Chapter IX (2)

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 of superior Sense to the rest of the World, which he has long fancied. The Apprehension, that he actually deserves the Contempt which is put upon him, and that he is no more than one of the common Herd, almost distracts him; And instead of violently depreciating, or attacking again, the Person who has contemn'd him, he will incessantly court his Favour and good Opinion, as a Cordial he wants, though without seeming to 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 several himself, which he will sometimes persue through a long Course of his own Mortification.--It may be often observ'd, that he will avoid the Company he likes, for fear they should think he needs their Support.-- At the same time, if he happens to fall into Company, which he tallies not with, instead of avoiding this Company, he will continually haunt them: For he is anxious, lest any Imputation of a Defeat should stand out 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 to neglect the Company he likes; and shall force him, in the last, to follow the Company he hates and despises.

It is also observable that the _Humourist_, though he makes it his Point to regulate his Conduct only by his own Conviction, will sometimes run counter to it, merely from his Disdain of all _Imitation_. Thus he will persist in a wrong Course, which he knows to be such, and refuse his Compliance with an Amendment offer'd by others, rather than endure the Appearance of being an _Imitator_. This is a _narrow_ Side of the _Humourist_; and whenever he is turn'd upon it, he feels great Uneasiness himself. It strikes a durable Pain into his Breast, like the constant gnawing of a Worm; and is one considerable 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'd by another; for he is above being inform'd or set right in his Judgment by any Person, even by a Brother _Humourist_. If two of this _Cast_ happen to meet, instead of uniting together, they are afraid of each other; and you shall observe _one_, in order to court the good Opinion 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 to display _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 a Lover of Reason and Liberty; and scorns to flatter or betray; nor will he falsify his Principles, to court the Favour of the Great. He is not credulous, or fond of Religious or Philosophical Creeds or Creed- makers; But then he never offers himself to forge Articles of Faith for 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. The venal Biass of the assuming Judge, the cruel Pride of the starch'd Priest, the empty Froth of the florid Counsellor, the false Importance of the formal Man of Business, the specious Jargon of the grave Physician, and the creeping Taste of the trifling Connoisseur, are all bare to his Eye, and feel the Lash of his Censure; It is _He_ that watches the daring Strides, and secret Mines of the ambitious Prince, and desperate Minister: _He_ gives the Alarm, and prevents their Mischief. 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 to himself and the World; becoming at length, uneasy, and fatigued with the constant View of the same Follies; like a Person who is tir'd with seeing the same Tragi-Comedy continually acted. This sowres his Temper; And unless some favorable Incidents happen to mellow him, he resigns himself wholly to Peevishness.--By which Time he perceives that the World is quite tir'd of _him_.--After which he drags on the Remainder of his Life, in a State of _War_ with the rest of Mankind.

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

Upon the whole, the _Humourist_ is perhaps the least of all others, a _despicable_ Character. But Imitations, which are frequently seen of this Character, are excessively despicable.--What can be more ridiculous, than a Wretch setting up for an _Humourist_, merely upon the Strength of disrelishing every Thing, without any Principle;--The Servants, Drawers, Victuals, Weather,--and growling without Poignancy of Sense, at every new Circumstance which appears, in public or private. 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 longer upon this Character; However, let none be too fond of it; For though an _Humourist_ with his Roughness is greatly to be preferr'd to a smooth _Insipid_, yet the Extremes of both are equally wretched: _Ideots_ being only the lowest Scale of _Insipids_, as _Madmen_ are no other than _Humourists_ in Excess.

It may be proper to observe in this place, that though all _Ostentation_, _Affectation_, and _Imitation_ are excluded from the Composition of a perfect _Humourist_; yet as they are the obvious _Foibles_ of some Persons in Life, they may justly be made the Subject of _Humour_.

For HUMOUR extensively and fully understood, is _any remarkable_ Oddity _or_ Foible _belonging to a_ Person _in_ real Life; _whether this_ Foible _be constitutional, habitual_, or _only affected; whether partial in one or two Circumstances; or tinging the whole Temper and Conduct 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 than all other Nations together.

That HUMOUR gives more Delight, and leaves a more pleasurable Impression behind it, than WIT, is universally felt and established; Though the Reasons for this have not yet been assign'd.--I shall therefore 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 our Passions, than any Oppositions or Relations between _inanimate_ Objects.

2. HUMOUR is _Nature_, or what really appears in the Subject, without any Embellishments; WIT only a Stroke of _Art_, where the original Subject, being insufficient of itself, is garnished and deck'd with auxiliary Objects.

