Chapter 4

If instead of referring the _Foible_ of a Person to any _inanimate_ Circumstance, the _Allusion_ had been made to any other ridiculous _Person_ in _real Life_; As a _conceited Fellow_, perpetually recommending his own Whims, to a _Quack-Doctor_;--This _Foible_ will then be ridiculed with HUMOUR; which is likewise the original _Ground_: At the same Time, from the _Comparison_ which is made, there is apparently WIT in the Description.

So that where-ever the _Foible_ of a _Character_ in real Life is concern'd, there HUMOUR comes in; and wherever a sprightly unexpected _Arrangement_ is presented of two _similar_, or _opposite_ Subjects, whether animate or inanimate, there WIT is exhibited.

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.

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.

The _Humourist_ is constitutionally, and also from Reflection, a Man of _Sincerity_.--If he is a _Rogue_ upon any Occasion, he is more wilfully one, and puts greater Violence upon himself in being such, than the rest of the World; And though he may generally seem to have little _Benevolence_, which is the common Objection against him, it is only for want of proper Objects; for no Person has certainly a quicker _Feeling_; And there are Instances frequent, of greater Generosity and humane Warmth flowing from an _Humourist_, than are capable of proceeding from a weak _Insipid_, who labours under a continual Flux of Civility.

Upon the whole, the _Humourist_ is perhaps the least of all others, a _despicable_ Character. But Imitations, which are frequently seen of this Character, are excessively despicable.--What can be more ridiculous, than a Wretch setting up for an _Humourist_, merely upon the Strength of disrelishing every Thing, without any Principle;--The Servants, Drawers, Victuals, Weather,--and growling without Poignancy of Sense, at every new Circumstance which appears, in public or private. A perfect and compleat _Humourist_ is rarely to be found; and when you hear his _Voice_, is a different Creature.--In writing to _Englishmen_, who are generally tinged, deeply or slightly, with the _Dye_ of the _Humourist_, it seem'd not improper to insist the longer upon this Character; However, let none be too fond of it; For though an _Humourist_ with his Roughness is greatly to be preferr'd to a smooth _Insipid_, yet the Extremes of both are equally wretched: _Ideots_ being only the lowest Scale of _Insipids_, as _Madmen_ are no other than _Humourists_ in Excess.

It may be proper to observe in this place, that though all _Ostentation_, _Affectation_, and _Imitation_ are excluded from the Composition of a perfect _Humourist_; yet as they are the obvious _Foibles_ of some Persons in Life, they may justly be made the Subject of _Humour_.

For HUMOUR extensively and fully understood, is _any remarkable_ Oddity _or_ Foible _belonging to a_ Person _in_ real Life; _whether this_ Foible _be constitutional, habitual_, or _only affected; whether partial in one or two Circumstances; or tinging the whole Temper and Conduct of the_ Person.

It has from hence been observ'd, that there is more HUMOUR in the _English_ Comedies than in others; as we have more various odd _Characters_ in real Life, than any other Nation, or perhaps than all other Nations together.

That HUMOUR gives more Delight, and leaves a more pleasurable Impression behind it, than WIT, is universally felt and established; Though the Reasons for this have not yet been assign'd.--I shall therefore beg Leave to submit the following.

1. HUMOUR is more _interesting_ than WIT in general, as the _Oddities_ and _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_ are more apt to affect our Passions, than any Oppositions or Relations between _inanimate_ Objects.

2. HUMOUR is _Nature_, or what really appears in the Subject, without any Embellishments; WIT only a Stroke of _Art_, where the original Subject, being insufficient of itself, is garnished and deck'd with auxiliary Objects.

3. HUMOUR, or the Foible of a _Character_ in real Life, is usually insisted upon for some Length of Time. From whence, and from the common Knowledge of the Character, it is universally felt and understood.--Whereas the Strokes of WIT are like sudden _Flashes_, vanishing in an Instant, and usually flying too fast to be sufficiently marked and pursued by the Audience.

4. HUMOUR, if the Representation of it be just, is compleat and perfect in its Kind, and entirely fair and unstrain'd.--Whereas in the Allusions of WIT, the Affinity is generally imperfect and defective in one Part or other; and even in those Points where the Affinity may be allow'd to subsist, some Nicety and Strain is usually requir'd to make it appear.

5. HUMOUR generally appears in such Foibles, as each of the Company thinks himself superior to.--Whereas WIT shews the Quickness and Abilities of the Person who discovers it, and places him superior to the rest of the Company.

