Series Two: _Essays on Wit_

 No. 4

 [Corbyn Morris] _An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Raillery, Satire, and Ridicule_ (1744)

 With an Introduction by James L. Clifford and a Bibliographical Note

The Augustan Reprint SocietyNovember, 1947Price: $1. 00

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GENERAL EDITORS

RICHARD C. BOYS, University of MichiganEDWARD NILES HOOKER, University of California, Los AngelesH. T. SWEDENBERG, JR. , University of California, Los Angeles

ADVISORY EDITORS

EMMETT L. AVERY, State College of WashingtonLOUIS I. BREDVOLD, University of MichiganBENJAMIN BOYCE, University of NebraskaCLEANTH BROOKS, Yale UniversityJAMES L. CLIFFORD, Columbia UniversityARTHUR FRIEDMAN, University of ChicagoSAMUEL H. MONK, University of MinnesotaJAMES SUTHERLAND, Queen Mary College, London

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 INTRODUCTION

The _Essay_ here reproduced was first advertised in the London _DailyAdvertiser_ as "this day was published" on Thursday, 17 May 1744 (Thesame advertisement, except for the change of price from one shillingto two, appeared in this paper intermittently until 14 June). Althoughon the title-page the authorship is given as "By the Author of aLetter from a By-stander, " there was no intention of anonymity, sincethe Dedication is boldly signed "Corbyn Morris, Inner Temple, Feb. 1, 1743 [44]. "

Not much is known of the early life of Corbyn Morris. Born 14 August1710, he was the eldest son of Edmund Morris of Bishop's Castle, Salop. (_Alumni Cantabrigienses_). On 17 September 1727 he wasadmitted (pensioner) at Queen's College, Cambridge, as an exhibitionerfrom the famous Charterhouse School. Exactly when he left theuniversity, or whether he took a degree, is not certain. 

Morris first achieved some prominence, though anonymously, with_A Letter from a By-stander to a Member of Parliament; wherein isexamined what necessity there is for the maintenance of a largeregular land-force in this island_. This pamphlet, dated at the end, 26 February 1741/42, is a wholehearted eulogy of the Walpoleadministration and is filled with statistics and arguments for theMercantilist theories of the day. At the time there was some suspicionthat the work had been written either by Walpole himself or by hisdirection. When the _Letter from a By-stander_ was answered by thehistorian Thomas Carte, an angry pamphlet controversy ensued, withMorris writing under the pseudonym of "A Gentleman of Cambridge. "Throughout, Morris showed himself a violent Whig, bitter in hisattacks on Charles II and the non-jurors; and it was undoubtedly thisfanatical party loyalty which laid the foundation for his latergovernment career. 

The principal facts of Morris's later life may be briefly summarized. On 17 June 1743 he was admitted at the Inner Temple. Throughoutthe Pelham and Newcastle administrations he was employed by thegovernment, as he once put it, "in conciliating opponents. " From1751 to 1763 be acted as Secretary of the Customs and Salt Duty inScotland, in which post he was acknowledged to have shown decidedability as an administrator. From 1763 to 1778 he was one of thecommissioners of customs. He died at Wimbledon 22 December 1779(_Musgrave's Obituary_), described in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ as a"gentleman well known in the literary world, and universally esteemedfor his unwearied services and attachment to government. "

Throughout his long years of public service he wrote numerouspamphlets, largely on economic and political questions. Merely thetitles of a few may be sufficient to indicate the nature of hisinterests. _An Essay towards Deciding the Question whether Britain bePermitted by Right Policy to Insure the Ships of Her Enemies _(1747);_Observations on the Past Growth and Present State of the City ofLondon_ (containing a complete table of christenings and burials 1601-1750) (175l); _A Letter Balancing the Causes of the Present Scarcityof Our Silver Coin_ (1757). 

It would be a mistake, however, to consider Morris merely as astatistical economist and Whig party hack. A gentleman of taste andwit, the friend of Hume, Boswell, and other discerning men of the day, he was elected F. R. S. In 1757, and appears to have been muchrespected. In later life Morris had a country place at Chiltern Vale, Herts. , where he took an active delight in country sports. Oneof his late pamphlets, not listed in the _D. N. B_. Account of him, entertainingly illustrates one of his hobbies. _The Bird-fancier'sRecreation and Delight, with the newest and very best instructions forcatching, taking, feeding, rearing, &c all the various sorts of SONGBIRDS. .. Containing curious remarks on the nature, sex, management, and diseases of ENGLISH SONG BIRDS, with practical instructions fordistinguishing the cock and hen, for taking, choosing, breeding, keeping, and teaching them to sing, for discovering and caring theirdiseases, and of learning them to sing to the greatest perfection_. 

Although there is little surviving evidence of Morris's purelyliterary interests, a set of verses combining his economic andartistic views appeared in a late edition of _The New FoundlingHospital for Wit_ (new edition, 1784, VI, 95). Occasioned by seeingBowood in Wiltshire, the home of the Earl of Shelburne, the lines areentitled: "On Reading Dr. Goldsmith's Poem, the Deserted Village. "

This was the man who at the age of thirty-three brought out _An Essaytowards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Raillery, Satire, and Ridicule_. That it was ever widely read we have no evidence, butat least a number of men of wit and judgment found it interesting. Horace Walpole included it in a packet of "the only new books at allworth reading" sent to Horace Mann, but the fulsome dedicationto the elder Walpole undoubtedly had something to do with thisrecommendation. More disinterested approval is shown in a letterprinted in the _Daily Advertiser_ for 31 May 1744. Better than anymodern critique the letter illustrates the contemporary reaction tothe _Essay_. 

 Christ Church College, Oxford, SIR:

 I have examin'd the _Essay_ you have sent me for _fixing the true Standards of Wit, Humour, &c. _ and cannot perceive upon what pretence the Definitions, as you tell me, are censured for Obscurity, even by Gentlemen of Abilities, and such as in other Parts of the Work very frankly allow it's Merit: the Definition of Wit, which presents itself at first, you say is, particularly objected to, as dark and involv'd; in answer to which I beg Leave to give you my plain Sentiments upon it, and which I apprehend should naturally occur to every Reader: In treating upon Wit, the Author seems constantly to carry in his View a Distinction between _This_ and _Vivacity_: there is a Lustre or Brilliancy which often results from wild unprovok'd Sallies of Fancy; but such unexpected Objects, which serve not to _elucidate_ each other, discover only a Flow of Spirits, or rambling Vivacity; whereas, says he, Wit is the Lustre which results from the quick _Elucidation_ of one Subject, by the just and unexpected Arrangement of it with another Subject. --To constitute _Wit_, there must not only arise a _Lustre_ from the quick Arrangement together of two Subjects, but the new Subject must be naturally introduced, and also serve to _elucidate_ the original one: the Word _Elucidation_, though it be not new, is elegant, and very happily applied in this Definition; yet I have seen some old Gentlemen here stumble at it, and have found it difficult to persuade them to advance farther:--I have also heard Objections made to the Words _Lustre_ and _Brilliancy_ of Ideas, though they are Terms which have been used by the _Greeks_ and _Romans_, and by elegant Writers of all Ages and Nations; and the Effect which they express, is perfectly conceiv'd and felt by every Person of true Genius and Imagination. 

 The Distinctions between _Wit_ and _Humour_, and the Reasons why _Humour_ is more pleasurably felt than _Wit_, are new and excellent: as is the Definition of an _Humourist_, and the happy Analysis of the Characters of _Falstaff_, _Sir Roger de Coverly_, and _Don Quixote_; But, as you say, the Merit of these Parts is universally allowed; as well as the Novelty, and liberal Freedom of the [word apparently omitted]; which have such Charms in my Eye, as I had long ceased to expect in a Modern Writer. 

 I am, &c 25 May, 1744 J---- W---- [not identified]

If the "Gentlemen of Abilities" of the day found some of Morris'sdefinitions obscure, modern readers will find them more precise thanthose of most of his predecessors. All who had gone before--Cowley, Barrow, Dryden, Locke, Addison, and Congreve (he does not mentionHobbes)--Morris felt had bungled the job. And although he apologizesfor attempting what the great writers of the past had failed to do, hehas no hesitation in setting forth exactly what he believes to be theproper distinctions in the meanings of such terms as wit, humour, judgment, invention, raillery, and ridicule. The mathematician andstatistician in Morris made him strive for precise accuracy. It wasall very clear to him, and by the use of numerous anecdotes andexamples he hoped to make the distinctions obvious to the generalreader. 

The _Essay_ shows what a man of some evident taste and perspicacity, with an analytical mind, can do in defining the subtle semanticdistinctions in literary terms. Trying to fix immutably what iscertain always to be shifting, Morris is noteworthy not only becauseof the nature of his attempt, but because he is relatively sosuccessful. As Professor Edward Hooker has pointed out in anIntroduction to an earlier _ARS_ issue (Series I, No. 2), his is"probably the best and clearest treatment of the subject in the firsthalf of the eighteenth century. " It may be regretted that politicaland economic concerns occupied so much of his later life, leaving himno time for further literary essays. 

In the present facsimile edition, for reasons of space, only theIntroduction and the main body of the _Essay_ are reproduced. AlthoughMorris once remarked to David Hume that he wrote all his books "forthe sake of the Dedications" (_Letters of David Hume_ ed. Greig, I, 380), modern readers need not regret too much the omission of thefulsome 32 page dedication to Walpole (The Earl of Orford). Morrisinsists at the beginning that the book was inspired by a ferventdesire of "attempting a Composition, independent of Politics, whichmight furnish an occasional Amusement" to his patron. The praise whichfollows, in which Walpole is said to lead "the _Empire_ of _Letters_, "is so excessive as to produce only smiles in twentieth centuryreaders. Walpole is praised for not curbing the press whilenecessarily curbing the theatre, his aid to commerce and industry, indeed almost every act of his administration, is lauded to the skies. The Church of England, in which "the _Exercise_ of _Reason_ in thesolemn Worship of God, is the sacred _Right_, and indispensible_Duty_, of Man, " receives its share of eulogy. In every connection theTories are violently attacked. 

The Dedication ends in a peroration of praise for Walpole's publicachievements which "shall adorn the History of _Britain_, " and for his"_Private Virtues_ and all the _softer Features_" of his mind. Hishome of retirement is referred to in the lines of Milton:

 "Great Palace now of Light! Hither, as to their Fountain, other Stars Repairing, in their golden Urns, draw Light; And here [sic] the Morning Planet gilds her Horns. "

 [P. L. 7. 363-66]

"Thus splendid, and superior, your Lordship now flourishes inhonourable Ease, exerting universal Benevolence. .. . " But indedications, as in lapidary inscriptions, as Dr. Johnson mighthave agreed, a writer need not be upon oath. 

At the end of the _Essay_ Morris reprinted two essays from _TheSpectator_, Nos. 35 and 62, and William Congreve's "An Essay concerningHumour in Comedy. To Mr. Dennis" (Congreve's _Works_, ed. Summers, III, 161-68). Since these are readily available, they have not been includedin this edition. 

The present facsimile is made from a copy owned by Louis I. Bredvold, with his kind permission. 

James L. Clifford

Columbia University

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[Transcriber's Note:The ARS edition included an errata slip, reproduced here. Wheretext was changed or deleted, the original is given in brackets. Corrections to the _Essay_ itself are listed after the ARS errata. ]

Please paste the following in your copy of Corbyn Morris's_Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit_. .. . 

(_ARS_, Series One, No. 4)

ERRATA

INTRODUCTION:

page 5, line 1--"word apparently omitted" should be inclosed inbrackets. 

page 5, line 6--"not identified" should be inclosed in brackets. 

page 6, line 5--the first "of" should be omitted. ["modern readers need not regret too much of the omission of the fulsome 32 page dedication"]

page 6, line 12, should read "Walpole is praised for not curbing the press while necessarily curbing the theatre, his aid to commerce". ["Walpole is praised for not curbing the theatre; his aid to commerce"]

page 6, line 25--"sic" should be inclosed in brackets, as also"P. L. 7. 363-66" in the next line. 

[ ESSAY ON WIT:

page viii: Whence in _Aristotle_ such Persons are termed "epidexioi", dexterous Men The Greek may read "epidezioi"; the letter-form is ambiguous. 

page 14: . .. Without any Reference to their whimsical _Oddities_ or _Foibles_; Text reads _Oddistie_. 

page 20 and elsewhere: "Biass" is an attested variant spelling; it has not been changed. 

page 25: "teizes" (modern "teases") is an attested variant spelling; it has not been changed. 

page 40: --It is therefore no wonder that Signior _Don Quixote of la Mancha_ . .. Text reads _Quoxote_. ]

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 An ESSAY

 Towards Fixing the TRUE STANDARDS of WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY, SATIRE, and RIDICULE. 

 To which is Added, an ANALYSIS Of the CHARACTERS of

 An HUMOURIST, Sir John Falstaff, Sir Roger De Coverly, and Don Quixote. 

 Inscribed to the RIGHT HONORABLE ROBERT Earl of ORFORD. 

 By the AUTHOR of a LETTER from a BY-STANDER. 

 ---- _Jacta est Alea_. 

 LONDON:

 Printed for J. ROBERTS, at the Oxford-Arms, in Warwick-lane; and W. BICKERTON, in the Temple-Exchange, near the Inner-Temple-Gate, Fleet-Street. 

 M DCC XLIV. [Price 2s. ]

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 INTRODUCTION. 

An Attempt to _describe_ the precise _Limits_ of WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY, SATIRE and RIDICULE, I am sensible, is no easy or slightUndertaking. To give a _Definition_ of WIT, has been declared byWriters of the greatest Renown, to exceed their Reach and Power; andGentlemen of no less Abilities, and Fame, than _Cowley_, _Barrow_, _Dryden_, _Locke_, _Congreve_, and _Addison_, have tryed their Forceupon this Subject, and have all left it free, and unconquered. This, I perceive, will be an Argument with some, for condemning an _Essay_upon this Topic by a young Author, as rash and presumptious. But, though I desire to pay all proper Respect to these eminent Writers, if a tame Deference to great Names shall become fashionable, and theImputation of Vanity be laid upon those who examine their Works, allAdvancement in Knowledge will be absolutely stopp'd; and _Literary_Merit will be soon placed, in an _humble Stupidity_, and _solemnFaith_ in the Wisdom of our Ancestors. 

Whereas, if I rightly apprehend, _an Ambition to excell_ is thePrinciple which should animate a Writer, directed by a _Love_ of_Truth_, and a _free Spirit_ of _Candour_ and _Inquiry_. This is the_Flame_ which should warm the rising Members of every Science, not apoor Submission to those who have preceded. For, however it may bewith a _Religious_ DEVOTION, a _Literary_ One is certainly the CHILDof _Ignorance_. 

However, I must acknowledge, that where I have differed from the greatAuthors before mentioned, it has been with a Diffidence, and after themost serious and particular Examination of what they have delivered. It is from hence, that I have thought it my Duty, to exhibit with thefollowing _Essay_, their several Performances upon the same Subject, that every Variation of mine from their Suffrage, and the Reasons uponwhich I have grounded it, may clearly appear. 

The following _Ode_ upon WIT is written by Mr. _Cowley_. 

 ODE of WIT. 

 I. 

Tell me, oh tell!, what kind of Thing is _WIT_, Thou who _Master_ art of it;For the _first Matter_ loves Variety _less_;Less _Women_ love't, either in _Love_ or _Dress_. A thousand diff'rent Shapes it bears, Comely in thousand Shapes appears;Yonder we saw it plain, and here 'tis now, Like _Spirits_ in a Place, we know not _how_. 

 II. 

