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Page 7
This Description, it is easy to perceive, must have cost the Author of
it a great deal of Labour. It is a very full Specimen of that Talent
of entirely _exhausting_ a Subject, for which Dr. _Barrow_ was
remarkable; and if the _Point_ was, to exhibit all the various Forms
and Appearances, not of WIT only, but of _Raillery_, _Satire_,
_Sarcasms_, and of every Kind of _Poignancy_ and _Pleasantry_ of
Sentiment, and Expression, he seems to have perfectly succeeded; there
being perhaps no Variety, in all the Extent of these Subjects, which
he has not presented to View in this Description.--But he does not
pretend to give any _Definition_ of WIT, intimating rather that it is
quite impossible to be given: And indeed from his Description of it,
as a _Proteus_, appearing in numberless various Colours, and Forms;
and from his mistaking, and presenting for WIT, other different
Mixtures and Substances, it is evident that his Idea of it was quite
confused and uncertain: It is true, he has discovered a vast Scope of
Fertility of Genius, and an uncommon Power of collecting together a
Multitude of Objects upon any Occasion, but he has here absolutely
mistaken his work; for instead of exhibiting the Properties of WIT in
a clearer Light, and confuting the _false Claims_ which are made to
it, he has made it his whole Business to perplex it the more, by
introducing, from all Corners, a monstrous Troop of new unexpected
_Pretenders_.
_Dryden_, in the Preface to his _Opera_, entitled, _The State of
Innocence_, or _Fall of Man_, gives the following _Decree_ upon WIT.
The _Definition of WIT_, (which has been so often attempted, and
ever unsuccessfully by many Poets) is only this: That it is _a
Propriety of Thoughts and Words; or in other Terms, Thoughts and
Words elegantly adapted to the Subject_.
If Mr. _Dryden_ imagined, that he had succeeded _himself_ in this
_Definition_, he was extremely mistaken; for nothing can be more
distant from the Properties of WIT, than those he describes. He
discovers no Idea of the _Surprize_, and _Brilliancy_ of WIT, or of
the sudden _Light_ thrown upon a Subject. Instead of once pointing at
these, he only describes the Properties of clear _Reasoning_, which
are _a Propriety of Thoughts and Words_;--Whereas WIT, in its sudden
_Flashes_, makes no Pretension to _Reasoning_; but is perceived in the
pleasant _Surprize_ which it starts, and in the _Light_ darted upon
a Subject, which instantly vanishes again, without abiding a strict
Examination.
The other Definition he gives, which is, _Thoughts and Words elegantly
adapted to the Subject_, is very different from the former, but
equally unhappy.
For _Propriety_, in _Thoughts_ and _Words_, consists in exhibiting
_clear, pertinent Ideas_, in _precise_ and _perspicuous Words_.
Whereas ELEGANCE consists in the _compt_, _well pruned_ and _succinct
Turn_ of a Subject.
The Object of the _First_, is to be _clear_, and _perspicuous_; whence
it often appears in pursuit of these, not _compt_ or _succinct_:
Whereas the _Essence_ of ELEGANCE is to be _compt_ and _succinct_,
for the Sake of which Ornaments it often neglect _Perspicuity_, and
_Clearness_.--In short, a _Propriety_ of Thoughts and Words, may
subsist without any _Elegance_; as an _Elegance_ of Thoughts and Words
may appear without a perfect _Propriety_.
The last _Definition_, as it is thus very different from the former is
also equally unhappy: For ELEGANCE is no _essential_ Property of WIT.
_Pure_ WIT resulting solely from the _quick Elucidation_ of one
Subject, by the sudden _Arrangement_, and _Comparison_ of it,
with another Subject.--If the two Objects _arranged_ together are
_elegant_, and _polite_, there will then be superadded to the WIT,
an _Elegance_ and _Politeness_ of Sentiment, which will render the
WIT more amiable. But if the Objects are _vulgar_, _obscene_, or
_deformed_, provided the _first_ be _elucidated_, in a lively Manner,
by, the sudden _Arrangement_ of it with the _second_, there will be
equally WIT; though, the Indelicacy of Sentiment attending it, will
render such WIT shocking and abominable.
It is with the highest Respect for the great Mr. _Locke_, that I
deliver his Sentiments upon this Subject.
And hence, perhaps, may be given some Reason of that common
Observation, that Men who have a great deal of _Wit_, and prompt
Memories, have not always the clearest Judgment or deepest
Reason: For _Wit_ lying most in the Assemblage of _Ideas_, and
putting those together with Quickness and Variety, wherein can be
found any Assemblance or Congruity, thereby to make up pleasant
Pictures, and agreeable Visions in the Fancy. _Judgment_, on the
contrary, lies quite on the other side; in separating carefully
one from another, _Ideas_, wherein can be found the least
Difference, thereby to avoid being missed by Similitude, and
by Affinity to take one thing for another. This is a Way of
proceeding quite contrary to Metaphor and Allusion; wherein for
the most Part lies that Entertainment and Pleasantry of _Wit_,
which strikes so lively on the Fancy, and therefore is acceptable
to all People, because its Beauty appears at first Sight, and
there is required no Labour of Thoughts to examine what Truth,
or Reason, there is in it. The Mind, without looking any further,
rests satisfied with the Agreeableness of the Picture, and the
Gaiety of the Fancy. And it is a kind of an Affront to go about
to examine it by the severe Rules of Truth, and good Reason,
whereby it appears, that it conflicts in something that is not
perfectly conformable to them.
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