6. Humour, in the Representation of the _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_, frequently exhibits very _generous benevolent_ Sentiments of the Heart; And these, tho' exerted in a particular odd Manner, justly command our Fondness and Love.--Whereas in the Allusions of WIT, _Severity_, _Bitterness_, and _Satire_, are frequently exhibited.--And where these are avoided, not worthy amiable Sentiments of the _Heart_, but quick unexpected Efforts of the _Fancy_, are presented.

7. The odd Adventures, and Embarrassments, which _Persons_ in _real Life_ are drawn into by their _Foibles_, are fit Subjects of _Mirth_. --Whereas in pure WIT, the Allusions are rather _surprizing_, than _mirthful_; and the _Agreements_ or _Contrasts_ which are started between Objects, without any relation to the _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in real Life, are more fit to be _admired_ for their _Happiness_ and _Propriety_, than to excite our _Laughter_.--Besides, WIT, in the frequent Repetition of it, tires the Imagination with its precipitate Sallies and Flights; and teizes the Judgment.--Whereas HUMOUR, in the Representation of it, puts no Fatigue upon the _Imagination_, and gives exquisite Pleasure to the _Judgment_.

These seem to me to be the different Powers and Effects of HUMOUR and WIT. However, the most agreeable Representations or Competitions of all others, appear not where they _separately_ exist, but where they are _united_ together in the same Fabric; where HUMOUR is the _Ground- work_ and chief Substance, and WIT happily spread, _quickens_ the whole with Embellishments.

This is the Excellency of the _Character_ of Sir _John Falstaff_; the _Ground-work_ is _Humour_, the Representation and Detection of a bragging and vaunting _Coward_ in _real Life_; However, this alone would only have expos'd the _Knight_, as a meer _Noll Bluff_, to the Derision of the Company; And after they had once been gratify'd with his Chastisement, he would have sunk into Infamy, and become quite odious and intolerable: But here the inimitable _Wit_ of Sir _John_ comes in to his Support, and gives a new _Rise_ and _Lustre_ to his Character; For the sake of his _Wit_ you forgive his _Cowardice_; or rather, are fond of his _Cowardice_ for the Occasions it gives to his _Wit_. In short, the _Humour_ furnishes a Subject and Spur to the _Wit_, and the _Wit_ again supports and embellishes the _Humour_.

At the _first_ Entrance of the _Knight_, your good Humour and Tendency to _Mirth_ are irresistibly excited by his jolly Appearance and Corpulency; you feel and acknowledge him, to be the fittest Subject imaginable for yielding _Diversion_ and _Merriment_; but when you see him immediately set up for _Enterprize_ and _Activity_, with his evident _Weight_ and _Unweildiness_, your Attention is all call'd forth, and you are eager to watch him to the End of his Adventures; Your Imagination pointing out with a full Scope his future Embarrassments. All the while as you accompany him forwards, he _heightens_ your Relish for his future Disasters, by his happy Opinion of his own Sufficiency, and the gay Vaunts which he makes of his Talents and Accomplishments; so that at last when he falls into a Scrape, your Expectation is exquisitely gratify'd, and you have the full Pleasure of seeing all his trumpeted Honour laid in the Dust. When in the midst of his Misfortunes, instead of being utterly demolish'd and sunk, he rises again by the superior Force of his _Wit_, and begins a _new_ Course with fresh Spirit and Alacrity; This excites you the more to _renew_ the Chace, in full View of his _second_ Defeat; out of which he recovers again, and triumphs with new Pretensions and Boastings. After this he immediately starts upon a _third_ Race, and so on; continually detected and caught, and yet constantly extricating himself by his inimitable _Wit_ and _Invention_; thus yielding a perpetual _Round_ of Sport and Diversion.

Again, the genteel _Quality_ of Sir _John_ is of great Use in supporting his Character; It prevents his _sinking_ too low after several of his Misfortunes; Besides, you allow him, in consequence of his _Rank_ and _Seniority_, the Privilege to dictate, and take the Lead, and to rebuke others upon many Occasions; By this he is sav'd from appearing too _nauseous_ and _impudent_. The good _Sense_ which he possesses comes also to his Aid, and saves him from being _despicable_, by forcing your Esteem for his real Abilities.--Again, the _Privilege_ you allow him of rebuking and checking others, when he assumes it with proper Firmness and Superiority, helps to _settle_ anew, and _compose_ his Character after an Embarrassment; And reduces in some measure the _Spirit_ of the Company to a proper _Level_, before he sets out again upon a fresh Adventure;--without this, they would be kept continually _strain'd_, and _wound up_ to the highest Pitch, without sufficient Relief and Diversity.