_London_, that vents of _false Ware_ so much Store, In no _Ware_ deceives us more;For Men, led by the _Colour_, and the Shape, Like _Zeuxis' Bird_, fly to the painted Grape. Some things do through our Judgment pass, As through a _Multiplying Glass_:And sometimes, if the _Object_ be too far, We take a _falling Meteor_ for a _Star_. 

 III. 

Hence 'tis a _Wit_, that greatest _Word_ of Fame, Grows such a common Name;And _Wits_, by our _Creation_, they become;Just so as _Tit'lar Bishops_ made at _Rome_. 'Tis not a _Tale_, 'tis not a _Jest_, Admir'd with _Laughter_ at a Feast, Nor florid _Talk_ which can that _Title_ gain;The _Proofs_ of _Wit_ for ever must remain. 

 IV. 

'Tis not to force some Lifeless _Verses_ meet, With their five gouty Feet. All ev'ry where, like _Man's_, must be the _Soul_, And _Reason_ the _inferior Pow'rs_ controul. Such were the _Numbers_ which could call The _Stones_ into the _Theban_ Wall. Such _Miracles_ are ceas'd, and now we seeNo _Towns_ or _Houses_ rais'd by _Poetry. 

 V. 

Yet 'tis not to adorn, and gild each Part, That shews more _Cost_ than _Art_. _Jewels_ at _Nose_, and _Lips_, but ill appear;Rather than _all Things Wit_, let _none_ be there. Several _Lights_ will not be seen, If there be nothing else between. Men doubt; because they stand so thick i' th' Sky. If those be _Stars_ which paint the _Galaxy_. 

 VI. 

'Tis not when two like Words make up one Noise; Jests for _Dutch Men_, and _English Boys_. In which, who finds out _Wit_, the same may seeIn _An'grams_ and _Acrostiques Poetry_. Much less can that have any Place, At which a _Virgin_ hides her Face;Such _Dross_ the _Fire_ must purge away; 'Tis justThe _Author blush_, there where the _Reader_ must. 

 VII. 

'Tis not such _Lines_ as almost crack the _Stage_, When _Bajazet_ begins to rage;Not a tall _Metaphor_ in th' _bombast Way_, Nor the dry Chips of short-lung'd _Seneca_. Nor upon all Things to obtrude, And force some odd _Similitude_. What is it then, which like the _Pow'r Divine_, We only can by _Negatives_ define?

 VIII. 

In a true Piece of _Wit_, all Things must be, Yet all Things there _agree_;As in the _Ark_, join 'd without Force or Strife, All _Creatures_ dwelt; all _Creatures_ that had Life. Or as the _primitive Forms_ of all, (If we compare great Things with small)Which without _Discord_ or _Confusion_ lie, In the strange _Mirror_ of the _Deity_. 

 IX. 

But _Love_, that moulds _one Man_ up out of _two_, Makes me forget, and injure you. I took _You_ for _Myself_, sure when I thoughtThat You in any thing were to be taught. Correct my Error with thy Pen, And if any ask me then, What thing right _Wit_, and Height of _Genius_ is, I'll only shew your _Lines_, and say, _'Tis this_. 

The _Spirit_ and _Wit_ of this _Ode_ are excellent; and yet it isevident, through the whole, that Mr. _Cowley_ had no clear Idea of_Wit_, though at the same time it _shines_ in most of these Lines:There is little Merit in saying what WIT _is not_, which is the chiefPart of this _Ode_. Towards the End, he indeed attempts to describe what_it is_, but is quite vague and perplex'd in his Description; and atlast, instead of collecting his scatter'd Rays into a _Focus_, andexhibiting succinctly the clear Essence and Power of WIT, he drops thewhole with a trite Compliment. 

The learned Dr. _Barrow_, in his _Sermon against foolish Talking andJesting_, gives the following profuse Description of WIT. 

 But first it may be demanded, What the Thing we speak of is? Or what the Facetiousness (or _Wit_ as he calls it before) doth import? To which Questions I might reply, as _Democritus_ did to him that asked the Definition of a Man, _'Tis that we all see and know. _ Any one better apprehends what it is by Acquaintance, than I can inform him by Description. It is indeed a Thing so versatile and multiform, appearing in so many Shapes, so many Postures, so many Garbs, so variously apprehended by several Eyes and Judgments, that it seemeth no less hard to settle a clear and certain Notion thereof, than to make a Portrait of _Proteus_, or to define the Figure of the fleeting Air. Sometimes it lieth in pat Allusion to a known Story, or in seasonable Application of a trivial Saying, or in forging an apposite Tale: Sometimes it playeth in Words and Phrases, taking Advantage from the Ambiguity of their Sense, or the Affinity of their Sound: Sometimes it is wrapp'd in a Dress of humorous Expression: Sometimes it lurketh under an odd Similitude: Sometimes it is lodged in a sly Question, in a smart Answer, in a quirkish Reason, in a shrewd Intimation, in cunningly diverting, or cleverly retorting an Objection: Sometimes it is couched in a bold Scheme of Speech, in a tart Irony, in a lusty Hyperbole, in a startling Metaphor, in a plausible Reconciling of Contradictions, or in acute Nonsense; Sometimes a scenical Representation of Persons or Things, a counterfeit Speech, a mimical Look or Gesture passeth for it. Sometimes an affected Simplicity, sometimes a presumptuous Bluntness giveth it Being. Sometimes it riseth from a lucky Hitting upon what is Strange; sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious Matter to the Purpose. Often it' consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable, and inexplicable, being answerable to the numberless Rovings of Fancy, and Windings of Language. It is, in short, a Manner of Speaking out of the simple and plain Way (such as Reason teacheth, and proveth Things by) which by a pretty, surprizing Uncouthness in Conceit or Expression, doth affect and amuse the Fancy, stirring in it some Wonder, and breeding some Delight thereto. It raiseth Admiration, as signifying a nimble Sagacity of Apprehension, a special Felicity of Invention, a Vivacity of Spirit, and Reach of Wit, more than vulgar; it seeming to argue a rare Quickness of Parts, that one can fetch in remote Conceits applicable; a notable Skill that he can dextrously accommodate them to the Purpose before him; together with a lively Briskness of Humour, not apt to damp those Sportful Flashes of Imagination. (Whence in _Aristotle_ such Persons are termed "epidexioi", dexterous Men, and "eutropoi", Men of facile or versatile Manners, who can easily turn themselves to all Things, or turn all Things to themselves. ) It also procureth Delight, by gratifying Curiosity with its Rareness, or Semblance of Difficulty. (As Monsters, not for their Beauty, but their Rarity; as juggling Tricks, not for their Use, but their Abstruseness, are beheld with Pleasure;) by diverting the Mind from its Road of serious Thoughts, by instilling Gaiety, and Airiness of Spirit; by provoking to such Disposition of Spirit in Way of Emulation, or Complaisance; and by seasoning Matters otherwise distasteful or insipid, with an unusual and thence grateful Tange. 

This Description, it is easy to perceive, must have cost the Author ofit a great deal of Labour. It is a very full Specimen of that Talentof entirely _exhausting_ a Subject, for which Dr. _Barrow_ wasremarkable; and if the _Point_ was, to exhibit all the various Formsand Appearances, not of WIT only, but of _Raillery_, _Satire_, _Sarcasms_, and of every Kind of _Poignancy_ and _Pleasantry_ ofSentiment, and Expression, he seems to have perfectly succeeded; therebeing perhaps no Variety, in all the Extent of these Subjects, whichhe has not presented to View in this Description. --But he does notpretend to give any _Definition_ of WIT, intimating rather that it isquite impossible to be given: And indeed from his Description of it, as a _Proteus_, appearing in numberless various Colours, and Forms;and from his mistaking, and presenting for WIT, other differentMixtures and Substances, it is evident that his Idea of it was quiteconfused and uncertain: It is true, he has discovered a vast Scope ofFertility of Genius, and an uncommon Power of collecting together aMultitude of Objects upon any Occasion, but he has here absolutelymistaken his work; for instead of exhibiting the Properties of WIT ina clearer Light, and confuting the _false Claims_ which are made toit, he has made it his whole Business to perplex it the more, byintroducing, from all Corners, a monstrous Troop of new unexpected_Pretenders_. 

_Dryden_, in the Preface to his _Opera_, entitled, _The State ofInnocence_, or _Fall of Man_, gives the following _Decree_ upon WIT. The _Definition of WIT_, (which has been so often attempted, and ever unsuccessfully by many Poets) is only this: That it is _a Propriety of Thoughts and Words; or in other Terms, Thoughts and Words elegantly adapted to the Subject_. 

If Mr. _Dryden_ imagined, that he had succeeded _himself_ in this_Definition_, he was extremely mistaken; for nothing can be moredistant from the Properties of WIT, than those he describes. Hediscovers no Idea of the _Surprize_, and _Brilliancy_ of WIT, or ofthe sudden _Light_ thrown upon a Subject. Instead of once pointing atthese, he only describes the Properties of clear _Reasoning_, whichare _a Propriety of Thoughts and Words_;--Whereas WIT, in its sudden_Flashes_, makes no Pretension to _Reasoning_; but is perceived in thepleasant _Surprize_ which it starts, and in the _Light_ darted upona Subject, which instantly vanishes again, without abiding a strictExamination. 

The other Definition he gives, which is, _Thoughts and Words elegantlyadapted to the Subject_, is very different from the former, butequally unhappy. 

For _Propriety_, in _Thoughts_ and _Words_, consists in exhibiting_clear, pertinent Ideas_, in _precise_ and _perspicuous Words_. 

Whereas ELEGANCE consists in the _compt_, _well pruned_ and _succinctTurn_ of a Subject. 

The Object of the _First_, is to be _clear_, and _perspicuous_; whenceit often appears in pursuit of these, not _compt_ or _succinct_:Whereas the _Essence_ of ELEGANCE is to be _compt_ and _succinct_, for the Sake of which Ornaments it often neglect _Perspicuity_, and_Clearness_. --In short, a _Propriety_ of Thoughts and Words, maysubsist without any _Elegance_; as an _Elegance_ of Thoughts and Wordsmay appear without a perfect _Propriety_. 

The last _Definition_, as it is thus very different from the former isalso equally unhappy: For ELEGANCE is no _essential_ Property of WIT. _Pure_ WIT resulting solely from the _quick Elucidation_ of oneSubject, by the sudden _Arrangement_, and _Comparison_ of it, with another Subject. --If the two Objects _arranged_ together are_elegant_, and _polite_, there will then be superadded to the WIT, an _Elegance_ and _Politeness_ of Sentiment, which will render theWIT more amiable. But if the Objects are _vulgar_, _obscene_, or_deformed_, provided the _first_ be _elucidated_, in a lively Manner, by, the sudden _Arrangement_ of it with the _second_, there will beequally WIT; though, the Indelicacy of Sentiment attending it, willrender such WIT shocking and abominable. 

It is with the highest Respect for the great Mr. _Locke_, that Ideliver his Sentiments upon this Subject. 

 And hence, perhaps, may be given some Reason of that common Observation, that Men who have a great deal of _Wit_, and prompt Memories, have not always the clearest Judgment or deepest Reason: For _Wit_ lying most in the Assemblage of _Ideas_, and putting those together with Quickness and Variety, wherein can be found any Assemblance or Congruity, thereby to make up pleasant Pictures, and agreeable Visions in the Fancy. _Judgment_, on the contrary, lies quite on the other side; in separating carefully one from another, _Ideas_, wherein can be found the least Difference, thereby to avoid being missed by Similitude, and by Affinity to take one thing for another. This is a Way of proceeding quite contrary to Metaphor and Allusion; wherein for the most Part lies that Entertainment and Pleasantry of _Wit_, which strikes so lively on the Fancy, and therefore is acceptable to all People, because its Beauty appears at first Sight, and there is required no Labour of Thoughts to examine what Truth, or Reason, there is in it. The Mind, without looking any further, rests satisfied with the Agreeableness of the Picture, and the Gaiety of the Fancy. And it is a kind of an Affront to go about to examine it by the severe Rules of Truth, and good Reason, whereby it appears, that it conflicts in something that is not perfectly conformable to them. 

It is to be observed that Mr. _Locke_ has here only occasionally, and passantly, delivered his Sentiments upon this Subject; but yet hehas very happily explained the chief Properties of WIT. It was _his_Remark _First_, that it lies for the most _Part_ in _assembling_together with _Quickness_ and _Variety_ Objects, which possess an_Affinity_, or _Congruity_, with each other; which was the _first_just Information obtained by the literary World, upon this Subject. 

As to what he adds, That the Intention, and Effects, of this_Assemblage_ of _similar_ Objects, is _to make up pleasant Pictures, and agreeable Visions in the Fancy_, it is, as I humbly apprehend, notquite perfect: For the Business of this _Assemblage_ is not merely toraise pleasant Pictures in the Fancy, but also to _enlighten_thereby the _original_ Subject. --This is evident; because in such_Assemblages_, the only Foundation upon which the _new Subject_is suddenly introduced, is the _Affinity_, and consequently the_Illustration_, it bears to the _first_ Subject. --The Introduction ofpleasant Pictures and Visions, which present not a new _Illustration_, and _Light_, to the _original_ Subjects, being rather wild Sallies of_Vivacity_, than well-aimed, apposite Strokes of WIT. 

It is Mr. _Locke_'s Conclusion, at last, That WIT _consists insomething that is not perfectly conformable to Truth, and goodReason_. --This is a _Problem_ of some Curiosity; and I apprehendMr. _Locke_'s Determination upon it to be right:--For the _Direction_of WIT is absolutely different from the _Direction of_ TRUTH and GOODREASON; It being the Aim of WIT to strike the _Imagination_; of TRUTHand GOOD REASON, to convince the _Judgment_: From thence they cannever be perfectly coincident. 

It is however true, that there may be Instances of WIT, wherein the_Agreement_ between the two Objects shall be absolutely _just_, andperceived to be such at the first Glance. Such Instances of WIT, willbe then also _Self-evident_ TRUTHS. They will _both_ agree in theirobvious, and quick _Perspicuity_; but will be still different in this, that the Effort of the _One_ is to strike the _Fancy_, whereas the_Other_ is wholly exerted in gratifying the _Judgment_. 

The Sentiments of Mr. _Addison_ upon WIT, are professedly delivered inthe _Spectator_ Nº. 62. Annexed to the following _Essay_. He has therejustly commended Mr. _Locke_'s Description of WIT; but what he adds, by Way of Explanation to it, that the _Assemblage_ of Ideas must besuch as shall give _Delight_, and _Surprize_, is not true, in regardto the Former, _Delight_ being no _essential_ Property of WIT; forif the _original_ Subject be unpleasant, or deformed, the suddenunexpected _Arrangement_ of a _similar_ Object with it, may give us_Surprize_, and be indisputably WIT, and yet be far from creating any_Delight_. 

This Gentleman has also given the following Example, in order toillustrate the Necessity there is, that _Surprize_ should be alwaysan Attendant upon WIT. 

 "When a Poet tells us, the Bosom of his Mistress is as white as Snow, there is no _Wit_ in the Comparison; but when he adds, with a Sigh, that it as cold too, it then grows to Wit. "

--To compare a Girl's _Bosom_ to _Snow_ for its _Whiteness_ Iapprehend to be WIT, notwithstanding the Authority of so great aWriter to the contrary. For there is a _Lustre_ resulting from the_natural_ and _splendid Agreement_ between these Objects, which will_always_ produce WIT; such, as cannot be destroyed, though it willquickly be rendered _trite_, by frequent Repetition. 