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

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

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

6. Humour, in the Representation of the _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_, frequently exhibits very _generous benevolent_ Sentiments of 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.--And where 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 _real Life_ 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 started between 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 the frequent Repetition of it, tires the Imagination with its precipitate Sallies and Flights; and teizes the Judgment.--Whereas HUMOUR, in the Representation of it, puts no Fatigue upon the _Imagination_, and gives exquisite Pleasure to the _Judgment_.

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

This is the Excellency of the _Character_ of Sir _John Falstaff_; the _Ground-work_ is _Humour_, the Representation and Detection of a bragging and vaunting _Coward_ in _real Life_; However, this alone would only have expos'd the _Knight_, as a meer _Noll Bluff_, to the Derision of the Company; And after they had once been gratify'd with his Chastisement, he would have sunk into Infamy, and become quite odious and intolerable: But here the inimitable _Wit_ of Sir _John_ comes in to his Support, and gives a new _Rise_ and _Lustre_ to his Character; For the sake of his _Wit_ you forgive his _Cowardice_; or rather, 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 Tendency to _Mirth_ are irresistibly excited by his jolly Appearance and Corpulency; you feel and acknowledge him, to be the fittest Subject imaginable for yielding _Diversion_ and _Merriment_; but when you see him immediately set up for _Enterprize_ and _Activity_, with his evident _Weight_ and _Unweildiness_, your Attention is all call'd forth, and you are eager to watch him to the End of his Adventures; Your Imagination pointing out with a full Scope his future Embarrassments. All the while as you accompany him forwards, he _heightens_ your Relish for his future Disasters, by his happy Opinion of his own Sufficiency, and the gay Vaunts which he makes of his Talents and Accomplishments; so that at last when he falls into a Scrape, your Expectation is exquisitely gratify'd, and you have the full Pleasure of seeing all his trumpeted Honour laid in the Dust. When in the midst of his Misfortunes, instead of being utterly demolish'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 with new Pretensions and Boastings. After this he immediately starts upon a _third_ Race, and so on; continually detected and caught, and yet 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 in supporting his Character; It prevents his _sinking_ too low after several of his Misfortunes; Besides, you allow him, in consequence of his _Rank_ and _Seniority_, the Privilege to dictate, and take the Lead, and to rebuke others upon many Occasions; By this he is sav'd from 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 he assumes it with proper Firmness and Superiority, helps to _settle_ anew, and _compose_ his Character after an Embarrassment; And reduces in some measure the _Spirit_ of the Company to a proper _Level_, before he sets out again upon a fresh Adventure;--without this, they would be kept continually _strain'd_, and _wound up_ to the highest Pitch, 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_; so that there arises before you a perpetual _Allusion_ from one to the other, 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 with admirable _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 all other Men;--The _Figure_ of his _Person_ is the Picture of Jollity, Mirth, and Good-nature, and banishes at once all other Ideas from your Breast; He is happy himself, and makes you happy.--If you examine him further, he has no Fierceness, Reserve, Malice or Peevishness lurking in his Heart; His Intentions are all pointed at innocent Riot and Merriment; Nor has the Knight any inveterate Design, except against _Sack_, and that too he _loves_.--If, besides this, he desires to pass for a Man of _Activity_ and _Valour_, you can easily excuse so harmless a _Foible_, which yields you the highest Pleasure in its constant _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, and fat _Jack Falstaff_, the most delightful _Swaggerer_ in all Nature.-- You must _love_ him for your _own_ sake,--At the same time you cannot but _love_ him for _his own_ Talents; And when you have _enjoy'd_ them, you cannot but _love_ him in _Gratitude_;--He has nothing to disgust you, and every thing to give you Joy;--His _Sense_ and his _Foibles_ are equally directed to advance your Pleasure; And it is impossible 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 with the 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 is something very justly to be _hated_ or _despised_; And you feel the 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 with their Company:--Whereas _Shakespear_, besides the peculiar _Gaiety_ in the _Humour_ of _Falstaff_, has guarded him from disgusting you with his _forward Advances_, by giving him _Rank_ and _Quality_; from being _despicable_ by his real good _Sense_ and excellent _Abilities_; from being _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 of Delight; 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 a Character, and with a proper _Detection_ and _Ridicule_ of it, yet its _Peevishness_, _Meanness_, or _Immorality_, will begin to disgust you after a little Reflection, and become soon _tiresome_ and _odious_; It being 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, which we all feel upon the _Theatre_, where no Biass of Envy, Malice, or personal Resentment draws us aside, seems to be some Evidence of our _natural_ and _genuin_ Disposition to _Probity_ and _Virtue_; tho' the Minds of most Persons being early and deeply _tinged_ with vicious Passions, it is no wonder that _Stains_ have been generally mistaken for _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 result from 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 _one Englishman_ can conquer _two Frenchmen_, you laugh at his _Foible_, and are fond of a _Weakness_ in the Knight, which proceeds from his high Esteem of his _own Country-men_.--If he chuses you should employ a _Waterman_ or _Porter_ with _one_ Leg, you readily excuse the Inconvenience he puts you to, for his worthy regard to the Suffering of a brave _Soldier_.--In short, though he is guilty of continual Absurdities, and has little Understanding or real Abilities, you cannot but _love_ and _esteem_ him, for his _Honour_, _Hospitality_, and universal _Benevolence_.

