3 fubjects, which are much enlivened by fuch interpos fition handled in the form of a parody; witness the cave of Spleen, Rape of the Lock, canto 4. the goddefs of Difcord, Lutrin, canto 1. and the goddefs of Indolence, canto 2. Those who have a talent for ridicule, which is feldom united with a taste for delicate and refined beauties, are quick-fighted in improprieties; and these they eagerly grafp, in order to gratify their favourite propenfity. Perfons galled are provoked to maintain that ridicule is improper for grave fubjects. Subjects really grave are by no means fit for ridicule : but then it is urged against them, that when it is called in queftion whether a certain fubject be really grave, ridicule is the only means of determining the controverfy. Hence a celebrated question, Whether ridicule be or be not a teft of truth? I give this queftion a place here, because it tends to illuftrate the nature of ridicule. The question stated in accurate terms is, Whether the fenfe of ridicule be the proper teft for distinguishing ridiculous objects, from what are not fo. Taking it for granted, that ridicule is not a fubject of reafoning, but of fenfe or tafte, I proceed thus. No perfon doubts but that our fenfe of beauty is the true teft of what is beautiful; and our fenfe of grandeur, of what is great or fublime. Is it more doubtful whether our 'fense of ridicule be the true test of what is ridiculous? It is not only the true teft, but indeed the only teft; for this fubject comes not, more than beauty or grandeur, un der the province of reafon. If any fubject, by the influence of fashion or cuftom, have acquired a degree of veneration to which naturally it is not entitled, See chap. 1o. compared with chap. 7. what what are the proper means for wiping off the artificial colouring, and displaying the fubject in its true light? A man of true tafte fees the subject without disguise : but if he hesitate, let him apply the test of ridicule, which separates it from its artificial connections, and exposes it naked with all its native improprieties. But it is urged, that the graveft and moft ferious matters may be fet in a ridiculous light. Hardly fo; for where an object is neither rifible nor improper, it lies not open in any quarter to an attack from ridicule. But fuppofing the fact, I foresee not any harmful confequence. By the fame fort of reafoning, a talent for wit ought to be condemned, because it may be employed to burlefque a great or lofty subject. Such irregular ufe made of a talent for wit or ridicule, cannot long impofe upon mankind it cannot ftand the teft of correct and delicate tafte; and truth will at laft prevail even with the 'vulgar, To condemn a talent for ridicule because it may be perverted to wrong purpofes, is not a little ridiculous could one forbear to fmile, if a talent for reasoning were condemned because it alfo may be perverted? and yet the conclufion in the latter cafe, would be not lefs just than in the former: perhaps more juft; for no talent is more frequently perverted than that of reafon. We had beft leave nature to her own operations: the most valuable talents may be abufed, and fo may that of ridicule: let us bring it under proper culture if we can, without endeavouring to pluck it up by the root. Were we deftitute of this teft of truth, I know not what might be the confequences: I fee not what rule would be left us to prevent fplendid trifles paffing for matters of importance, fhow and form for fubftance, and fuperftition or enthufiafin for pure religion. CHAP. Wr CHA P. XIII. Wit. IT is a quality of certain thoughts and expreffions: the term is never applied to an action nor to a paffion, and as little to an external object. However difficult it may be, in many inftances, to distinguish a witty thought or expression from one that is not fo, yet, in general, it may be laid down, that the term wit is appropriated to fuch thoughts and expreffions as are ludicrous, and alfo occafion fome degree of furprife by their fingularity. Wit, alfo, in a figurative sense, expresses a talent for inventing ludicrous thoughts or expreffions: we fay commonly, a witty man, or a man of wit. Wit in its proper sense, as explained above, is diftinguishable into two kinds; wit in the thought, and wit in the words or expreffion. Again, wit in the thought is of two kinds; ludicrous images, and ludicrous combinations of things that have little or no natural relation. Ludicrous images that occafion furprise by their fingularity, as having little or no foundation in nature, are fabricated by the imagination: and the imagination is well qualified for the office; being of all our faculties the most active, and the leaft under reftraint. Take the following example. Shylock. You knew (none fo well, none fo well as you) of my daughter's flight. Salims. That's certain; I for my part knew the tailor that made the wings the flew withal. Merchant of Venice, að 3. fc. I.. The The image here is undoubtedly witty. It is ludicrous and it must occafion furprise; for having no natural foundation, it is altogether unexpected. The other branch of wit in the thought, is that only which is taken notice of by Addifon, following Locke, who defines it "to lie in the affemblage of ideas; and putting those together, with quickness and variety, wherein can be found any refemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleafant pictures and agreeable vifions in the fancy.*" It may be defined more concifely, and perhaps more accurately, "A junction of things by diftant and fanciful relations, which furprise because they are unexpected.†" The following is a proper example. We grant although he had much wit, As men their best apparel do. Hudibras, canto 1. Wit is of all the most elegant recreation: the image enters the mind with gaiety, and gives a fudden flash, which is extremely pleasant. Wit thereby gently elevates without ftraining, raises mirth without diffo lutenefs, and relaxes while it entertains. Wit in the expreffion, commonly called a play of words, being a baftard fort of wit, is referved for the laft place. I proceed to examples of wit in the thought; and firft of ludicrous images. Falftaff, fpeaking of his taking Sir John Colevile of the Dale, Here he is, and here I yield him; and I beseech your Grace, let it be book'd with the rest of this day's deeds; or, by the Lord, I will have it in a particular ballad elfe, with B. 2. ch. 11. § 2. + See chap. 1. with mine own picture on the top of it, Colevile kiffing my foot to the which courfe if I be enforc'd, if you do not all fhew like gilt twopences to me; and I, in the clear sky of fame, o'erfhine you as much as the full moon doth the cinders of the element, which fhew like pins' heads to her; believe not the word of the noble. Therefore let me have right, and let defert mount. Second part, Henry IV. a&t 4. fc. 6. I knew, when feven juftices could not take up a quarrel, but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an if; as, if you faid fo, then I faid fo; and they fhook hands, and fwore brothers; Your if is the only peacemaker; much virtue is in if. Shakespear. For there is not through all nature, another fo callous, and infenfible a member, as the world's pofteriors, whether you apply to it the toe or the birch. Preface to the tale of a Tub. The war hath introduced abundance of polyfyllables, which will never be able to live many more campaigns. Speculations, operations, preliminaries, ambaffadors, palifadoes, communication, circumvallation, battalions, as numerous as they are, if they attack us too frequently in our coffee-houses, we shall certainly put them to flight, and cut off the rear. Speaking of Difcord. Tatler, No. 230. She never went abroad, but he brought home fuch a bundle of monftrous lies, as would have amazed any mortal, but fuch as knew her; of a whale that had fwallowed a fleet of fhips; of the lions being let out of the tower to deftroy the Proteftant religion; of the Pope's being feen in a brandy-fhop at Wapping, &c. Hiftory of John Bull, part 1. ch. 16. The |