This _Problem_, _How far_ SURPRIZE _is, or is not, necessary to_ WIT, I humbly apprehend, may be thus solved. --In Subjects which have a_natural_ and _splendid Agreement_, there will always be WIT upontheir _Arrangement_ together; though when it becomes _trite_, and notaccompanied with _Surprize_, the _Lustre_ will be much faded;--Butwhere the _Agreement_ is _forced_ and _strained_, _Novelty_ and_Surprize_ are absolutely necessary to usher it in; An unexpected_Assemblage_ of this Sort, striking our Fancy, and being gailyadmitted at first to be WIT; which upon frequent Repetition, the_Judgment_ will have examined, and rise up against it wherever itappears;--So that in short, in Instances where the _Agreement_ is_strained_ and _defective_, which indeed are abundantly the mostgeneral, _Surprize_ is a necessary _Passport_ to WIT; but _Surprize_is not necessary to WIT, where the _Agreement_ between the twoSubjects is _natural_ and _splendid_; though in these Instancesit greatly heightens the _Brillancy_. 

The subsequent Remark of Mr. _Addison_, _That the Poet, after sayinghis Mistress's Bosom is as white as Snow, should add, with a Sigh, that it is as cold too, in order that it may grow to_ WIT, is I fear, very incorrect. For as to the _Sigh_, it avails not a Rush; and thisAddition will be found to be only a _new_ Stroke of WIT, equally_trite_, and less perfect, and natural, than the former Comparison. 

It may also be observed, That Mr. _Addison_ has omitted the_Elucidation_ of the _original_ Subject, which is the grand Excellenceof WIT. Nor has he prescribed any _Limits_ to the Subjects, which areto be arranged together; without which the Result will be frequentlythe SUBLIME or BURLESQUE; In which, it is true, WIT often appears, but taking their whole Compositions together, they are differentSubstances, and usually ranked in different _Classes_. 

All that Mr. _Congreve_ has delivered upon WIT, as far as I know, appears in his _Essay_ upon HUMOUR, annexed to this Treatise. Hethere says, To define HUMOUR, perhaps, were as difficult, as to define WIT; for, like that, it is of infinite Variety. --Again, he afterwards adds, But though we cannot certainly tell what WIT is, or what HUMOUR is, yet we may _go near_ to shew something, which is not WIT, or not HUMOUR, and yet often mistaken for both. --In this _Essay_, wherein he particularly considers HUMOUR, andthe Difference between _this_, and WIT, he may be expected to havedelivered his best Sentiments upon both: But these Words, which Ihave quoted, seem to be as important and precise, as any which he hasoffered upon the Subject of WIT. As such, I present them, without anyRemarks, to my Reader, who, if he only _goes near_ to be _edified_ bythem, will discover a great Share of _Sagacity_. 

The Sentiments of these eminent Writers upon WIT, having thus beenexhibited, I come next to the Subject of HUMOUR. This has been_defined_ by some, in the following Manner, with great _Perspicuity. _--HUMOUR is the genuine WIT of _Comedies_, --which has affordedvast Satisfaction to many _Connoissures_ in the _Belles Lettres_;especially as WIT has been supposed to be incapable of any_Definition. _

This Subject has also been particularly considered by the_Spectatator_ Nº. 35. Inserted at the End of the following_Essay_. Mr. _Addison_ therein _gravely_ remarks, that It is indeed much easier to describe what is not HUMOUR, than what it is;which, I humbly apprehend, is no very _important_ Piece ofInformation. --He adds, And very difficult to define it otherwise, than as _Cowly_ has done WIT, by Negatives. This Notion of _defining_ a Subject by _Negatives_, is a favourite_Crotchet_, and may perhaps be assumed upon other Occasions by futureWriters: I hope therefore I shall be pardoned, if I offer a properExplanation of so good a _Conceit_;--To declare then, _That a Subject isonly to be_ DEFINED _by_ NEGATIVES, is to cloath it in a _respectable_Dress of _Darkness_. And about as much as to say, That it is a _Knight_of _tenebrose Virtues_; or a _serene Prince_, of the _Blood_ of _OccultQualities_. 

Mr. _Addison_ proceeds, Were I to give my own Notions of HUMOUR, I should deliver them after _Plato's_ Manner, in a Kind of Allegory; and by supposing HUMOUR to be a Person, deduce to him, all his Qualifications, according to the following Genealogy: TRUTH was the Founder of the Family, and the Father of GOOD SENSE; GOOD SENSE was the Father of WIT, who married a Lady of a collateral Line called MIRTH, by whom he had Issue HUMOUR. --It is very unfortunate for this _Allegorical_ Description, thatthere is not one Word of it just: For TRUTH, GOOD SENSE, WIT, andMIRTH, represented to be the immediate _Ancestors_ of HUMOUR; whereasHUMOUR is derived from the _Foibles_, and whimsical _Oddities_of _Persons_ in real Life, which flow rather from their_Inconsistencies_, and _Weakness_, than from TRUTH and GOOD SENSE;Nor is WIT any _Ancestor_ of HUMOUR, but of a quite different_Family_; it being notorious that much HUMOUR may be drawn fromthe Manners of _Dutchmen_, and of the most formal and dull Persons, who are yet never guilty of WIT. Again, MIRTH is not so properlythe _Parent_ of HUMOUR, as the _Offspring_. --In short, this whole_Genealogy_ is a _nubilous_ Piece of Conceit, instead of being any_Elucidation_ of HUMOUR. It is a formal Method of trifling, introducedunder a deep Ostentation of Learning, which deserves the severestRebuke. --But I restrain my Pen, recollecting the _Visions_ of MIRZA, and heartily profess my high Veneration for their admirable Author. 

The _Essay_ upon HUMOUR, at the End of this Treatise, written byMr. _Congreve_, is next to be considered. It appears, that at firsthe professes his absolute Uncertainty in regard to this Subject; andsays, "_We cannot certainly tell what_ WIT _is, or what_ HUMOUR _is_. "But yet, through his whole Piece, he neglects the Subject of HUMOUR ingeneral, and only discourses upon the HUMOUR, by which he means barelythe _Disposition_, of Persons: This may particularly appear from thefollowing Words. 

 A Man may change his Opinion, but I believe he will find it a Difficulty to part with his HUMOUR; and there is nothing more provoking than the being made sensible of that Difficulty. Sometimes we shall meet with those, who perhaps indifferently enough, but at the same time impertinently, will ask the Question, WHY ARE YOU NOT MERRY? WHY ARE YOU NOT GAY, PLEASANT, AND CHEARFUL? Then instead of answering, could I ask such a Person, WHY ARE YOU NOT HANDSOME? WHY HAVE YOU NOT BLACK EYES, AND A BETTER COMPLEXION? Nature abhors to be forced. 

 The two famous Philosophers of _Ephesus_ and _Abdera_, have their different Sects at this Day. Some weep, and others laugh at one and the same Thing. 

 I don't doubt but you have observed several Men laugh when they are angry; others, who are silent; some that are loud; yet I cannot suppose that it is the Passion of ANGER, which is in itself different, or more or less in one than t'other, but that it is the HUMOUR of the Man that is predominant, and urges him to express it in that Manner. Demonstrations of PLEASURE, are as various: One Man has a HUMOUR of retiring from all Company, when any thing has happened to please him beyond Expectation; he hugs himself alone, and thinks it an Addition to the Pleasure to keep it a Secret, &c. 

All which, I apprehend, is no more than saying; That there are different_Dispositions_ in different _Persons_. 

In another Place, he seems to understand by _Humour_, not only the_Disposition, _ but the _Tone_ of the _Nerves_, of a Person, thus, "Suppose MOROSE to be a Man naturally splenetic, and melancholy; is there any thing more offensive to one of such a DISPOSITION (where he uses the Word instead of _Humour_) than Noise and Clamour? Let any Man that has the Spleen (and there are enough in England) be Judge. We see common Examples of this HUMOUR in little every Day. 'Tis ten to one, but three Parts in four of the Company you dine with, are discomposed, and started at the cutting of a Cork, or scratching of a Plate with a Knife; it is a Proportion of the same HUMOUR, that makes such, or any other Noise, offensive to the Person that hears it; for there are others who will not be disturbed at all by it. 

At this Rate every _Weakness_ of _Nerves_, or _Particularity_ of_Constitution, _ is HUMOUR. 

It is true, he justly points out in another Place the differentSentiments, which ought to be adapted to different _Characters_ in_Comedy_, according to their different _Dispositions_, or, as hephrases it, _Humours_: As for Instance, he very rightly observes, That a Character of a splenetic and peevish HUMOUR, Should have a satirical WIT. A jolly and sanguine HUMOUR should have a facetious WIT. --But still this is no Description of what is well felt, and known, bythe general Name of HUMOUR. 

However, as what I have already quoted, may appear to be only hislooser Explanations, it will be necessary to deliver his more closedand collected Sentiments upon this Subject. These he gives in thefollowing Words, I should be unwilling to venture, even in a bare _Description_ of _Humour_, much more to make a _Definition_ of it; but now my Hand is in, I will tell you what serves me instead of either. I take it to be, _A singular and unavoidable Manner of doing or saying any thing, peculiar and natural to one Man only, by which his Speech and Actions are distinguished from those of other Men. "--This Description is very little applicable to HUMOUR, but tolerablywell adapted to other Subjects. --Thus, a Person, who is happy in aparticular _Grace_, which accompanies all his Actions, may be said topossess _a singular and unavoidable Manner of doing or saying anything, peculiar and natural to him only, by which his Speech andActions are distinguished from those of other Men_. And the samemay be said of a Person of a peculiar _Vivacity_, _Heaviness_, or _Awkwardness_. --In short, this Description is suited to any_Particularity_ of a Person in general, instead of being adaptedto the _Foibles_ and _whimsical Oddities_ of Persons, which aloneconstitute HUMOUR. 

These are the only Pieces upon WIT, and HUMOUR, which have fallenwithin my Knowledge; I have here fairly delivered them at length;and from the Respect which is due to such eminent Writers, havedistinctly and deliberately examined the Merit of each. --As to myown _Performance_, which is now submitted to the Public, I have towish, that it may gain a candid and strict Examination. It has beenmy Endeavour to give _Definitions_ of the Subjects, upon which I havetreated; A _Plan_ the most difficult of all others to be executed byan Author; But such an one, as I apprehend, deserves to be moregenerally introduced, and established. If once it was expected by thePublic, that _Authors_ should strictly _define_ their Subjects, itwould instantly checque an Inundation of Scribbling. The _desultory_Manner of Writing would be absolutely exploded; and _Accuracy_ and_Precision_ would be necessarily introduced upon every Subject. 

This is the _Method_ pursued in Subjects of _Philosophy_; Withoutclear and precise _Definitions_ such noble Advances could never havebeen made in those Sciences; And it is by the Assistance of _these_only, that Subjects of _Polite Literature_, can ever be enlightenedand embellished with just Ornaments. If _Definitions_ had beenconstantly exacted from Authors there would not have appeared _onehundreth_ Part of the present Books, and yet every Subject had beenbetter ascertained. --Nor will this Method, as some may imagine, beencumbered with Stiffness; On the contrary, in _illustrating_ theTruth of _Definitions_ there is a full Scope of the utmost Genius, Imagination, and Spirit of a Writer; and a Work upon this _Plan_ isadorned with the highest Charms appearing with _Propriety_, _Clearness_, and _Conviction_, as well as Beauty. 

It is true, that the Difficulties, which attend an able Executionof this _Method_, are not open to a careless Eye; And it is someMortification to an _Author_ upon this _Plan_, that his greatest_Merit_ is likely to lie concealed; A _Definition, _ or _Distinction, _which after much Attention and Time he has happily delivered with_Brevity_ and _Clearness_, appearing hereby quite obvious, to others, and what they cannot imagine could require Pains to discover. 

As to the _Examples_, by which I have illustrated the _Definition_ of_Wit_, they are _common_ and _trite_; but are the best, which I couldfind upon deliberate Enquiry. Many Modern instances of _Wit_, whichleft very lively Impressions upon me, when I heard them, appearingupon Re-examination to be quite strained and defective. These, whichI have given, as they are thus _trite_, are not designed in themselvesfor any Entertainment to the Reader; but being various, and distantfrom each other, they very properly serve to explain the Truth, andExtent of the _Definition_. 

The Character of an HUMOURIST, I expect, will be strange to most ofmy Readers; and if no Gentleman is acquainted with a _Person_ of this_Cast_, it must pass for a _Monster_ of my own Creation;--As to theCharacter of Sir _John Falstaff_, it is chiefly extracted from_Shakespear_, in his 1st Part of King _Henry_ the _IVth_; But so faras _Sir John_ in _Shakspear's_ Description, sinks into a _Cheat_ or a_Scoundrel_, upon any Occasion, he is different from that _Falstaff_, who is designed in the following _Essay_, and is entirely an amiableCharacter. 

It is obvious, that the Appearance, which _Falstaff_ makes, in theunfinished Play of _The Merry Wives of Windsor_, is in general greatlybelow his true Character. His Imprisonment and Death in the latterPart of King _Henry_ the _IVth_, seem also to have been written by_Shakespear_ in Compliance with the _Austerity_ of the Times; and inorder to avoid the Imputation of encouraging _Idleness_ and mirthful_Riot_ by too amiable and happy an Example. 

The Criticism, which I have made, upon _Horace_'s Narrative of his_Adventure_ with an _Impertinent Fellow_, I offer with Respect; Andbeg leave to observe that the chief Part which I object to, is the_Propriety_ of his introducing himself in so _ridiculous a Plight_; --Dum sudor ad imos Manaret Talos;And Demitto Auriculas, ut iniquæ mentis Acellus Cum gravius dorso subiit onus. And other Representations of the same sort, seem to place _Horace_in a very mean and ludicrous Light; which it is probable he neverapprehended in the full Course of exposing his Companion;--Besides, the Conduct of his Adversary is in several Places, excessively, and, as it may be construed, _designedly_, insolent and contemptuous; andas no Merit or Importance belongs to this Person, there appears noReason why _Horace_ should endure such Treatment; or, if the other wastoo _powerful_ for him, it is not an _Adventure_ of _Honour_; or what_Horace_ should chuse to expose to the World in this manner, with allthe Particulars of his own despicable Distress. 

However, the _Mirth_ which results from this Narrative, as itnow stands, is perhaps rather the stronger at first, by the full_Ridicule_ which lies against _Horace_, and his Adversary;--But, uponReflection, there arises a Disgust, at the Impropriety of _Horace's_exposing his own _Meanness_, as well as at the nauseous _Impudence_of his Companion. 

As to _uncommon_ Words, if any such appear in this _Introduction_, or in the following _Essay_, I hope they want neither _Propriety_, _Clearness_, nor _Strength_;--And if the _Length_of this Piece to an_Essay_ so _short_ shall happen at first to _disturb_ any _Critic_, I beg leave to inform him, that all, which can be fairly collectedfrom it, is only, that it may have cost _me_ the more Trouble;--Butupon mentioning the _Length_ of this Piece, what behoves me the most, is, to return my Thanks to two _Gentlemen_, who suffered me to read tothem the whole, as it was gradually written; And by whose _judicious_and _friendly Instructions_ in the Course of it, my own _Imagination_was often prevented from running into _Riots_. 

However, I am far from imagining, that I have always been reducedwithin just Bounds; And now feel a sufficient Share of _Concern_ and_Anxiety_, for the _Fate_ of this Work;--Yet, I humbly apprehend, that_this_ must freely be allowed me, that I have not been a _Plagiary_;But have constantly delivered my own _original_ Sentiments, without_purloining_ or _disfiguring_ the Thoughts of others; An _Honesty_, which, I hope, is laudable in an _Author_; And as I have not _stolen_, neither have I _concealed_, the _Merit_ of other Writers. 