It is indeed true, that his _Dignity_, _Age_, and _Rank_ in his Country, 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 with the 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 was rightly 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_ incident to the _Innocent_ and _Worthy_ in all Stations.--And also to shew the terrible Sallies and the miserable Issue and Punishment of ungovern'd Passions and Wickedness.--The _former_ softens the Heart and fills it with Compassion, Humility and Benevolence.--Compositions of this Sort are the highest, most admirable, and useful in all Nature, when they are finish'd with Propriety and Delicacy, and justly wrought up with the Sublime and Simplicity.--The _latter_ Species of _Tragedy_ terrifies and shocks us, in exhibiting both the Crimes and the Punishments. It threatens us into Moderation and Justice, by shewing the terrible Issue of their Contraries. Pieces of this Sort, conducted with Propriety, and carrying Application to ourselves, can scarcely be desireable; But as they are generally conducted, they amount only to giving us an absurd Representation of a Murther committed by some furious 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 pointed his Satire with masterly Skill; the other was inimitable in touching the Strings of Delight. With _Johnson_ you are confin'd and instructed, with _Shakespear_ unbent and dissolv'd in Joy. _Johnson_ excellently concerts his Plots, and all his Characters unite in the one Design. _Shakespear_ is superior to such Aid or Restraint; His Characters 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 useful Intention of _Comedy_, is in Justice oblig'd to _hunt down_ and _demolish_ his own Characters. Upon this Plan he must necessarily expose them to your _Hatred_, and of course can never bring out an amiable Person. His _Subtle_, and _Face_ are detected at last, and become mean and despicable. Sir _Epicure Mammon_ is properly trick'd, and goes off ridiculous and detestable. The _Puritan Elders_ suffer for their Lust of Money, and are quite nauseous and abominable; And his _Morose_ meets with a severe Punishment, after having sufficiently tir'd you with his Peevishness.--But _Shakespear_, with happier Insight, 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, and continues to threaten so well, that you are still desirous of his Company; and it is impossible to be tir'd or dull with the gay unfading Evergreen _Falstaff_.

But in remarking upon the Characters of _Johnson_, it would be unjust to pass _Abel Drugger_ without notice; This is a little, mean, sneaking, sordid Citizen, hearkening to a Couple of Sharpers, who promise to make him rich; they can scarcely prevail upon him to resign the least Tittle he possesses, though he is assur'd, it is in order to get more; and your Diversion arises, from seeing him _wrung_ between _Greediness_ to _get_ Money, and _Reluctance_ to _part_ with any for that Purpose. His Covetousness continually prompts him to follow the Conjurer, and puts him at the same Time upon endeavouring to stop his Fees. All the while he is excellently managed, and spirited on by _Face_. However, this Character upon the whole is _mean_ and _despicable_, without any of that free spirituous jocund Humour abounding in _Shakespear_. But having been strangely exhibited upon the Theatre, a few Years ago, with odd Grimaces and extravagant Gestures, it has been raised into more Attention than it justly deserved; It is however to be acknowledg'd, that _Abel_ has no Hatred, Malice or Immorality, nor any assuming Arrogance, Pertness or Peevishness; And his eager Desire of getting and saving Money, by Methods he thinks lawful, are excusable in a Person of his Business; He is therefore not odious or detestable, but harmless and inoffensive in private Life; and from thence, correspondent with the Rule already laid down, he is the most capable of any of _Johnson_'s Characters, of being a Favourite on the Theatre.

