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Page 23
It appears, that in Imagination, Invention, Jollity and gay Humour,
_Johnson_ had little Power; But _Shakespear_ unlimited Dominion. The
first was cautious and strict, not daring to sally beyond the Bounds
of Regularity. The other bold and impetuous, rejoicing like a Giant to
run his Course, through all the Mountains and Wilds of Nature and
Fancy.
It requires an almost painful Attention to mark the Propriety and
Accuracy of _Johnson_, and your Satisfaction arises from Reflection
and Comparison; But the Fire and Invention of _Shakespear_ in an
Instant are shot into your Soul, and enlighten and chear the most
indolent Mind with their own Spirit and Lustre.--Upon the whole,
_Johnson_'s Compositions are like finished Cabinets, where every
Part is wrought up with the most excellent Skill and Exactness;--
_Shakespear_'s like magnificent Castles, not perfectly finished or
regular, but adorn'd with such bold and magnificent Designs, as at
once delight and astonish you with their Beauty and Grandeur.
RAILLERY is a genteel poignant Attack of a _Person_ upon any
_slight Foibles_, _Oddities_, or _Embarrassments_ of his, in
which he is tender, or may be supposed to be tender, and
unwilling to come to a free Explanation.
SATIRE is a witty and severe Attack of _mischievous Habits_ or
_Vices_;
RIDICULE is a free _Attack_ of any _Motly Composition_, wherein a
real or affected _Excellence_ and _Defect_ both jointly appear,
_glaring_ together, and _mocking_ each other, in the same
_Subject_.
Hence the Aim of _Raillery_, is to please you, by some little
_Embarrassment_ of a _Person_; Of _Satire_, to scourge _Vice_, and
to deliver it up to your just _Detestation_; And of _Ridicule_, to
set an Object in a mean ludicrous Light, so as to expose it to your
_Derision_ and _Contempt_.
It appears therefore that _Raillery_ and _Ridicule_ differ in several
Circumstances.
1. _Raillery_ can only be employ'd in relation to _Persons_, but
_Ridicule_ may be employ'd in what relates either to _Persons_, or
other _Objects_.
2. _Raillery_ is us'd only upon _slight_ Subjects, where no real
Abilities or Merit are questioned, in order to avoid degrading the
Person you attack, or rendering him contemptible; Whereas _Ridicule_
observes no such Decency, but endeavours really to degrade the Person
attack'd, and to render him contemptible.
3. _Raillery_ may be pointed at a whimsical Circumstance, only because
a Person is known to be tender upon it; and your Pleasure will arise
from the _Embarrassment_ he suffers, in being put to an Explanation;--
Thus a young Gentleman may be _rallied_ upon his Passion for a Lady;--
At the same Time there may be no Ground for _Ridicule_ in this
Circumstance, as it may no way deserve your _Derision_ or _Contempt_.
4. As it thus appears that there are Subjects of _Raillery_, into
which _Ridicule_ cannot justly be admitted; So there are Subjects
of _Ridicule_, wherein your Derision and Contempt are so strongly
excited, that they are too gross for _Raillery_;--As a person tossed
in a Blanket; or the unfortunate Attack which another has made upon a
Windmill.
5. In short, _Raillery_, if the Adventures it is turn'd upon are
too _gross_ and _luscious_, becomes _Ridicule_; And therefore, in
Comparison together, _Raillery_ appears like _Wine_ of a thin Body,
and delicate poignant Flavour; _Ridicule_, like a _Wine_ which is
fuller, and more rich, and luscious.
_Quixote_ is a Character, wherein _Humour_ and _Ridicule_ are finely
interwoven;--It is not a Subject of _Satire_, as the Knight is free
from all Badness of Heart, and Immorality; Nor properly of _Raillery_,
his Adventures in general being too _gross_ and _disastrous_;-- The
_Humour_ appears, in the Representation of a Person in real Life,
fancying himself to be, under the most solemn Obligations to attempt
_hardy_ Atchievements; and upon this Whimsy immediately pursuing the
most romantic Adventures, with great Gravity, Importance, and Self-
sufficiency; To heighten your Mirth, the _hardy_ Atchievements to be
accomplish'd by this Hero, are wittily contrasted by his own
meagre weak Figure, and the _desperate Unfierceness_ of his Steed
_Rozinante_;--The _Ridicule_ appears in the strange Absurdity of the
Attempts, upon which the Knight chuses to exercise his Prowess; Its
Poignancy is highly quicken'd, and consequently the Pleasure it gives
you, by his miserable Disasters, and the doleful Mortifications of all
his Importance and Dignity;--But here, after the Knight, by diverting
you in this manner, has brought himself down to the lowest Mark, he
rises again and forces your Esteem, by his excellent Sense, Learning
and Judgment, upon any Subjects which are not ally'd to his Errantry;
These continually act for the Advancement of his Character; And with
such Supports and Abilities he always obtains your ready Attention,
and never becomes heavy or tedious.
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