It will also be found, as I humbly apprehend, that I have never_shunned_ the Subject: I mention this particularly, because it isthe Practice of many eminent Writers, after much _curvetting_ and_prauncing_, suddenly to wheel, and retire, when they are expectedto make their most full Attack. --These Gentlemen, it is true, veryhappily avoid _Danger_, and advance and retreat in _excellent Order_:But, with their Leave, I must observe that they never do any_Execution_; For Subjects, which have not been surveyed, and laidopen, are like _fortified Places_; and it is the Business of a_Writer_, as well as of a _Soldier_, to make an Attack;--This has beenthe Conduct I have held in the following _Essay_; and however I maybe _shattered_ upon any Occasion, I hope it will appear (if I may beallowed the Expression) that I have fairly _charged_ the Subjects. 

Having offered these Circumstances in my Favour, I must franklyacknowledge, that I am not able to plead any _Hurry_ or _Precipitancy_in the publishing of this Work, in Excuse of its Errors; ThoughI clearly understand, that by making this Discovery, I absolutelydeprive myself of the most _genteel_ and _fashionable Screen_ now usedby Authors;--But I imagined, that it became me to spare no Labour orAttention upon a Work, which I should presume to offer to the World;Happening to esteem this _Care_ and _Concern_, a _Respect_ due to the_Public_, and the proper Species of _Humility_ and _Modesty_ in an_Author_. 

 * * * * *

 An ESSAY on Wit, Humour, Raillery, & c. 

 WIT is the LUSTRE resulting from the quick ELUCIDATION of one Subject, by a _just_ and unexpected ARRANGEMENT of it with another Subject. 

This _Definition_ of WIT will more clearly appear by a shortExplanation. 

It is the Province of WIT to _elucidate_, or _enlighten_ a Subject, not by reasoning upon that Subject, but by a just and unexpectedIntroduction of another _similar_, or _opposite_ Subject; whereby, upon their _Arrangement_ together, the _original_ Subject may be _setoff_, and more clearly _enlighten'd_, by their obvious Comparison. 

It may be proper, for the sake of Distinction, to call the Subject, which is the Basis and Ground-work, the _original_ Subject; and thatwhich is introduced, in order to _elucidate_ it, the _auxiliary_Subject. 

That there be always an apparent Chain or Connexion, or else anobvious Agreement or Contrast, between the two Subjects, is absolutelyrequir'd, in order that the _Auxiliary_ one may be _justly_introduced; otherwise, instead of WIT, there will only appeara rambling _Vivacity_, in wild, unprovoked Sallies. 

And yet _every just_ or _natural_ Introduction of an _auxiliary_Subject will not produce WIT, unless a new _Lustre_ is reflectedfrom thence upon the _original_ Subject. 

It is further to be observed, that the Introduction of the _auxiliary_Subject ought not only to be _just_, but also _unexpected_, which areentirely consistent together; For as every Subject bears variousRelations and Oppositions to other Subjects, it is evident that eachof these Relations and Oppositions upon being exhibited, will be_unexpected_ to the Persons, who did not perceive them before; andyet they are _just_ by Supposition. 

It is upon such _unexpected_ Introductions of _auxiliary_ Subjects, that we are struck with a _Surprize_; from whence the high_Brilliancy_ and _Sparkling_ of WIT, result. 

Whereas _Auxiliary_ Subjects, introduced upon such Occasions, as theyhave been frequently exhibited before, are apt to fall dull, and heavyupon the Fancy; and unless they possess great natural Spirit, willexcite no sprightly Sensation. 

It is also necessary to observe, that, in WIT, the Subjects concern'dmust be _ordinary_ and _level_; By which are intended, not such asare _common_, but such as have no _extraordinarily exalted_, or_enlarged_, Qualities; and are not _unsizeable_ in the particularCircumstances in which they are compared to each other;--otherwise itis easy to perceive, that the Result of their _Arrangement_ will notbe so properly WIT, as either the SUBLIME, or BURLESQUE. 

To all this is to be added, that either _Gallantry, Raillery_, _Humour_, _Satire_, _Ridicule_, _Sarcasms_, or other Subjects, aregenerally blended with WIT; It has been for want of this Discovery, and of a proper Separation of these Subjects, that the Attempts whichhave hitherto been made to _define_ WIT, have been all involv'd andoverwhelm'd in Perplexity; For the different Mixtures of these foreignIngredients with WIT, have discover'd such various and opposite_Colours_ and _Substances_, as were impossible to be comprehended inone certain steady _Definition_;--Whereas _pure_ WIT alone, constantlyappears in _one uniform_ Manner; which is, _In the _quick Elucidation_of one Subject, by _unexpectedly_ exhibiting its _Agreement_ or_Contrast_ with another Subject_. 

It is proper in this Place, to distinguish between WIT, SIMILES, and METAPHORS. SIMILES, though they _illustrate_ one Subject, by_arranging_ it with another Subject, are yet different from WIT, as they want its _sudden_ and _quick Elucidation_. 

Again; In WIT, the _Elucidation_ is thrown only upon _one_ Point of aSubject; or if more Points be _elucidated_, they are so many differentStrokes of WIT;--Whereas every SIMILE touches the Subject it_illustrates_ in _several Points_. 

It is from hence, that the _Elucidation_, as before mention'd, arisingfrom a SIMILE, is _slower_ than from WIT; But then is is generallymore _accurate_ and _compleat_;--In short, WIT, from its _Quickness_, exhibits more _Brilliancy_, But SIMILES possess greater _Perfection_. 

 A METAPHOR, is the _Arrayment_ of one Subject, with the _Dress_, or _Colour_, or any _Attributes_, of another Subject. 

In WIT, the two Subjects are suddenly confronted with each other, and upon their joint View, the _original_ one is _elucidated_ by theobvious _Agreement_ or _Contrast_ of the _auxiliary_ Subject. 

But METAPHOR goes further, and not content with _arranging_ the twoSubjects together, and exhibiting from thence their _Agreement_ or_Contrast_, it actually snatches the Properties of the _auxiliary_one, and fits them at once upon the _original_ Subject. 

It is evident from hence, that there may be WIT without any METAPHOR;But in every just METAPHOR there is WIT; The _Agreement_ of the twoSubjects being in a METAPHOR more strictly and sensibly presented. 

There is also this Difference between WIT and METAPHOR, that in WITthe _original_ Subject is _enlighten'd_, without altering its _Dress_;whereas in METAPHOR the _original_ Subject is cloathed in a _newDress_, and struts forwards at once with a different _Air_, and withstrange _unexpected Ornaments_. 

It is from hence, that by METAPHOR a more masculine Air and Vigour isgiven to a Subject, than by WIT; But it too often happens, that theMETAPHOR is carried so far, as instead of _elucidating_, to obscureand disfigure, the _original_ Subject. 

To exhibit some Examples of WIT. 

1. 

_Henry_ the IVth of _France_, intimating to the _Spanish_ Ambassadorthe Rapidity, with which he was able to over-run _Italy_, told him, that _if once he mounted on Horseback, he should breakfast at_ Milan, _and dine at_ Naples; To which the Ambassador added, _Since yourMajesty travels at this rate, you may be at Vespers in_ Sicily. 

The Introduction of the _Vespers_ at SICILY is here _natural_, andeasy; as it seems only to be carrying on his Majesty's Journey at thesame rate, and to compleat the Progress of the Day; But it ushers atonce into View the _Destruction_ of the _French_ upon a _similar_Occasion, when they formerly over-ran SICILY, and were all massacredthere at the ringing of the Bell for _Vespers_;--The suddenIntroduction and _Arrangement_ of this Catastrophe, with theExpedition then threaten'd, sets the Issue of such a Conquest ina new _Light_; And very happily exhibits and _elucidates_ the Resultof such vain and restless Adventures. 

It may be observed, that the _quick_ Introduction and _Arrangement_of any former Conquest of _Italy_ by the _French_, with the Expeditionthen threaten'd, would have exhibited WIT; whatever the Issue had beenof such former Conquest; But in this Instance, there sits couchedunder the WIT, a very _severe Rebuke_ upon the _French_ Monarch. 

2. 

_Alexander_ the VIth was very busily questioning the Ambassador of_Venice_, Of whom his Masters held their Customs and Prerogatives ofthe Sea? To which the Ambassador readily answer'd; _If your_ HOLINESS_will only please to examine your Charter of St. _ PETER's _Patrimony, you will find upon the Back of it, the Grant made to the_ VENETIANS_of the_ ADRIATIC. 

The Authority of the _Grant_ to the _Venetians_ is in this Instancethe _original_ Subject, which is thus suddenly _elucidated_ to the_Pope_, by _arranging_, and connecting it with the holy _Charter_ ofSt. _Peter_'s Patrimony; There is a peculiar Happiness in the Addressof this Answer to the _Pope_, as he was obliged to receive it as asatisfactory Account of the Truth of the _Grant_, and a clear_Elucidation_ of its sacred Authority. 

In this Instance, besides the WIT which shines forth, the _Pope_ isseverely expos'd to your _Raillery_, from the Scrape into which he hasbrought the _Charter_ of St. _Peter's_ Patrimony, by his Attack of the_Ambassador_; The _fictitious_ Existence of both the _Charter_ and_Grant_ being sarcastically pointed out, under this respectable Airof _Authenticity_. 

3. 

Upon the Restoration Mr. _Waller_ presented a congratulatory Copy ofVerses to King _Charles_; His Majesty, after reading them, said, --_Mr_. Waller, _these are very good, but not so fine as you made uponthe_ PROTECTOR. --To which Mr. _Waller_ return'd, --_Your Majesty willplease to recollect, that we Poets always write best upon_ FICTIONS. 

The _original_ Subject in this Instance is _the superior Excellence ofMr_. WALLER's _Verses upon_ Cromwell; This he most happily excuses, bystarting at once, and _arranging_ along with them, the Remark, that_Poets have always excell'd upon Fiction_; whereby he unexpectedlyexhibits his _more excellent_ Verses to _Cromwell_, as a plain_Elucidation_ of the _fictitious_ Glory of the Protector; Andintimates at the same time, that the _Inferiority_ of his presentPerformance was a natural _Illustration_ of his Majesty's _real_Glory;--Never was a deep Reproach averted by a more happy Reply; whichcomprehends both the highest Compliment to his Majesty, and a veryfirm poetical Excuse of the different Performances. 

4. 

_Leonidas_ the _Spartan_ General, when he advanced near the _Persian_Army, was told by one of his own Captains, that _their Enemies were sonumerous, it was impossible to see the Sun for the Multitude of theirArrows_; To which he gallantly reply'd, _We shall then have thePleasure of fighting in the Shade_. 

The vast Cope of _Persian_ Arrows is here the _original_ Subject;which instead of being observed by _Leonidas_ with Terror, presentsto his Fancy the pleasant Idea of a cool _Canopy_. There is an_Agreement_ and Affinity between the two Objects, in regard to the_Shelter from the Sun_, which is at once obvious, and _unexpected_;And the Cloud of the Enemies Arrows is thus gaily _elucidated_, by the_Arrangement_ and Comparison of it with so desirable an Object as_shady Covering_. 

This Saying of the _Spartan_ General has been handed through many Agesto the present Time; But the chief Part of the Pleasure it gives us, results not so much from the WIT it contains, as from the _Gallantry_, and _chearful Spirit_, discover'd in Danger, by _Leonidas_. 

5. 

An Instance of WIT in the _Opposition_, I remember to have readsomewhere in the _Spectators_; where Sir _Roger de Coverley_intimating the Splendor which the perverse Widow should have appear'din, if she had commenced Lady _Coverley_, says:

_That he would have given her a_ Coalpit _to have kept her in_ cleanLinnen: _And that her Finger should have_ sparkled _with one hundredof his richest_ Acres. 

The joint Introduction of these _opposite_ Objects, as a _Coalpit_with _clean Linnen_, and _dirty Acres_ with the _Lustre_ of a _Jewel_, is _just_ in this Instance, as they really produce each other in theirConsequences; The _natural Opposition_ between them, which is strongly_elucidated_ by their _Arrangement_ together, and at the same timetheir _unexpected Connexion_ in their Consequences, strike us with a_Surprize_, which exhibits the _Brilliancy_ and _Sparkling_ of WIT. 

There is also in this Instance, besides the WIT, a Spirit of_Generosity_, and _Magnificence_, discover'd by Sir _Roger_, fromthe known Value of a _Coalpit_, and of so many rich _Acres_. 

This Kind of WIT, resulting from the sudden _Arrangement_ together oftwo _opposite_ Objects, is rarer, than that which is obtained fromtwo _similar_ Objects; It abounds with a high _Surprize_, and_Brilliancy_; and also strongly _elucidates_ the _original_ Object, from the _Contrast_ presented between _this_, and the _auxiliary_ one;In the same manner as _White_ is more clearly set _off_, by beingarranged with _Black_. 

It may be proper to observe, that WIT, besides being struck out by_just_, and _direct_ Introductions of _auxiliary_ Subjects, is alsosometimes obtain'd by _Transitions_ from one Subject to another, bythe Help of an _equivocal Word_; which like a _Bridge_, with twoRoads meeting at the End of it, leads to two different Places. _Transitions_, thus made from the right Course, have indeed thePretence of being _natural_; but they ought always to lead usto something _brilliant_ or poignant, in order to justify their_Deviation_; and not to end only at a ridiculous PUN, void of allSpirit and Poignancy. 

The WIT, in such Instances, results, as in all others, from the quick_Arrangement_ together of two Subjects; But that, which was firstintended for the _original_ one, is dropped; And a new _original_Subject is started, through the _double Meaning_ of a Word, andsuddenly _enlighten'd_. 

To give a _trite_ Instance of this kind of WIT. 

A PEER coming out of the House of Lords, and wanting his Servant, called out, _Where's my Fellow?_ To which another PEER, who stood byhim, returned, _Faith, my Lord, not in_ England. 

A Transition is here unexpededly made from the Sense intended in theQuestion to another Point, through the double Meaning of the word_Fellow_; it being obvious, that his Lordship's _Servant_ is theSense of the Word in the Question; and what Person is _like_ to hisLordship, the Construction put upon it in the Answer: Thus a new_original_ Subject is started, and being suddenly _arranged_ with allthat appear _similar_ to it, is _enlighten'd_ thereby, being found tohave no _equal_ in _England_. 

However, though WIT may be _thus_ struck out, and also appears in the_Contrast_ with great _Brilliancy_, yet the highest and most perfectInstances of it result from the sudden and _direct Arrangement_together of two Objects, which hold a perspicuous and splendid_Agreement_ with each other; It is then adorn'd with the Charms of_Propriety_, _Clearness_ and _Illustration_; It dispels the Darknessaround an Object, and presents it diftinctly and perfectly to ourView; chearing us with its _Lustre_, and at the same time informing uswith its _Light_. 

Thus, a Gentleman was observing, that _there was_ somewhat _extremelypleasing in an excellent_ Understanding, _when it appeared in abeautiful_ Person; To which another returned, _It is like a fine_Jewel _well set_; You are here pleased with the Happiness, Propriety, and Splendor of this _new_ Object, which finely _elucidates_ theoriginal Sentiment;--In short, it is the Excellence of WIT, _topresent the_ first Image _again to your mind, with new unexpected_Clearness _and_ Advantage. 

It is also proper to add, that there may be WIT in a _Picture_, _Landscape_, or in any _Prospect_, where a gay unexpected _Assemblage_of _similar_, or _opposite_ Objects, is presented. 

