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Page 11
These are the only Pieces upon WIT, and HUMOUR, which have fallen
within my Knowledge; I have here fairly delivered them at length;
and from the Respect which is due to such eminent Writers, have
distinctly and deliberately examined the Merit of each.--As to my
own _Performance_, which is now submitted to the Public, I have to
wish, that it may gain a candid and strict Examination. It has been
my Endeavour to give _Definitions_ of the Subjects, upon which I have
treated; A _Plan_ the most difficult of all others to be executed by
an Author; But such an one, as I apprehend, deserves to be more
generally introduced, and established. If once it was expected by the
Public, that _Authors_ should strictly _define_ their Subjects, it
would 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_; Without
clear and precise _Definitions_ such noble Advances could never have
been made in those Sciences; And it is by the Assistance of _these_
only, that Subjects of _Polite Literature_, can ever be enlightened
and embellished with just Ornaments. If _Definitions_ had been
constantly exacted from Authors there would not have appeared _one
hundreth_ Part of the present Books, and yet every Subject had been
better ascertained.--Nor will this Method, as some may imagine, be
encumbered with Stiffness; On the contrary, in _illustrating_ the
Truth of _Definitions_ there is a full Scope of the utmost Genius,
Imagination, and Spirit of a Writer; and a Work upon this _Plan_ is
adorned with the highest Charms appearing with _Propriety_,
_Clearness_, and _Conviction_, as well as Beauty.
It is true, that the Difficulties, which attend an able Execution
of this _Method_, are not open to a careless Eye; And it is some
Mortification 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 could
find upon deliberate Enquiry. Many Modern instances of _Wit_, which
left very lively Impressions upon me, when I heard them, appearing
upon Re-examination to be quite strained and defective. These, which
I have given, as they are thus _trite_, are not designed in themselves
for any Entertainment to the Reader; but being various, and distant
from each other, they very properly serve to explain the Truth, and
Extent of the _Definition_.
The Character of an HUMOURIST, I expect, will be strange to most of
my 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 the
Character of Sir _John Falstaff_, it is chiefly extracted from
_Shakespear_, in his 1st Part of King _Henry_ the _IVth_; But so far
as _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 amiable
Character.
It is obvious, that the Appearance, which _Falstaff_ makes, in the
unfinished Play of _The Merry Wives of Windsor_, is in general greatly
below his true Character. His Imprisonment and Death in the latter
Part of King _Henry_ the _IVth_, seem also to have been written by
_Shakespear_ in Compliance with the _Austerity_ of the Times; and in
order 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; And
beg 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 iniqu� 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 never
apprehended 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; and
as no Merit or Importance belongs to this Person, there appears no
Reason why _Horace_ should endure such Treatment; or, if the other was
too _powerful_ for him, it is not an _Adventure_ of _Honour_; or what
_Horace_ should chuse to expose to the World in this manner, with all
the Particulars of his own despicable Distress.
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