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Page 17
HUMOUR and WIT, as they may thus both be united in the same Subject,
may also separately appear without the least Mixture together; that
is, there may be HUMOUR without WIT, and WIT without HUMOUR.
Thus, if in order to expose the _Foible_ of a _Character_, a _real
Person_ is introduc'd, abounding in this _Foible_, gravely persisting
in it, and valuing himself upon the Merit of it, with great Self-
sufficiency, and Disdain of others; this _Foible_ is then solely
ridiculed 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 of
HUMOUR, 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 and
expose 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 be
observ'd, that an _Humourist_, at the same time that he is guided in
his 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 a
Virtue or Accomplishment, which he thinks does not belong to him;
scorns all _Imitation_ of others; and contemns the rest of the World
for being servilely obedient to Forms and Customs; disclaiming all
such Submission himself, and regulating his Conduct in general by his
own _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 it
sincerely, unbiass'd by _Fear_ or _Regard_, and then leaves it to the
Persons concern'd to determine for themselves; For he is more pleas'd
in the Bottom to find his Opinion _slighted_, and to see the Conduct
of others agreeable to that System of Folly and Weakness, which he has
established with himself, to be the Course of their Actions.--To view
a rational Conduct, even in pursuance of his own Advice, would greatly
disappoint him; and be a Contradiction to this _System_ he has laid
down;--Besides it would deprive him of an Occasion of gratifying his
Spleen, with the Contempt of that Folly, which he esteems to be
natural 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 the
contrary, he is more pleas'd with observing their _Freaks_ and
_Extravagancies_.--It is from hence that he discourages and
depreciates all who pretend to _Discretion_; Persons of this Temper
not yielding him Sport or Diversion.
It is certain that the _Humourist_ is excessively _proud_, and yet
without knowing or suspecting it. For from the Liberty which he
frankly allows to others, of rejecting his Opinion, he is fully
persuaded, that he is free from all _Pride_; But tho' he acts in this
Circumstance without over-bearing, it has already appear'd, not to be
the Effect of his _Humility_, but of a different Motive; a Pleasure
which he takes in observing the Extravagancies of others, rather
than their Discretion. But to demonstrate his _Pride_, besides the
peremptory Manner in which he delivers his Opinion, and conducts
himself upon every Occasion, without any Deference to others, there is
this Circumstance against him; that he is the most stung by a Defeat,
upon any Topic, of all Men living; And although he disregards
Accusations of Roughness and Oddity, and rather esteems them to
be meritorious; yet he will never admit, that he has been fairly
overthrown in a Debate.
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