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Page 22
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.
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