"If [61] Men are forbid to speak their Minds _seriously_ on certain Subjects, they will do it _ironically_. If they are forbid at all upon such Subjects, or if they find it dangerous to do so, they will then redouble their Disguise, involve themselves in mysteriousness, and talk so as hardly to be understood, or at least not plainly interpreted by those who are dispos'd to do them a Mischief. And thus _Raillery_ is brought more in fashion, and runs into an Extreme. 'Tis the persecuting Spirit has rais'd the _bantering_ one: And want of Liberty may account for want of a true Politeness, and for the Corruption or wrong Use of Pleasantry and Humour. "If in this respect we strain the just Measure of what we call _Urbanity_, and are apt sometimes to take a buffooning rustick Air, we may thank the ridiculous Solemnity and sour Humour of our _Pedagogues_: or rather they may thank themselves, if they in particular meet with the heaviest of this kind of Treatment. For it will naturally fall heaviest, where the Constraint has been the severest. The greater the Weight is, the bitterer will be the Satire. The higher the Slavery, the more exquisite the Buffoonery. "That this is really so, may appear by looking on those Countries where the spiritual Tyranny is highest. For the greatest of _Buffoons_ are the _Italians_: and in their Writings, in their freer sort of Conversations, on their Theatres, and in their _Streets_, _Buffoonery_ and _Burlesque_ are in the highest Vogue. 'Tis the only manner in which the poor cramp'd Wretches can discharge a free Thought. We must yield to 'em the Superiority in this sort of Wit. For what wonder is it if we, who have more Liberty, have less Dexterity in that egregious way of _Raillery_ and _Ridicule_?" Liberty of _grave_ Examination being fix'd by Law, I am, I say, ready to sacrifice the Privilege of _Irony_, and yield to have a Law enacted to prevent it. I am, moreover, willing to leave the drawing up such a Law to your self; who honestly and impartially say[62], that all who _droll_, let them be of any Party, let them _droll for the Truth or against it_, should be equally punish'd. Thus this grand Affair of _Irony_, _Banter_, and _Ridicule_; this last persecuting Pretence, upon which you would set the Humours and Passions of People, who are all at quiet, on float, and make a Fermentation, and raise a Persecution against particular People, seems perfectly settled, by yielding to your own Terms.