 JUDGMENT, is the Faculty of discerning the various _Dimensions_, and _Differences_, of Subjects. 

 INVENTION is the Faculty of finding out new _Assortments_, and _Combinations_, of _Ideas_. 

 HUMOUR is any _whimsical Oddity_ or _Foible_, appearing in the _Temper_ or _Conduct_ of a _Person_ in _real Life_. 

This _whimsical Oddity_ of Conduct, which generally arises from thestrange _Cast_, or _Turn_ of Mind of a _queer_ Person, may also resultfrom _accidental_ Mistakes and Embarrassments between other Persons;who being misled by a wrong Information and Suspicion in regard to aCircumstance, shall act towards each other upon this Occasion, in thesame _odd whimsical_ manner, as _queer_ Persons. 

If a _Person_ in real Life, discovers any odd and remarkable_Features_ of Temper or Conduct, I call such a Person in the _Book_of _Mankind_, a _Character_. So that the chief Subjects of HUMOUR arePersons in real Life, who are _Characters_. 

It is easy to be perceived, that HUMOUR, and WIT are extremelydifferent. 

HUMOUR appears only in the _Foibles_ and _whimsical Conduct_ of_Persons_ in real Life; WIT appears in _Comparisons_, either between_Persons_ in real Life, or between _other Subjects_. 

HUMOUR is the _whimsical Oddity_, or _Foible_, which fairly appears inits Subject, of itself; whereas WIT, is the _Lustre_ which is thrown upon_one_ Subject, by the _sudden Introduction_ of another Subject. 

To constitute HUMOUR, there need be no more than _one_ Objectconcern'd, and this must be always some _Person_ in _real Life_;--whereas to produce WIT, there must be always _two_ Objects _arranged_together, and either or both of these may be _inanimate_. 

However, though HUMOUR and WIT are thus absolutely different inthemselves, yet we frequently see them blended together. 

Thus if any _Foible_ of a _Character_ in real Life is _directly_attacked, by pointing out the unexpected and ridiculous _Affinity_ itbears to some _inanimate_ Circumstances, this Foible is then ridiculedwith WIT, from the _Comparison_ which is made. --At the same time, asthe _whimsical Oddity_ of a _Character_ in real Life is the _Ground_of the whole, there is also _Humour_ contain'd in the Attack. 

If instead of referring the _Foible_ of a Person to any _inanimate_Circumstance, the _Allusion_ had been made to any other ridiculous_Person_ in _real Life_; As a _conceited Fellow_, perpetuallyrecommending his own Whims, to a _Quack-Doctor_;--This _Foible_will then be ridiculed with HUMOUR; which is likewise the original_Ground_: At the same Time, from the _Comparison_ which is made, thereis apparently WIT in the Description. 

So that where-ever the _Foible_ of a _Character_ in real Life isconcern'd, there HUMOUR comes in; and wherever a sprightly unexpected_Arrangement_ is presented of two _similar_, or _opposite_ Subjects, whether animate or inanimate, there WIT is exhibited. 

HUMOUR and WIT, as they may thus both be united in the same Subject, may also separately appear without the least Mixture together; thatis, there may be HUMOUR without WIT, and WIT without HUMOUR. 

Thus, if in order to expose the _Foible_ of a _Character_, a _realPerson_ is introduc'd, abounding in this _Foible_, gravely persistingin it, and valuing himself upon the Merit of it, with great Self-sufficiency, and Disdain of others; this _Foible_ is then solelyridiculed with HUMOUR. 

Again, if a gay unexpected _Allusion_ is made from one _inanimate_Object to another, or from one _Person_ in _real_ Life to another, without any Reference to their whimsical _Oddities_ or _Foibles_;there WIT only appears. --Various Instances of which, independent ofHUMOUR, have been already exhibited. 

A _Man_ of WIT is he, who is happy in _elucidating_ any Subject, _by a just and unexpected Arrangement_ and _Comparison_ of it with another Subject. 

It may be also proper to describe a _Man_ of HUMOUR, and an HUMOURIST, which are very different Persons. 

A _Man_ of HUMOUR is one, who can happily exhibit a weak and ridiculous _Character_ in real Life, either by assuming it himself, or representing another in it, so naturally, that the _whimsical Oddities, _ and _Foibles, _ of that _Character, _ shall be palpably expos'd. 

Whereas an HUMOURIST is a _Person_ in real Life, obstinately attached to sensible peculiar _Oddities_ of his own genuine Growth, which appear in his Temper and Conduct. 

In short, a _Man_ of _Humour_ is one, who can happily exhibit andexpose the Oddities and Foibles of an _Humourist_, or of other_Characters_. 

The _Features_ of an HUMOURIST being very remarkable and singular, seem justly to deserve an explicit Description. It is then to beobserv'd, that an _Humourist_, at the same time that he is guided inhis Manners and Actions by his own genuine original Fancy and Temper, disdains all _Ostentation_; excepting that alone of his _Freedom_ and_Independency_, which he is forward of shewing upon every Occasion, without Ceremony; he is quite superior to the _Affectation_ of aVirtue or Accomplishment, which he thinks does not belong to him;scorns all _Imitation_ of others; and contemns the rest of the Worldfor being servilely obedient to Forms and Customs; disclaiming allsuch Submission himself, and regulating his Conduct in general by hisown _Conviction_, The _Humourist_ is forward upon many Occasions to deliver his Opinion, in a peremptory Manner, and before he is desir'd; but he gives itsincerely, unbiass'd by _Fear_ or _Regard_, and then leaves it to thePersons concern'd to determine for themselves; For he is more pleas'din the Bottom to find his Opinion _slighted_, and to see the Conductof others agreeable to that System of Folly and Weakness, which he hasestablished with himself, to be the Course of their Actions. --To viewa rational Conduct, even in pursuance of his own Advice, would greatlydisappoint him; and be a Contradiction to this _System_ he has laiddown;--Besides it would deprive him of an Occasion of gratifying hisSpleen, with the Contempt of that Folly, which he esteems to benatural to the rest of Mankind; For he considers himself in the World, like a _sober_ Person in the Company of Men, who are _drunken_ or_mad_; He may advise them to be calm, and to avoid hurting themselves, but he does not expect they will regard his Advice; On thecontrary, he is more pleas'd with observing their _Freaks_ and_Extravagancies_. --It is from hence that he discourages anddepreciates all who pretend to _Discretion_; Persons of this Tempernot yielding him Sport or Diversion. 

It is certain that the _Humourist_ is excessively _proud_, and yetwithout knowing or suspecting it. For from the Liberty which hefrankly allows to others, of rejecting his Opinion, he is fullypersuaded, that he is free from all _Pride_; But tho' he acts in thisCircumstance without over-bearing, it has already appear'd, not to bethe Effect of his _Humility_, but of a different Motive; a Pleasurewhich he takes in observing the Extravagancies of others, ratherthan their Discretion. But to demonstrate his _Pride_, besides theperemptory Manner in which he delivers his Opinion, and conductshimself upon every Occasion, without any Deference to others, there isthis Circumstance against him; that he is the most stung by a Defeat, upon any Topic, of all Men living; And although he disregardsAccusations of Roughness and Oddity, and rather esteems them tobe meritorious; yet he will never admit, that he has been fairlyoverthrown in a Debate. 

It is odd to observe how the _Humourist_ is affected by _contemptuous_Treatment. An Insult of this Sort, which justly excites the_Resentment_ of others, _terrifies_ him: It sets him upon _suspecting_himself, and upon doubting whether he be really that Person ofsuperior Sense to the rest of the World, which he has long fancied. The Apprehension, that he actually deserves the Contempt which is putupon him, and that he is no more than one of the common Herd, almostdistracts him; And instead of violently depreciating, or attackingagain, the Person who has contemn'd him, he will incessantly court hisFavour and good Opinion, as a Cordial he wants, though without seemingto do so. This is a very extraordinary Weakness, and such as the_Humourist_ would be infinitely uneasy to find ever observ'd. 

The _Humourist_, though he quickly espies, and contemns the_Contradictions_ of others, is yet wilfully attach'd to severalhimself, which he will sometimes persue through a long Course of hisown Mortification. --It may be often observ'd, that he will avoid theCompany he likes, for fear they should think he needs their Support. --At the same time, if he happens to fall into Company, which he talliesnot with, instead of avoiding this Company, he will continually hauntthem: For he is anxious, lest any Imputation of a Defeat should standout against him, and extremely sollicitous to wipe it away; Besides, he cannot endure it should be thought that he is driven from the Pit. --Thus, in the first Instance, his _Pride_ shall persuade him toneglect the Company he likes; and shall force him, in the last, tofollow the Company he hates and despises. 

It is also observable that the _Humourist_, though he makes it hisPoint to regulate his Conduct only by his own Conviction, willsometimes run counter to it, merely from his Disdain of all_Imitation_. Thus he will persist in a wrong Course, which he knowsto be such, and refuse his Compliance with an Amendment offer'd byothers, rather than endure the Appearance of being an _Imitator_. Thisis a _narrow_ Side of the _Humourist_; and whenever he is turn'd uponit, he feels great Uneasiness himself. It strikes a durable Paininto his Breast, like the constant gnawing of a Worm; and is oneconsiderable Source of that Stream of Peevishnesss incident to_Humourists_. 

Upon the same Principle of scorning all _Imitation_, the _Humourist_seldom heartily assents to any speculative Opinion, which is deliver'dby another; for he is above being inform'd or set right in hisJudgment by any Person, even by a Brother _Humourist_. If two of this_Cast_ happen to meet, instead of uniting together, they are afraid ofeach other; and you shall observe _one_, in order to court the goodOpinion of the _other_, produce a Specimen of his own Perfection as an_Humourist_; by exhibiting some unusual Strain of _sensible Oddity_, or by unexpectedly biting a poor _Insipid_; which the other_Humourist_ shall answer again in the same manner, in order todisplay _his_ Talents. 

These are the _Foibles_ and _narrow_ Whims of a perfect _Humourist_. But, on the other hand, he stands upon a very enlarged Basis; Is aLover of Reason and Liberty; and scorns to flatter or betray; nor willhe falsify his Principles, to court the Favour of the Great. He is notcredulous, or fond of Religious or Philosophical Creeds or Creed-makers; But then he never offers himself to forge Articles of Faithfor the rest of the World. Abounding in poignant and just Reflections;The Guardian of Freedom, and Scourge of such as do wrong. It is _He_checks the Frauds, and curbs the Usurpations of every Profession. Thevenal Biass of the assuming Judge, the cruel Pride of the starch'dPriest, the empty Froth of the florid Counsellor, the false Importanceof the formal Man of Business, the specious Jargon of the gravePhysician, and the creeping Taste of the trifling Connoisseur, are allbare to his Eye, and feel the Lash of his Censure; It is _He_ thatwatches the daring Strides, and secret Mines of the ambitious Prince, and desperate Minister: _He_ gives the Alarm, and prevents theirMischief. Others there are who have Sense and Foresight; but _they_are brib'd by Hopes or Fears, or bound by softer Ties; It is _He_only, the _Humourist_, that has the Courage and Honesty to cry out, unmov'd by personal Resentment: He flourishes only in a Land of_Freedom_, and when _that_ ceases he dies too, the last and noblest_Weed_ of the Soil of _Liberty_. 

It is a palpable _Absurdity_ to suppose a Person an _Humourist_, without excellent Sense and Abilities; as much as to suppose a _Smith_in his full Business, without his _Hammers_ or _Forge_. --But the_Humourist_, as he advances in Years, is apt to grow intolerable tohimself and the World; becoming at length, uneasy, and fatigued withthe constant View of the same Follies; like a Person who is tir'dwith seeing the same Tragi-Comedy continually acted. This sowres hisTemper; And unless some favorable Incidents happen to mellow him, heresigns himself wholly to Peevishness. --By which Time he perceivesthat the World is quite tir'd of _him_. --After which he drags on theRemainder of his Life, in a State of _War_ with the rest of Mankind. 

The _Humourist_ is constitutionally, and also from Reflection, a Manof _Sincerity_. --If he is a _Rogue_ upon any Occasion, he is morewilfully one, and puts greater Violence upon himself in being such, than the rest of the World; And though he may generally seem to havelittle _Benevolence_, which is the common Objection against him, it is only for want of proper Objects; for no Person has certainlya quicker _Feeling_; And there are Instances frequent, of greaterGenerosity and humane Warmth flowing from an _Humourist_, than arecapable of proceeding from a weak _Insipid_, who labours under acontinual Flux of Civility. 

Upon the whole, the _Humourist_ is perhaps the least of all others, a _despicable_ Character. But Imitations, which are frequently seenof this Character, are excessively despicable. --What can be moreridiculous, than a Wretch setting up for an _Humourist_, merely uponthe Strength of disrelishing every Thing, without any Principle;--TheServants, Drawers, Victuals, Weather, --and growling without Poignancyof Sense, at every new Circumstance which appears, in public orprivate. A perfect and compleat _Humourist_ is rarely to be found;and when you hear his _Voice_, is a different Creature. --In writing to_Englishmen_, who are generally tinged, deeply or slightly, with the_Dye_ of the _Humourist_, it seem'd not improper to insist the longerupon this Character; However, let none be too fond of it; For thoughan _Humourist_ with his Roughness is greatly to be preferr'd to asmooth _Insipid_, yet the Extremes of both are equally wretched:_Ideots_ being only the lowest Scale of _Insipids_, as _Madmen_ are noother than _Humourists_ in Excess. 

It may be proper to observe in this place, that though all_Ostentation_, _Affectation_, and _Imitation_ are excluded from theComposition of a perfect _Humourist_; yet as they are the obvious_Foibles_ of some Persons in Life, they may justly be made the Subjectof _Humour_. 

For HUMOUR extensively and fully understood, is _any remarkable_Oddity _or_ Foible _belonging to a_ Person _in_ real Life; _whetherthis_ Foible _be constitutional, habitual_, or _only affected; whetherpartial in one or two Circumstances; or tinging the whole Temper andConduct of the_ Person. 

It has from hence been observ'd, that there is more HUMOUR in the_English_ Comedies than in others; as we have more various odd_Characters_ in real Life, than any other Nation, or perhaps thanall other Nations together. 

That HUMOUR gives more Delight, and leaves a more pleasurableImpression behind it, than WIT, is universally felt and established;Though the Reasons for this have not yet been assign'd. --I shalltherefore beg Leave to submit the following. 

1. HUMOUR is more _interesting_ than WIT in general, as the _Oddities_and _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_ are more apt to affect ourPassions, than any Oppositions or Relations between _inanimate_Objects. 

2. HUMOUR is _Nature_, or what really appears in the Subject, withoutany Embellishments; WIT only a Stroke of _Art_, where the originalSubject, being insufficient of itself, is garnished and deck'd withauxiliary Objects. 

3. HUMOUR, or the Foible of a _Character_ in real Life, is usuallyinsisted upon for some Length of Time. From whence, and from thecommon Knowledge of the Character, it is universally felt andunderstood. --Whereas the Strokes of WIT are like sudden _Flashes_, vanishing in an Instant, and usually flying too fast to besufficiently marked and pursued by the Audience. 

4. HUMOUR, if the Representation of it be just, is compleat andperfect in its Kind, and entirely fair and unstrain'd. --Whereas in theAllusions of WIT, the Affinity is generally imperfect and defective inone Part or other; and even in those Points where the Affinity may beallow'd to subsist, some Nicety and Strain is usually requir'd to makeit appear. 

5. HUMOUR generally appears in such Foibles, as each of the Companythinks himself superior to. --Whereas WIT shews the Quickness andAbilities of the Person who discovers it, and places him superiorto the rest of the Company. 