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

It requires an almost painful Attention to mark the Propriety and Accuracy of _Johnson_, and your Satisfaction arises from Reflection and Comparison; But the Fire and Invention of _Shakespear_ in an Instant are shot into your Soul, and enlighten and chear the most indolent Mind with their own Spirit and Lustre.--Upon the whole, _Johnson_'s Compositions are like finished Cabinets, where every Part is wrought up with the most excellent Skill and Exactness;-- _Shakespear_'s like magnificent Castles, not perfectly finished or regular, but adorn'd with such bold and magnificent Designs, as at once 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_, and to deliver it up to your just _Detestation_; And of _Ridicule_, to set 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 several Circumstances.

1. _Raillery_ can only be employ'd in relation to _Persons_, but _Ridicule_ may be employ'd in what relates either to _Persons_, or other _Objects_.

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

3. _Raillery_ may be pointed at a whimsical Circumstance, only because a Person is known to be tender upon it; and your Pleasure will arise from 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 this Circumstance, as it may no way deserve your _Derision_ or _Contempt_.

4. As it thus appears that there are Subjects of _Raillery_, into which _Ridicule_ cannot justly be admitted; So there are Subjects of _Ridicule_, wherein your Derision and Contempt are so strongly excited, that they are too gross for _Raillery_;--As a person tossed in a Blanket; or the unfortunate Attack which another has made upon a Windmill.

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

_Quixote_ is a Character, wherein _Humour_ and _Ridicule_ are finely interwoven;--It is not a Subject of _Satire_, as the Knight is free from 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 the most romantic Adventures, with great Gravity, Importance, and Self- sufficiency; To heighten your Mirth, the _hardy_ Atchievements to be accomplish'd by this Hero, are wittily contrasted by his own meagre weak Figure, and the _desperate Unfierceness_ of his Steed _Rozinante_;--The _Ridicule_ appears in the strange Absurdity of the Attempts, upon which the Knight chuses to exercise his Prowess; Its Poignancy is highly quicken'd, and consequently the Pleasure it gives you, by his miserable Disasters, and the doleful Mortifications of all his Importance and Dignity;--But here, after the Knight, by diverting you in this manner, has brought himself down to the lowest Mark, he rises again and forces your Esteem, by his excellent Sense, Learning and Judgment, upon any Subjects which are not ally'd to his Errantry; These continually act for the Advancement of his Character; And with such 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_ of the Knight upon every Occasion; which are some Kind of Merit in his Favour, and entitle him to Respect, by the Rules of common Gentility and 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 wholly inspir'd by these worthy Principles; Nor is there any thing base, or detestable, in all his Temper or Conduct; It was from hence that the DUKE and the DUTCHESS were extremely delighted with his Visit at their _Castle_; And you yourself, if he existed in real Life, would be fond of his Company at your own Table; which proves him, upon the whole, to be an amiable Character;--It is therefore no wonder that Signior _Don Quixote of la Mancha_ has been so courteously receiv'd in every Country of _Europe_.

Thus delightfully wrought, as this History is, with _Humour_ and _Ridicule_, yet _Cervantes_, still fearful of tiring you with too much of the _Errantry_, has introduc'd the most charming Variety of other Adventures; --All along in the pacific Intervals, you are inform'd of the private Occurrences between the Knight and his 'Squire; And from these, where it is least to be expected, you are surpriz'd with the most high and delicious Repast;-- Nothing can be more pregnant with Mirth, than the Opposition continually working between the grave Solemnity and Dignity of _Quixote_, and the arch Ribaldry and Meanness of _Sancho_; And the Contrast can never be sufficiently admir'd, between the _excellent fine Sense_ of the ONE, and the _dangerous common Sense_ of the OTHER.

