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Page 18
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.
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