It may also deserve to be remark'd of _Falstaff_, that the _Figure_ of his _Person_ is admirably suited to the _Turn_ of his _Mind_; so that there arises before you a perpetual _Allusion_ from one to the other, which forms an incessant Series of _Wit_, whether they are in _Contrast_ or _Agreement_ together.--When he pretends to _Activity_, there is _Wit_ in the _Contrast_ between his _Mind_ and his _Person_, --And _Wit_ in their _Agreement_, when he triumphs in _Jollity_.

To compleat the whole,--you have in this Character of _Falstaff_, not only a free Course of _Humour_, supported and embellish'd with admirable _Wit_; but this _Humour_ is of a Species the most _jovial_ and _gay_ in all Nature.--Sir _Jobn Falstaff_ possesses Generosity, Chearfulness, Alacrity, Invention, Frolic and Fancy superior to all other Men;--The _Figure_ of his _Person_ is the Picture of Jollity, Mirth, and Good-nature, and banishes at once all other Ideas from your Breast; He is happy himself, and makes you happy.--If you examine him further, he has no Fierceness, Reserve, Malice or Peevishness lurking in his Heart; His Intentions are all pointed at innocent Riot and Merriment; Nor has the Knight any inveterate Design, except against _Sack_, and that too he _loves_.--If, besides this, he desires to pass for a Man of _Activity_ and _Valour_, you can easily excuse so harmless a _Foible_, which yields you the highest Pleasure in its constant _Detection_.

If you put all these together, it is impossible to _hate_ honest _Jack Falstaff_; If you observe them again, it is impossible to avoid _loving_ him; He is the gay, the witty, the frolicksome, happy, and fat _Jack Falstaff_, the most delightful _Swaggerer_ in all Nature.-- You must _love_ him for your _own_ sake,--At the same time you cannot but _love_ him for _his own_ Talents; And when you have _enjoy'd_ them, you cannot but _love_ him in _Gratitude_;--He has nothing to disgust you, and every thing to give you Joy;--His _Sense_ and his _Foibles_ are equally directed to advance your Pleasure; And it is impossible to be tired or unhappy in his Company.

This _jovial_ and _gay_ Humour, without any thing _envious_, _malicious_, _mischievous_, or _despicable_, and continually _quicken'd_ and adorn'd with _Wit_, yields that peculiar Delight, without any _Alloy_, which we all feel and acknowledge in _Falstaff's_ Company.--_Ben Johnson_ has _Humour_ in his _Characters_, drawn with the most masterly Skill and Judgment; In Accuracy, Depth, Propriety, and Truth, he has no _Superior_ or _Equal_ amongst _Ancients_ or _Moderns_; But the _Characters_ he exhibits are of _satirical_, and _deceitful_, or of a _peevish_ or _despicable_ Species; as _Volpone_, _Subtle_, _Morose_, and _Abel Drugger_; In all of which there is something very justly to be _hated_ or _despised_; And you feel the same Sentiments of _Dislike_ for every other _Character_ of _Johnson_'s; so that after you have been _gratify'd_ with their _Detention_ and _Punishment_, you are quite tired and disgusted with their Company:--Whereas _Shakespear_, besides the peculiar _Gaiety_ in the _Humour_ of _Falstaff_, has guarded him from disgusting you with his _forward Advances_, by giving him _Rank_ and _Quality_; from being _despicable_ by his real good _Sense_ and excellent _Abilities_; from being _odious_ by his _harmless Plots_ and _Designs_; and from being _tiresome_ by his inimitable Wit, and his new and incessant _Sallies_ of highest _Fancy_ and _Frolick_.

This discovers the _Secret_ of carrying COMEDY to the highest Pitch of Delight; Which lies in drawing the Persons exhibited, with such chearful and amiable _Oddities_ and _Foibles_, as you would chuse in your own _Companions_ in _real Life; --otherwise, tho' you may be diverted at first with the _Novelty_ of a Character, and with a proper _Detection_ and _Ridicule_ of it, yet its _Peevishness_, _Meanness_, or _Immorality_, will begin to disgust you after a little Reflection, and become soon _tiresome_ and _odious_; It being certain, that whoever cannot be endured as an _accidental_ Companion in _real Life_, will never become, for the very same Reasons, a _favorite comic Character_ in the Theatre.