It is here that the Genius and Power of _Cervantes_ is most admirably shewn; He was the greatest Master that ever appear'd, in finely opposing, and contrasting his Characters. It is from hence that you feel a Poignancy and Relish in his Writings, which is not to be met with in any others; The natural Reflexions and Debates of _Quixote_ and _Sancho_ would have been barren, insipid, and trite, under other Management; 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 is the most pleasurable, and mirthful, in all Nature?--In _Falstaff_, you have _Humour_ embelish'd with _Wit_; In _Quixote_, _Humour_ made poignant with _Ridicule_; And it is certain that _Humour_ must always be the Ground-work of such Subjects, no Oddities in inanimate Objects being capable of interesting our Passions so strongly, as the Foibles of Persons in real Life;--The chief Substance of _Johnson_'s Compositions is _Humour_ and _Satire_; upon which Plan, as hath been already observ'd, he is oblig'd to demolish, and render detestable, his own Characters;--_Humour_ and _Raillery_ are also capable of furnishing a Repast of quick Relish and Flavour; In written Compositions, the Attack of the _Raillery_, as well as the Reception of it, may be happily conducted, which in other accidental Encounters are liable to Hazard; All Peevishness or Offence is thus easily avoided, and the Character attack'd is sav'd from being really contemptible;--But then indeed the Pleasure you are to receive generally depends upon the Confusion of the Person attack'd, without there being in reason a sufficient Cause for this Confusion;--It is for want of this just Foundation, that the Pleasure arising from _Raillery_ is apt to come forth with less Freedom, Fulness, and Conviction, though with more Delicacy, than that which is derived from _Wit_, or _Ridicule_;--However, _Humour_ and _Raillery_ united together, when the _Raillery_ is founded upon some _real_ Embarrassment in the Circumstance, as well as in the Confusion of the Person attack'd, will furnish a very high Entertainment; which has Pretensions 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 impertinent Fellow. 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 own Mortification, whereby he lays himself fairly open to your _Raillery_; This is the more poignant, and quick, from the real Distress which you see he endur'd, in this odd Attack; At the same Time the particular Turn of the Fellow, who chose in this Manner to pin himself upon another, is a very odd Species of impertinent _Humour_.--This Piece, as it stands, irresistibly forces your Mirth, and shakes you with Laughter; But to a Person of Discernment, it is chiefly at _Horace_'s Expence; Who in receiving and enduring such insolent Treatment, appears in a Light too low and ridiculous, though he has thought fit himself to exhibit the Scene 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 Person who suffer'd it, as a Matter of Merriment;--Besides this Tameness of _Horace_, the Impudence of the Fellow is excessively nauseous and disgusting 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 properly proceeded from another Person, who had intended to expose the Impertinence and Impudence of the Fellow, and freely to _rally_ poor _Horace_, with some Mixture of _Ridicule_, upon his unfortunate Embarrassment; upon this Basis it will appear with Propriety; Without which all Compositions of _Wit_, or _Humour_, or _Taste_, tho' at first they may pleasurably strike the Fancy or Sight, are at last disgusting 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 which the _Humour_ and _Raillery_ of such an Embarrassment, might have been carried to the highest Pitch; And the Description of it have been given by _Horace_ himself, without any Diminution of his own Gentility or Importance;--Imagine then that he had been join'd in his Walk by a weak, ignorant Person, of Good-nature, and the utmost Civility; one who fancy'd himself possessed of the greatest Talents, and fully persuaded that he gave all he convers'd with a particular Pleasure;-- Upon such an Attack, no Resentment or Anger could have been decently shewn by _Horace_, As the Person thus pestering him, was all the while intending the highest Compliment; And must therefore be received, and attended to, with perfect Complaisance; The _Humour_ of this Person would have been very entertaining, in the strange Conceit which he held of his own Abilities, and of the paticular Pleasure he was granting to _Horace_, in condescending to give him so much of his Company; In these Sentiments he should regard all _Horace_'s Excuses, Endeavours, and Struggles to be gone, as Expressions of his Sense of the Honour done him; which should be an Argument with this Person for obstinately persisting to honour him still further; All the while he must be supported by some _real Importance_ belonging to him, attended with _good Breeding_, and strengthened by such occasional Instances of _Sense_, as may secure him from being trampled upon, or becoming absolutely contemptible; In such an Adventure the Mortification, and Distress of _Horace_, would be excessively whimsical and severe; especially as he would be depriv'd of all Succour and Relief; being in Decency oblig'd, not only to suppress all Anger or Uneasiness, but, what is exquisitely quick, to receive this whole Treatment with the utmost Complacency; An _Embarrassment_ of this sort, finely described, would have yielded the greatest Pleasure to the Reader, and carried the _Raillery_ upon _Horace_, without hurting or degrading him, to the highest Degree of _Poignancy_; And from hence may be conceiv'd, what delightful 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 are more _complicate_; An Instance of the Union together of _Humour_, _Raillery_, and _Ridicule_, I remember to have read somewhere in _Voiture_'s Letters; He is in _Spain_, and upon the Point of proceeding 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 the highest _Humour_; At the same time the honest Tar, as a _Projecter_, is excessively open to _Ridicule_, for his Scheme to blow them all up, in order to prevent their being taken Prisoners; There is besides these, 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 you to make it the Object of your Pleasure, and _Raillery_;--It may also be 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 Freedom from 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 in one Subject;--Like various _Notes_ in _Music_, sounding together, and jointly composing one exquisite Piece of Harmony;--Or like different _Rays_ of _Light_, shining together in one _Rainbow_: It is pleasant to _divide_ these _Combinations_, and to view as with a _Prism_, the different Rays united in each; of which _Humour_, like the _Red_, is eminent for its superior Force and Excellence;--When the Judgment is thus capable of parting, and easily assigning the several Quantities, and Proportions of each, it heightens our Pleasure, and gives us an absolute Command over the Subject; But they are often so intimately mix'd, and blended together, that it is difficult to separate them clearly, tho' they are all certainly felt in the same Piece;--Like the different _Flavours_ of rich _Fruits_, which are inseparably mix'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 and Oddities; _Satire_ a witty and severe Attack of _mischievous_ Habits and Vices.