6. Humour, in the Representation of the _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in_real Life_, frequently exhibits very _generous benevolent_ Sentimentsof the Heart; And these, tho' exerted in a particular odd Manner, justly command our Fondness and Love. --Whereas in the Allusions of WIT, _Severity_, _Bitterness_, and _Satire_, are frequently exhibited. --Andwhere these are avoided, not worthy amiable Sentiments of the _Heart_, but quick unexpected Efforts of the _Fancy_, are presented. 

7. The odd Adventures, and Embarrassments, which _Persons_ in _realLife_ are drawn into by their _Foibles_, are fit Subjects of _Mirth_. --Whereas in pure WIT, the Allusions are rather _surprizing_, than_mirthful_; and the _Agreements_ or _Contrasts_ which are startedbetween Objects, without any relation to the _Foibles_ of _Persons_in real Life, are more fit to be _admired_ for their _Happiness_ and_Propriety_, than to excite our _Laughter_. --Besides, WIT, in thefrequent Repetition of it, tires the Imagination with its precipitateSallies and Flights; and teizes the Judgment. --Whereas HUMOUR, in theRepresentation of it, puts no Fatigue upon the _Imagination_, andgives exquisite Pleasure to the _Judgment_. 

These seem to me to be the different Powers and Effects of HUMOUR andWIT. However, the most agreeable Representations or Competitions ofall others, appear not where they _separately_ exist, but where theyare _united_ together in the same Fabric; where HUMOUR is the _Ground-work_ and chief Substance, and WIT happily spread, _quickens_ thewhole with Embellishments. 

This is the Excellency of the _Character_ of Sir _John Falstaff_;the _Ground-work_ is _Humour_, the Representation and Detection ofa bragging and vaunting _Coward_ in _real Life_; However, this alonewould only have expos'd the _Knight_, as a meer _Noll Bluff_, to theDerision of the Company; And after they had once been gratify'd withhis Chastisement, he would have sunk into Infamy, and become quiteodious and intolerable: But here the inimitable _Wit_ of Sir _John_comes in to his Support, and gives a new _Rise_ and _Lustre_ to hisCharacter; For the sake of his _Wit_ you forgive his _Cowardice_; orrather, are fond of his _Cowardice_ for the Occasions it gives to his_Wit_. In short, the _Humour_ furnishes a Subject and Spur to the_Wit_, and the _Wit_ again supports and embellishes the _Humour_. 

At the _first_ Entrance of the _Knight_, your good Humour and Tendencyto _Mirth_ are irresistibly excited by his jolly Appearance andCorpulency; you feel and acknowledge him, to be the fittest Subjectimaginable for yielding _Diversion_ and _Merriment_; but when yousee him immediately set up for _Enterprize_ and _Activity_, with hisevident _Weight_ and _Unweildiness_, your Attention is all call'dforth, and you are eager to watch him to the End of his Adventures;Your Imagination pointing out with a full Scope his futureEmbarrassments. All the while as you accompany him forwards, he_heightens_ your Relish for his future Disasters, by his happy Opinionof his own Sufficiency, and the gay Vaunts which he makes of hisTalents and Accomplishments; so that at last when he falls into aScrape, your Expectation is exquisitely gratify'd, and you have thefull Pleasure of seeing all his trumpeted Honour laid in the Dust. When in the midst of his Misfortunes, instead of being utterlydemolish'd and sunk, he rises again by the superior Force of his_Wit_, and begins a _new_ Course with fresh Spirit and Alacrity;This excites you the more to _renew_ the Chace, in full View of his_second_ Defeat; out of which he recovers again, and triumphs withnew Pretensions and Boastings. After this he immediately starts upona _third_ Race, and so on; continually detected and caught, andyet constantly extricating himself by his inimitable _Wit_ and_Invention_; thus yielding a perpetual _Round_ of Sport and Diversion. 

Again, the genteel _Quality_ of Sir _John_ is of great Use insupporting his Character; It prevents his _sinking_ too low afterseveral of his Misfortunes; Besides, you allow him, in consequence ofhis _Rank_ and _Seniority_, the Privilege to dictate, and take theLead, and to rebuke others upon many Occasions; By this he is sav'dfrom appearing too _nauseous_ and _impudent_. The good _Sense_which he possesses comes also to his Aid, and saves him from being_despicable_, by forcing your Esteem for his real Abilities. --Again, the _Privilege_ you allow him of rebuking and checking others, when heassumes it with proper Firmness and Superiority, helps to _settle_anew, and _compose_ his Character after an Embarrassment; And reducesin some measure the _Spirit_ of the Company to a proper _Level_, before he sets out again upon a fresh Adventure;--without this, theywould be kept continually _strain'd_, and _wound up_ to the highestPitch, without sufficient Relief and Diversity. 

It may also deserve to be remark'd of _Falstaff_, that the _Figure_of his _Person_ is admirably suited to the _Turn_ of his _Mind_; sothat there arises before you a perpetual _Allusion_ from one to theother, which forms an incessant Series of _Wit_, whether they are in_Contrast_ or _Agreement_ together. --When he pretends to _Activity_, there is _Wit_ in the _Contrast_ between his _Mind_ and his _Person_, --And _Wit_ in their _Agreement_, when he triumphs in _Jollity_. 

To compleat the whole, --you have in this Character of _Falstaff_, not only a free Course of _Humour_, supported and embellish'd withadmirable _Wit_; but this _Humour_ is of a Species the most _jovial_and _gay_ in all Nature. --Sir _Jobn Falstaff_ possesses Generosity, Chearfulness, Alacrity, Invention, Frolic and Fancy superior to allother Men;--The _Figure_ of his _Person_ is the Picture of Jollity, Mirth, and Good-nature, and banishes at once all other Ideas from yourBreast; He is happy himself, and makes you happy. --If you examine himfurther, he has no Fierceness, Reserve, Malice or Peevishness lurkingin his Heart; His Intentions are all pointed at innocent Riot andMerriment; Nor has the Knight any inveterate Design, except against_Sack_, and that too he _loves_. --If, besides this, he desires topass for a Man of _Activity_ and _Valour_, you can easily excuse soharmless a _Foible_, which yields you the highest Pleasure in itsconstant _Detection_. 

If you put all these together, it is impossible to _hate_ honest_Jack Falstaff_; If you observe them again, it is impossible to avoid_loving_ him; He is the gay, the witty, the frolicksome, happy, andfat _Jack Falstaff_, the most delightful _Swaggerer_ in all Nature. --You must _love_ him for your _own_ sake, --At the same time you cannotbut _love_ him for _his own_ Talents; And when you have _enjoy'd_them, you cannot but _love_ him in _Gratitude_;--He has nothing todisgust you, and every thing to give you Joy;--His _Sense_ and his_Foibles_ are equally directed to advance your Pleasure; And it isimpossible to be tired or unhappy in his Company. 

This _jovial_ and _gay_ Humour, without any thing _envious_, _malicious_, _mischievous_, or _despicable_, and continually_quicken'd_ and adorn'd with _Wit_, yields that peculiar Delight, without any _Alloy_, which we all feel and acknowledge in _Falstaff's_Company. --_Ben Johnson_ has _Humour_ in his _Characters_, drawn withthe most masterly Skill and Judgment; In Accuracy, Depth, Propriety, and Truth, he has no _Superior_ or _Equal_ amongst _Ancients_ or_Moderns_; But the _Characters_ he exhibits are of _satirical_, and_deceitful_, or of a _peevish_ or _despicable_ Species; as _Volpone_, _Subtle_, _Morose_, and _Abel Drugger_; In all of which there issomething very justly to be _hated_ or _despised_; And you feelthe same Sentiments of _Dislike_ for every other _Character_ of_Johnson_'s; so that after you have been _gratify'd_ with their_Detention_ and _Punishment_, you are quite tired and disgusted withtheir Company:--Whereas _Shakespear_, besides the peculiar _Gaiety_ inthe _Humour_ of _Falstaff_, has guarded him from disgusting you withhis _forward Advances_, by giving him _Rank_ and _Quality_; from being_despicable_ by his real good _Sense_ and excellent _Abilities_; frombeing _odious_ by his _harmless Plots_ and _Designs_; and from being_tiresome_ by his inimitable Wit, and his new and incessant _Sallies_of highest _Fancy_ and _Frolick_. 

This discovers the _Secret_ of carrying COMEDY to the highest Pitch ofDelight; Which lies in drawing the Persons exhibited, with such chearful and amiable _Oddities_ and _Foibles_, as you would chuse in your own _Companions_ in _real Life;--otherwise, tho' you may be diverted at first with the _Novelty_ of aCharacter, and with a proper _Detection_ and _Ridicule_ of it, yet its_Peevishness_, _Meanness_, or _Immorality_, will begin to disgust youafter a little Reflection, and become soon _tiresome_ and _odious_; Itbeing certain, that whoever cannot be endured as an _accidental_ Companion in _real Life_, will never become, for the very same Reasons, a _favorite comic Character_ in the Theatre. 

This _Relish_ for _generous_ and _worthy_ Characters alone, whichwe all feel upon the _Theatre_, where no Biass of Envy, Malice, orpersonal Resentment draws us aside, seems to be some Evidence of our_natural_ and _genuin_ Disposition to _Probity_ and _Virtue_; tho' theMinds of most Persons being early and deeply _tinged_ with viciousPassions, it is no wonder that _Stains_ have been generally mistakenfor _original Colours_. 

It may be added, that _Humour_ is the most exquisite and delightful, when the _Oddities_ and _Foibles_ introduc'd are not _mischievous_ or_sneaking_, but _free_, _jocund_, and _liberal_; and such as resultfrom a generous Flow of Spirits, and a warm universal _Benevolence_. 

It is obviously from hence, that the _Character_ of Sir _Roger_ de_Coverly_ in the _Spectators_ is so extremely agreeable. His _Foibles_are all derived from some amiable Cause. --If he believes that _oneEnglishman_ can conquer _two Frenchmen_, you laugh at his _Foible_, and are fond of a _Weakness_ in the Knight, which proceeds from hishigh Esteem of his _own Country-men_. --If he chuses you should employa _Waterman_ or _Porter_ with _one_ Leg, you readily excuse theInconvenience he puts you to, for his worthy regard to the Sufferingof a brave _Soldier_. --In short, though he is guilty of continualAbsurdities, and has little Understanding or real Abilities, youcannot but _love_ and _esteem_ him, for his _Honour_, _Hospitality_, and universal _Benevolence_. 

It is indeed true, that his _Dignity_, _Age_, and _Rank_ in hisCountry, are of constant Service in _upholding_ his Character. These are a perpetual _Guard_ to the Knight, and preserve him from_Contempt_ upon many Occasions. --All which corresponds entirely withthe fore-going _Remark_. For you would be fond of Sir _Roger's_Acquaintaince and Company in _real Life_, as he is a Gentleman of_Quality_ and _Virtue_; You love and admire him in the _Spectators_for the _same_ Reasons; And for these also he would become, if he wasrightly exhibited, a _favorite_ Character in the _Theatre_. 

It may be proper to observe in this Place, that the _Business_of COMEDY is to exhibit the whimsical _unmischievous Oddities_, _Frolics, _ and _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_; And also to_expose_ and _ridicule_ their _real Follies_, _Meanness_, and _Vices_. The _former_, it appears, is more pleasurable to the Audience, but the_latter_ has the Merit of being more instructive. 

The _Business_ of TRAGEDY is to exhibit the _Instability_ of _human_Grandeur, and the unexpected _Misfortunes_ and _Distresses_ incidentto the _Innocent_ and _Worthy_ in all Stations. --And also to shew theterrible Sallies and the miserable Issue and Punishment of ungovern'dPassions and Wickedness. --The _former_ softens the Heart and fills itwith Compassion, Humility and Benevolence. --Compositions of this Sortare the highest, most admirable, and useful in all Nature, when theyare finish'd with Propriety and Delicacy, and justly wrought upwith the Sublime and Simplicity. --The _latter_ Species of _Tragedy_terrifies and shocks us, in exhibiting both the Crimes and thePunishments. It threatens us into Moderation and Justice, by shewingthe terrible Issue of their Contraries. Pieces of this Sort, conductedwith Propriety, and carrying Application to ourselves, can scarcely bedesireable; But as they are generally conducted, they amount only togiving us an absurd Representation of a Murther committed by somefurious foaming _Basha_, or _Sultan_. 

To return. --_Johnson_ in his COMIC Scenes has expos'd and ridicul'd_Folly_ and _Vice_; _Shakespear_ has usher'd in _Joy_, _Frolic_ and_Happiness_. --The _Alchymist_, _Volpone_ and _Silent Woman_ of_Johnson_, are most exquisite _Satires_. The _comic_ Entertainments of_Shakespear_ are the highest Compositions of _Raillery_, _Wit_and _Humour_. _Johnson_ conveys some Lesson in every Character. _Shakespear_ some new Species of Foible and Oddity. The one pointedhis Satire with masterly Skill; the other was inimitable in touchingthe Strings of Delight. With _Johnson_ you are confin'd andinstructed, with _Shakespear_ unbent and dissolv'd in Joy. _Johnson_excellently concerts his Plots, and all his Characters unite in theone Design. _Shakespear_ is superior to such Aid or Restraint; HisCharacters continually sallying from one independent Scene to another, and charming you in each with fresh Wit and Humour. 

It may be further remark'd, that _Johnson_ by pursuing the most usefulIntention of _Comedy_, is in Justice oblig'd to _hunt down_ and_demolish_ his own Characters. Upon this Plan he must necessarilyexpose them to your _Hatred_, and of course can never bring out anamiable Person. His _Subtle_, and _Face_ are detected at last, andbecome mean and despicable. Sir _Epicure Mammon_ is properly trick'd, and goes off ridiculous and detestable. The _Puritan Elders_ sufferfor their Lust of Money, and are quite nauseous and abominable; Andhis _Morose_ meets with a severe Punishment, after having sufficientlytir'd you with his Peevishness. --But _Shakespear_, with happierInsight, always supports his Characters in your _Favour_. His Justice_Shallow_ withdraws before he is tedious; The _French_ Doctor, and_Welch_ Parson, go off in full Vigour and Spirit; Ancient _Pistoll_indeed is scurvily treated; however, he keeps up his Spirits, andcontinues to threaten so well, that you are still desirous of hisCompany; and it is impossible to be tir'd or dull with the gayunfading Evergreen _Falstaff_. 

But in remarking upon the Characters of _Johnson_, it would be unjustto pass _Abel Drugger_ without notice; This is a little, mean, sneaking, sordid Citizen, hearkening to a Couple of Sharpers, whopromise to make him rich; they can scarcely prevail upon him to resignthe least Tittle he possesses, though he is assur'd, it is in order toget more; and your Diversion arises, from seeing him _wrung_ between_Greediness_ to _get_ Money, and _Reluctance_ to _part_ with any forthat Purpose. His Covetousness continually prompts him to follow theConjurer, and puts him at the same Time upon endeavouring to stop hisFees. All the while he is excellently managed, and spirited onby _Face_. However, this Character upon the whole is _mean_ and_despicable_, without any of that free spirituous jocund Humourabounding in _Shakespear_. But having been strangely exhibited uponthe Theatre, a few Years ago, with odd Grimaces and extravagantGestures, it has been raised into more Attention than it justlydeserved; It is however to be acknowledg'd, that _Abel_ has noHatred, Malice or Immorality, nor any assuming Arrogance, Pertnessor Peevishness; And his eager Desire of getting and saving Money, byMethods he thinks lawful, are excusable in a Person of his Business;He is therefore not odious or detestable, but harmless and inoffensivein private Life; and from thence, correspondent with the Rule alreadylaid down, he is the most capable of any of _Johnson_'s Characters, ofbeing a Favourite on the Theatre. 

