,,the ,,augustan ,,reprint ,,society ,general ,editors ,,richard ,c4 ,,boys ,,edward ,,niles ,,hooker ,h4,t4 ,,swedenberg1 ,,jr4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,augustan ,,reprint ,,society ,makes ,available ,inexpensive ,reprints of ,rare ,materials from ,,english ,,literature ,,of ,,the ,,seventeenth ,,and ,,eighteenth ,,centuries ,students1 scholars1 and bibliographers of literature1 history1 and philology will find the publications valuable4 ,the ,johnsonian ,news ,letter has said of them3 ,excellent facsimiles1 and cheap in price1 these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction4 ,be sure to become a subscriber2 and take it upon yourself to see that your college library is on the mailing list4 ,the ,augustan ,reprint ,society is a non-profit1 scholarly organization1 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