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

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

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

It is from hence that _Juvenal_, as a _Satirist_, is greatly superior to _Horace_; But indeed many of the short Compositions of _Horace_, which are indiscriminately ranged together, under the general Name of _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, nor with any Reproach upon real Merit, so it ought only to be used between _Equals_ and _Intimates_; It being evidently a Liberty too great to be 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 have arisen 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 with the Chagrin or Confusion of the _rally'd_ Person, or capable of being fairly suppos'd to have been so; otherwise the Attack will be void of all 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 the mischievous Effects of her Beauty, will be properly genteel indirect _Flattery_--if it be well conducted,--otherwise, the _Insipid_; But it cannot be deem'd _Raillery_; It being impossible to suppose the Lady _really_ chagrin'd by such an imaginary Misfortune, or uneasy at any Explanation upon this Subject;

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

The Difference between _Satire_, and _Ridicule_, has been already pointed 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 upon the _Improprieties_ of other Subjects; And is directed, not to raise your _Detestation_, but your _Derision_ and _Contempt_;--It being evident 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 and contemptible, is unexpectedly exhibited;--There is also another, very forcible, Manner in which _Ridicule_ may act; And that is by employing _Humour_ alone; Thus the Foible or Queerness of any Person will be most fully _ridicul'd_, by naturally dressing yourself, or any other Person 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 in this; 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 and Ornament.

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

At the same time _good Breeding_ is not to be understood, as merely the _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 Behaviour in different Countries, and in the same Countries at different Periods, 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 carrying a _Respect_ in our Manners to all we convers'd with; whence every Omission of the slightest Ceremony, as it might be construed into a want of _Respect_, was particularly to be avoided; So that _good Breeding_ 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 the Adjustment upon many Occasions, and created immense Trouble and Constraint, 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 this Difficulty it was at last happily observ'd, for the Advantage of genteel Commerce and Society, that _whatever gives Trouble, is inconsistent with Respect_; Upon which Foundation, all Ceremonies which create Embarrassments or Trouble to either Side, are now justly exploded; And the _Ease_ of each other is the Point most peculiarly consulted by _well-bred_ Persons.

If this Attention to _Ease_ was properly conducted, so that it might always appear to have _Respect_ for its Motive; And only to act in Obedience to _that_, as the ruling Principle, it would then comprehend the just Plan of _good Breeding_; But as _this_ was formerly encumber'd with Ceremonies and Embarrassments, so the modern _good Breeding_ 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 be easily excus'd; But a Freedom, which carries the Air of _Neglect_ with it, 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.

* * * * *

[Transcriber's Note:

Translations of Horace _Satire_ I.9 are available from Project Gutenberg as e-text 5419 (verse translation, plain text) or 14020 (prose translation, text or html).]

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

[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 / De Coverly, and Don Quixote. / Inscribed, to the Right Honorable / Robert Earl 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; and W. 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 and advertisements; a-d^4, Introduction; B-L^2, text.

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

Colton Storm Clements Library

* * * * *

ANNOUNCING

the

_Publications_

of

THE AUGUSTAN

REPRINT SOCIETY

_General Editors_

RICHARD C. BOYS EDWARD NILES HOOKER H.T. SWEDENBERG, JR.

* * * * *

_THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY_

Makes Available

_Inexpensive Reprints of Rare Materials_

from

ENGLISH LITERATURE OF THE

SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES

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