It appears, that in Imagination, Invention, Jollity and gay Humour, _Johnson_ had little Power; But _Shakespear_ unlimited Dominion. Thefirst was cautious and strict, not daring to sally beyond the Boundsof Regularity. The other bold and impetuous, rejoicing like a Giant torun his Course, through all the Mountains and Wilds of Nature andFancy. 

It requires an almost painful Attention to mark the Propriety andAccuracy of _Johnson_, and your Satisfaction arises from Reflectionand Comparison; But the Fire and Invention of _Shakespear_ in anInstant are shot into your Soul, and enlighten and chear the mostindolent Mind with their own Spirit and Lustre. --Upon the whole, _Johnson_'s Compositions are like finished Cabinets, where everyPart is wrought up with the most excellent Skill and Exactness;--_Shakespear_'s like magnificent Castles, not perfectly finished orregular, but adorn'd with such bold and magnificent Designs, as atonce delight and astonish you with their Beauty and Grandeur. 

 RAILLERY is a genteel poignant Attack of a _Person_ upon any _slight Foibles_, _Oddities_, or _Embarrassments_ of his, in which he is tender, or may be supposed to be tender, and unwilling to come to a free Explanation. 

 SATIRE is a witty and severe Attack of _mischievous Habits_ or _Vices_;

 RIDICULE is a free _Attack_ of any _Motly Composition_, wherein a real or affected _Excellence_ and _Defect_ both jointly appear, _glaring_ together, and _mocking_ each other, in the same _Subject_. 

Hence the Aim of _Raillery_, is to please you, by some little_Embarrassment_ of a _Person_; Of _Satire_, to scourge _Vice_, andto deliver it up to your just _Detestation_; And of _Ridicule_, toset an Object in a mean ludicrous Light, so as to expose it to your_Derision_ and _Contempt_. 

It appears therefore that _Raillery_ and _Ridicule_ differ in severalCircumstances. 

1. _Raillery_ can only be employ'd in relation to _Persons_, but_Ridicule_ may be employ'd in what relates either to _Persons_, orother _Objects_. 

2. _Raillery_ is us'd only upon _slight_ Subjects, where no realAbilities or Merit are questioned, in order to avoid degrading thePerson you attack, or rendering him contemptible; Whereas _Ridicule_observes no such Decency, but endeavours really to degrade the Personattack'd, and to render him contemptible. 

3. _Raillery_ may be pointed at a whimsical Circumstance, only becausea Person is known to be tender upon it; and your Pleasure will arisefrom the _Embarrassment_ he suffers, in being put to an Explanation;--Thus a young Gentleman may be _rallied_ upon his Passion for a Lady;--At the same Time there may be no Ground for _Ridicule_ in thisCircumstance, as it may no way deserve your _Derision_ or _Contempt_. 

4. As it thus appears that there are Subjects of _Raillery_, intowhich _Ridicule_ cannot justly be admitted; So there are Subjectsof _Ridicule_, wherein your Derision and Contempt are so stronglyexcited, that they are too gross for _Raillery_;--As a person tossedin a Blanket; or the unfortunate Attack which another has made upon aWindmill. 

5. In short, _Raillery_, if the Adventures it is turn'd upon aretoo _gross_ and _luscious_, becomes _Ridicule_; And therefore, inComparison together, _Raillery_ appears like _Wine_ of a thin Body, and delicate poignant Flavour; _Ridicule_, like a _Wine_ which isfuller, and more rich, and luscious. 

_Quixote_ is a Character, wherein _Humour_ and _Ridicule_ are finelyinterwoven;--It is not a Subject of _Satire_, as the Knight is freefrom all Badness of Heart, and Immorality; Nor properly of _Raillery_, his Adventures in general being too _gross_ and _disastrous_;-- The_Humour_ appears, in the Representation of a Person in real Life, fancying himself to be, under the most solemn Obligations to attempt_hardy_ Atchievements; and upon this Whimsy immediately pursuing themost romantic Adventures, with great Gravity, Importance, and Self-sufficiency; To heighten your Mirth, the _hardy_ Atchievements to beaccomplish'd by this Hero, are wittily contrasted by his ownmeagre weak Figure, and the _desperate Unfierceness_ of his Steed_Rozinante_;--The _Ridicule_ appears in the strange Absurdity of theAttempts, upon which the Knight chuses to exercise his Prowess; ItsPoignancy is highly quicken'd, and consequently the Pleasure it givesyou, by his miserable Disasters, and the doleful Mortifications of allhis Importance and Dignity;--But here, after the Knight, by divertingyou in this manner, has brought himself down to the lowest Mark, herises again and forces your Esteem, by his excellent Sense, Learningand Judgment, upon any Subjects which are not ally'd to his Errantry;These continually act for the Advancement of his Character; And withsuch Supports and Abilities he always obtains your ready Attention, and never becomes heavy or tedious. 

To these you are to add the perfect _good Breeding_ and _Civility_ ofthe Knight upon every Occasion; which are some Kind of Merit in hisFavour, and entitle him to Respect, by the Rules of common Gentilityand Decency; At the same time his Courage, his Honour, Generosity, and Humanity, are conspicuous in every Act and Attempt; The _Foibles_which he possesses, besides giving you exquisite Pleasure, are whollyinspir'd by these worthy Principles; Nor is there any thing base, ordetestable, in all his Temper or Conduct; It was from hence that theDUKE and the DUTCHESS were extremely delighted with his Visit at their_Castle_; And you yourself, if he existed in real Life, would be fondof his Company at your own Table; which proves him, upon the whole, tobe an amiable Character;--It is therefore no wonder that Signior _DonQuixote of la Mancha_ has been so courteously receiv'd in everyCountry of _Europe_. 

Thus delightfully wrought, as this History is, with _Humour_ and_Ridicule_, yet _Cervantes_, still fearful of tiring you with too muchof the _Errantry_, has introduc'd the most charming Variety of otherAdventures; --All along in the pacific Intervals, you are inform'd ofthe private Occurrences between the Knight and his 'Squire; And fromthese, where it is least to be expected, you are surpriz'd with themost high and delicious Repast;-- Nothing can be more pregnant withMirth, than the Opposition continually working between the graveSolemnity and Dignity of _Quixote_, and the arch Ribaldry and Meannessof _Sancho_; And the Contrast can never be sufficiently admir'd, between the _excellent fine Sense_ of the ONE, and the _dangerouscommon Sense_ of the OTHER. 

It is here that the Genius and Power of _Cervantes_ is most admirablyshewn; He was the greatest Master that ever appear'd, in finelyopposing, and contrasting his Characters. It is from hence that youfeel a Poignancy and Relish in his Writings, which is not to be metwith in any others; The natural Reflexions and Debates of _Quixote_and _Sancho_ would have been barren, insipid, and trite, under otherManagement; But _Cervantes_, by his excellent Skill in the _Contrast_, has from these drawn a Regale, which for high, quick, racy Flavour, and Spirit, has yet never been equall'd. 

It may here be enquir'd, What Species of Composition or Character isthe most pleasurable, and mirthful, in all Nature?--In _Falstaff_, you have _Humour_ embelish'd with _Wit_; In _Quixote_, _Humour_ madepoignant with _Ridicule_; And it is certain that _Humour_ must alwaysbe the Ground-work of such Subjects, no Oddities in inanimate Objectsbeing capable of interesting our Passions so strongly, as the Foiblesof Persons in real Life;--The chief Substance of _Johnson_'sCompositions is _Humour_ and _Satire_; upon which Plan, as hath beenalready observ'd, he is oblig'd to demolish, and render detestable, his own Characters;--_Humour_ and _Raillery_ are also capableof furnishing a Repast of quick Relish and Flavour; In writtenCompositions, the Attack of the _Raillery_, as well as the Receptionof it, may be happily conducted, which in other accidental Encountersare liable to Hazard; All Peevishness or Offence is thus easilyavoided, and the Character attack'd is sav'd from being reallycontemptible;--But then indeed the Pleasure you are to receivegenerally depends upon the Confusion of the Person attack'd, withoutthere being in reason a sufficient Cause for this Confusion;--It isfor want of this just Foundation, that the Pleasure arising from_Raillery_ is apt to come forth with less Freedom, Fulness, andConviction, though with more Delicacy, than that which is derivedfrom _Wit_, or _Ridicule_;--However, _Humour_ and _Raillery_ unitedtogether, when the _Raillery_ is founded upon some _real_Embarrassment in the Circumstance, as well as in the Confusion of thePerson attack'd, will furnish a very high Entertainment; which hasPretensions to rival either _Humour_ and _Wit_, or _Humour_ and_Ridicule_. 

To give an Instance of _Humour_ and _Raillery_, I shall insert_Horace_'s famous Description of his Embarrassment with an impertinentFellow. This indeed is entitl'd, in almost all the Editions of_Horace_, a _Satire_, but very improperly, as the Subject is not_Vice_ or _Immorality_;

 Ibam fortè viâ sacrâ, sicut meus est mos, Nescio quid meditans nugarum, at totus in illis: Accurrit quidam notus mihi nomine tantum; Arreptâque manu, Quid agis, dulcissime rerum? Suaviter, ut nunc est, inquam: & cupio omnia quæ vis. Cum affectaretur, Num quid vis? occupo. At ille, Nôris nos, inquit; docti sumus. Hìc ego: Pluris Hoc, inquam, mihi eris. Miserè discedere quærens, Ire modò ocyùs, interdum consistere: in aurem Dicere nescio quid puero: cùm sudor ad imos Manaret talos. O te, Bollane, cerebri Felicem: aiebam tacitus! Cùm quidlibet ille Garriret, vicos, urbem laudaret; ut illi Nil respondebam: Miserè cupis, inquit abire. Jamdudum video: sed nil agis: usque tenebo: Persequar: hinc quò nunc iter est tibi? Nil opus est te Circumagi: quemdam volo visere, non tibi notum: Trans Tiberim longè cubat is, propè Cæsaris hortos. Nil habeo quod agam, & non sum piger: usque sequar te, Demitto auriculas ut iniquæ mentis asellus, Cùm gravius dorso subiit onus. Incipit ille: Si benè me novi, non Viscum pluris amicum, Non Varium facies; nam quis me scribere plures Aut citiùs possit versus? quis membra movere Mollius? invideat quod & Hermogenes, ego canto. Interpellandi locus hic erat: Est tibi mater, Cognati, queis te salvo est opus? Haud mihi quisquam: Omnes composui. Felices! nunc ego resto: Confice: namque instat fatum mihi triste, Sabella Quòd puero cecinit divinâ mota anus urnâ, Hunc neque dira venena, nec hosticus auferret ensis, Nec laterum dolor, aut tussis, nec tarda podagra; Garrulus hunc quando consumet cumque loquaces. Si sapiat, vitet, simul atque adoleverit ætas. Ventum erat ad Vestæ, quartâ jam parte diei Præteritâ; & casu tunc respondere vadato Debebat: quòd ni fecisset, perdere litem. Si me amas, inquit, paulùm hîc ades. Inteream, si Aut valeo stare, aut novi civilia jura: Et propero quò scis. Dubius sum quid faciam, inquit; Tenè relinquam, an rem. Me, sodes. Non faciam, ille; Et præcedere coepit. Ego, ut contendere durum est Cum victore, sequor. Mecænas quomodo tecum? Hinc repetit. Paucorum hominum, & mentis benè sanæ. Nemo dexteriùs fortuna est usus. Haberes Magnum adjutorem, posset qui ferre secundas, Hunc hominem velles si tradere: dispeream, ni Summôsses omnes. Non isto vivimus illic Quò tu rere modo, domus hac nec purior ulla est, Nec magis his aliena malis: nil mî officit unquam, Ditior hic, aut est quia doctior: est locus uni Cuique suus. Magnum narras, vix credibile. Atqui Sic habet. Accendis, quare cupiam magis illi Proximus esse. Veils tantummodò: quæ tua virtus, Expugnabis; & est qui vinci possit: eoque Difficiles aditus primos habet. Haud mihi deero, Muneribus servos corrumpam: non, hodie si Exclusus fuero, desistam: tempera quæram: Occurram in triviis: deducam. Nil sine magno Vita labore dedit mortalibus. Hæc dum agit, ecce Fuscus Aristius occurrit mihi carus, & illum Qui pulchrè nôsset. Consistimus. Unde venis? & Quo tendis? rogat, & respondet. Vellere coepi, Et prensare manu lentissima brachia, nutans, Distorquens oculos, ut me eriperet. Malè salsus Ridens dissimulare: mecum jecur urere bilis. Certè nescio quid secretò velle loqui te Aiebas mecum. Memini benè; sed meliori Tempora dicam: hodie tricesima sabbata, vin'tu Curtis Judæis oppedere? Nulla mihi, inquam, Religio est. At mî, sum paulo infirmior; unus Multorum ignosces; aliàs loquar. Hunccine solem Tam nigrum surrexe mihi: Fugit improbus, ac me Sub cultro linquit. Casu venit obvius illi Adversarius; &, Quò tu turpissime! magnâ Inclamat voce; &, Licet antestari? Ego verò Oppono auriculam; rapit in jus. Clamor utrinque Undique concursus. Sic me servavit _Apollo_. 

[Transcriber's Note:See end of _Essay_ for translation information. ]

The Intention of _Horace_ in this Piece, is to expose an _impertinent_Fellow, and to give a ludicrous Detail of his own _Embarrassment_;Your Pleasure arises from the View which he gives you of his ownMortification, whereby he lays himself fairly open to your _Raillery_;This is the more poignant, and quick, from the real Distress which yousee he endur'd, in this odd Attack; At the same Time the particular Turnof the Fellow, who chose in this Manner to pin himself upon another, isa very odd Species of impertinent _Humour_. --This Piece, as it stands, irresistibly forces your Mirth, and shakes you with Laughter; But toa Person of Discernment, it is chiefly at _Horace_'s Expence; Who inreceiving and enduring such insolent Treatment, appears in a Light toolow and ridiculous, though he has thought fit himself to exhibit theScene again for the Diversion of the Public;

The Misere, cupis, ---- abire, Jamdudum video, sed nil agis, usque tenebo, Persequar;--

was an absolute Insult; And very unfit to be related by the Personwho suffer'd it, as a Matter of Merriment;--Besides this Tamenessof _Horace_, the Impudence of the Fellow is excessively nauseous anddisgusting at the Bottom, though the whole carries a Froth of _Raillery_and _Humour_ upon the Surface. 

The Truth is, that this Piece, as it stands, would have properlyproceeded from another Person, who had intended to expose theImpertinence and Impudence of the Fellow, and freely to _rally_ poor_Horace_, with some Mixture of _Ridicule_, upon his unfortunateEmbarrassment; upon this Basis it will appear with Propriety; Withoutwhich all Compositions of _Wit_, or _Humour_, or _Taste_, tho' atfirst they may pleasurably strike the Fancy or Sight, are at lastdisgusting to the Judgment. 

Having here occasionally offer'd some Remarks upon this Composition, as it now stands, it may be proper to point out the Manner in whichthe _Humour_ and _Raillery_ of such an Embarrassment, might have beencarried to the highest Pitch; And the Description of it have beengiven by _Horace_ himself, without any Diminution of his own Gentilityor Importance;--Imagine then that he had been join'd in his Walk by aweak, ignorant Person, of Good-nature, and the utmost Civility; onewho fancy'd himself possessed of the greatest Talents, and fullypersuaded that he gave all he convers'd with a particular Pleasure;--Upon such an Attack, no Resentment or Anger could have been decentlyshewn by _Horace_, As the Person thus pestering him, was all the whileintending the highest Compliment; And must therefore be received, andattended to, with perfect Complaisance; The _Humour_ of this Personwould have been very entertaining, in the strange Conceit which heheld of his own Abilities, and of the paticular Pleasure he wasgranting to _Horace_, in condescending to give him so much of hisCompany; In these Sentiments he should regard all _Horace_'s Excuses, Endeavours, and Struggles to be gone, as Expressions of his Sense ofthe Honour done him; which should be an Argument with this Person forobstinately persisting to honour him still further; All the while hemust be supported by some _real Importance_ belonging to him, attendedwith _good Breeding_, and strengthened by such occasional Instancesof _Sense_, as may secure him from being trampled upon, or becomingabsolutely contemptible; In such an Adventure the Mortification, andDistress of _Horace_, would be excessively whimsical and severe;especially as he would be depriv'd of all Succour and Relief; being inDecency oblig'd, not only to suppress all Anger or Uneasiness, but, what is exquisitely quick, to receive this whole Treatment with theutmost Complacency; An _Embarrassment_ of this sort, finely described, would have yielded the greatest Pleasure to the Reader, and carriedthe _Raillery_ upon _Horace_, without hurting or degrading him, to thehighest Degree of _Poignancy_; And from hence may be conceiv'd, whatdelightful Entertainments are capable of being drawn from _Humour_ and_Raillery_. 

It is also easy to apprehend, that the several Subjects of _Wit_, _Humour_, _Raillery_, _Satire_, and _Ridicule_, appear not only_singly_ upon many Occasions, or _two_ of them combined together, but are also frequently united in other Combinations, which aremore _complicate_; An Instance of the Union together of _Humour_, _Raillery_, and _Ridicule_, I remember to have read somewherein _Voiture_'s Letters; He is in _Spain_, and upon the Point ofproceeding from thence to some other Place in an _English_ Vessel;After he has written this Account of himself to a Lady at _Paris_, he proceeds in his Letter to this Purpose;

 "You may perhaps apprehend, that I shall be in some Danger this Voyage, of falling into the Hands of a _Barbary_ Corsair; But to relieve you from all such Fears, I shall beg Leave to tell you, what my honest Captain has inform'd me himself, for my own Satisfaction; He suspected, it seems, that I might have some Uneasiness upon this Head; and has therefore privately assured me, that I have no need to be afraid of being taken with him; for that whenever it is likely to come to this, he will infallibly blow up the Ship with his own Hands;--After this, I presume, you will be perfectly easy, that I am in no Danger of going to _Sallee_;"

This is exquisitely _rich_; The brave and odd Fancy of the _English_Captain, in finding out for himself, and _privately_ communicating to_Voiture_, this Method of Security from Slavery, abounds with thehighest _Humour_; At the same time the honest Tar, as a _Projecter_, is excessively open to _Ridicule_, for his Scheme to blow them allup, in order to prevent their being taken Prisoners; There is besidesthese, a very full _Raillery_, which _Voiture_ here opens upon_himself_; For as this Adventure, which he is going to be engaged in, has been attended, as yet, with no Mischief; nor is certain to be so, the whole is to be consider'd, at present, as only a slight Scrape;especially as he exhibits it in this manner himself, and invites youto make it the Object of your Pleasure, and _Raillery_;--It may alsobe observ'd, that the _Humour_ in this Subject, which flows from the_Captain_, is adorn'd with a very peculiar, and pleasing _Propriety_;As it is not barely a _Whim_, or the Result of an _odd Sourness_ or_queer Pride_, but the Effect of his _Courage_, and of that Freedomfrom all Terror at Death, which is perfectly amiable in his Character. 

There are other Combinations of _Wit_, _Humour_, _Raillery_, _Satire_, and _Ridicule_, where _four_ of them, or all _five_, are united inone Subject;--Like various _Notes_ in _Music_, sounding together, andjointly composing one exquisite Piece of Harmony;--Or like different_Rays_ of _Light_, shining together in one _Rainbow_: It is pleasantto _divide_ these _Combinations_, and to view as with a _Prism_, thedifferent Rays united in each; of which _Humour_, like the _Red_, iseminent for its superior Force and Excellence;--When the Judgment isthus capable of parting, and easily assigning the several Quantities, and Proportions of each, it heightens our Pleasure, and gives us anabsolute Command over the Subject; But they are often so intimatelymix'd, and blended together, that it is difficult to separate themclearly, tho' they are all certainly felt in the same Piece;--Likethe different _Flavours_ of rich _Fruits_, which are inseparablymix'd, yet all perfectly tasted, in one _Pine-Apple_. 

_Raillery_, and _Satire_, are extremely different;

1. _Raillery_, is a genteel poignant Attack of _slight_ Foibles andOddities; _Satire_ a witty and severe Attack of _mischievous_ Habitsand Vices. 

2. The _Intention_ of _Raillery_, is to procure your _Pleasure_, byexposing the little Embarrassment of a Person; But the _Intention_of _Satire_, is to raise your _Detestation_, by exposing the realDeformity of his Vices. 

3. If in _Raillery_ the Sting be given too deep and severe, itwill sink into Malice and Rudeness, And your Pleasure will not bejustifiable; But _Satire_, the more deep and severe the Sting of itis, will be the more excellent; Its Intention being entirely to rootout and destroy the Vice. 

4. It is a just Maxim upon these Subjects, that in _Raillery_ agood-natur'd Esteem ought always to appear, without any Resentmentor Bitterness; In _Satire_ a generous free Indignation, without anysneaking Fear or Tenderness; It being a sort of partaking in the Guiltto keep any Terms with Vices. 

It is from hence that _Juvenal_, as a _Satirist_, is greatly superiorto _Horace_; But indeed many of the short Compositions of _Horace_, which are indiscriminately ranged together, under the general Nameof _Satires_, are not properly such, but Pieces of _Raillery_ or_Ridicule_. 

As _Raillery_, in order to be decent, can only be exercised upon_slight_ Misfortunes and Foibles, attended with no deep Mischief, norwith any Reproach upon real Merit, so it ought only to be used between_Equals_ and _Intimates_; It being evidently a Liberty too great tobe taken by an _Inferior_; and too inequitable to be taken by a_Superior_, as his Rank shields him from any Return. 

_Raillery_ is the most agreeable, when it is founded on a _slight_Embarrassment or Foible, which upon being unfolded, appears to havearisen from the _real Merit_, or from the _Excess_ of any _Virtue_, in the Person attack'd. 

But yet this Embarrassment must always be _real_, and attended withthe Chagrin or Confusion of the _rally'd_ Person, or capable of beingfairly suppos'd to have been so; otherwise the Attack will be void ofall Poignancy, and Pleasure to the Company; And evaporate either into_indirect Flattery_, or else into the _Insipid_. 

Thus, to attack a _fine Lady_ upon the Enemies she has made, by themischievous Effects of her Beauty, will be properly genteel indirect_Flattery_--if it be well conducted, --otherwise, the _Insipid_; Butit cannot be deem'd _Raillery_; It being impossible to suppose theLady _really_ chagrin'd by such an imaginary Misfortune, or uneasyat any Explanation upon this Subject;

_Raillery_ ought soon to be ended; For by long keeping the Personattack'd, even in a _slight_ Pain, and continuing to dwell uponhis Mis-adventures, you become rude and ill-natur'd;--Or if the_Raillery_ be only turn'd upon an Embarrassment, arising from theExcess of Merit or Abilities, Yet if it be long confined upon the sameSubject, the Person it is pointed at, will either suspect that yourAim is, to leave some _Impression_ against him, or else that you aredesigning him a tedious dark _Compliment_; And accordingly he willeither regard you with Hatred or Contempt;--Much less should aPerson, who introduces himself as a Subject of _Raillery_, insist longupon it; For either he will be offensive in engrossing all Attentionto himself; or if the Company are pleas'd, it must be by hisBuffoonery. 

The Difference between _Satire_, and _Ridicule_, has been alreadypointed out;--_Satire_ being always concerned with the _Vices_ of_Persons_;--Whereas _Ridicule_ is justly employ'd, not upon the_Vices_, but the _Foibles_ or _Meannesses_ of _Persons_, And also uponthe _Improprieties_ of other Subjects; And is directed, not to raiseyour _Detestation_, but your _Derision_ and _Contempt_;--It beingevident that _Immoralities_ and _Vice_ are too _detestable_ for_Ridicule_, and are therefore properly the Subject of _Satire_;Whereas _Foibles_ and _Meannesses_ are too _harmless_ for _Satire_, and deserve only to be treated with _Ridicule_. 

The usual Artillery of _Ridicule_ is _Wit_; whereby the _Affinity_or _Coincidence_ of any Object with others, which are absurd andcontemptible, is unexpectedly exhibited;--There is also another, veryforcible, Manner in which _Ridicule_ may act; And that is by employing_Humour_ alone; Thus the Foible or Queerness of any Person will bemost fully _ridicul'd_, by naturally dressing yourself, or any otherPerson in that Foible, and exerting its full Strength and Vigour. 

 The POLITENESS of a Subject is the _Freedom_ of that Subject from all _Indelicacy_, Aukardness_, and _Roughness_. 

 GOOD BREEDING consists in a _respectful_ Carriage to others, accompany'd with _Ease_ and _Politeness_. 

It appears from hence that GOOD BREEDING and POLITENESS differ inthis; that GOOD BREEDING relates only to the Manners of _Persons_in their Commerce together; Whereas Politeness may relate also to_Books_, as well as to _Persons_, or to any Subjects of Taste andOrnament. 

So that _Politeness_ may subsist in a Subject, as in a _Cornish_, or_Architrave_, where _good Breeding_ can't enter; But it is impossiblefor _good Breeding_ to be offer'd without _Politeness_. 

At the same time _good Breeding_ is not to be understood, as merelythe _Politeness_ of _Persons_; But as _Respect_, tender'd with_Politeness_, in the Commerce between _Persons_. 

It is easy to perceive, that _good Breeding_ is a different Behaviourin different Countries, and in the same Countries at differentPeriods, according to the Manners which are us'd amongst _polite_Persons of those Places and Seasons. 

In _England_ the chief Point of it _formerly_ was plac'd, in carryinga _Respect_ in our Manners to all we convers'd with; whence everyOmission of the slightest Ceremony, as it might be construed intoa want of _Respect_, was particularly to be avoided; So that _goodBreeding_ became then a precise Observance and Exercise of all the Motions and Ceremonies, expressive of Respect, which might justly be paid to every Person;--This, as it is easy to imagine, requir'd much Nicety in theAdjustment upon many Occasions, and created immense Trouble andConstraint, and most ridiculous Embarrassments. 

However, these Modes of _good Breeding_ were not to be abolished, as it was impossible to dispense with the _Respect_ annex'd to them, without some further Pretence than of their _Inconvenience_ only;which no Person could decently urge, or admit in his own behalf, when it was his Province to pay any Ceremonies to another; In thisDifficulty it was at last happily observ'd, for the Advantage ofgenteel Commerce and Society, that _whatever gives Trouble, isinconsistent with Respect_; Upon which Foundation, all Ceremonieswhich create Embarrassments or Trouble to either Side, are now justlyexploded; And the _Ease_ of each other is the Point most peculiarlyconsulted by _well-bred_ Persons. 

If this Attention to _Ease_ was properly conducted, so that it mightalways appear to have _Respect_ for its Motive; And only to act inObedience to _that_, as the ruling Principle, it would then comprehendthe just Plan of _good Breeding_; But as _this_ was formerlyencumber'd with Ceremonies and Embarrassments, so the modern _goodBreeding_ perhaps deviates too far into Negligence and Disregard;--A Fault more unpardonable than the former; As an Inconvenience, evidently proceeding from the _Respect_ which is paid to us, may beeasily excus'd; But a Freedom, which carries the Air of _Neglect_ withit, gives a lasting Offence. 

 BEAUTY is the delightful _Effect_ which arises from the _joint Order_, _Proportion_, and _Harmony_ of all the Parts of an _Object_. And to have a good TASTE, is to have a just _Relish_ of BEAUTY. 

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[Transcriber's Note:

Translations of Horace _Satire_ I. 9 are available from ProjectGutenberg as e-text 5419 (verse translation, plain text) or14020 (prose translation, text or html). ]

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[CORBYN MORRIS]

An / Essay / Towards Fixing the / True Standards / of / Wit, Humour, Raillery, / Satire, and Ridicule. / To which is Added, an / Analysis /Of the Characters of / An Humourist, Sir John Falstaff, Sir Roger / DeCoverly, and Don Quixote. / Inscribed, to the Right Honorable / RobertEarl of Orford. / [rule] / By the Author of a / Letter from a By-Stander. / [rule] /--Jacta est Alea. / [double rule] / London: /Printed for J. Roberts, at the Oxford-Arms, in War- / wick-lane; andW. Bickerton, In the Temple-Ex- / change, near the Inner-Temple-Gate, Fleet-street. / M DCC XLIV. [Price 2 s. ] /

Collation: A, a-c, in fours; d in two; a-d, in fours; B-K in fours;L in two. A, title; verso blank; A^2-d, dedication; d^2 erratum andadvertisements; a-d^4, Introduction; B-L^2, text. 

The first edition. A second edition was published in 1758. 

Colton StormClements Library

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Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, andphilology will find the publications valuable. _The Johnsonian NewsLetter_ has said of them: "Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sureto become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that yourcollege library is on the mailing list. "

The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able tooffer at least six publications each year at the unusually lowmembership fee of $2. 50 per year in the United States and Canada, and$2. 75 in Great Britain and the continent. 

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During the first two years the publications are issued in threeseries: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on the Stage. 

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PUBLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR (1946-1947)

MAY, 1946: Series I, No. 1--Richard Blackmore's _Essay upon Wit_(1716), and Addison's _Freeholder_ No. 45 (1716). 

JULY, 1946: Series II, No. 1--Samuel Cobb's _Of Poetry_ and_Discourse on Criticism_ (1707)

SEPT. , 1946: Series III, No. 1--Anon. , _Letter to A. H. Esq. ;concerning the Stage_ (1698), and Richard Willis' _Occasional Paper_No. IX (1698). 

NOV. , 1946: Series I, No. 2--Anon. , _Essay on Wit_ (1748), togetherwith Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton's _Adventurer_ Nos. 127and 133. 

JAN. , 1947: Series II, No. 2--Samuel Wesley's _Epistle to a FriendConcerning Poetry_ (1700) and _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693). 

MARCH, 1947: Series III, No. 2--Anon. , _Representation of the Impietyand Immorality of the Stage_ (1704) and anon. , _Some ThoughtsConcerning the Stage_ (1704). 

PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR (1947-1948)

MAY, 1947: Series I, No. 3--John Gay's _The Present State of Wit_;and a section on Wit from _The English Theophrastus_. With anIntroduction by Donald Bond. 

JULY, 1947: Series II, No. 3--Rapin's _De Carmine Pastorali_, translated by Creech. With an Introduction by J. E. Congleton. 

SEPT. , 1947: Series III, No. 3--T. Hanmer's (?) _Some Remarks on theTragedy of Hamlet_. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe. 

NOV. , 1947: Series I, No. 4--Corbyn Morris' _Essay towards Fixing theTrue Standards of Wit_, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford. 

JAN. , 1948: Series II, No. 4--Thomas Purney's _Discourse on thePastoral_. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman. 

MARCH, 1948: Series III, No. 4--Essays on the Stage, selected, withan Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. 

The list of publications is subject to modification in response torequests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will beincluded in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by ascholar of special competence in the field represented. 

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