An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)Morris, Corbyn
Philosophy
An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)
Morris, Corbyn
Comedy; Wit and humor -- History and criticism
A Transition is here unexpededly made from the Sense intended in the
Question to another Point, through the double Meaning of the word
_Fellow_; it being obvious, that his Lordship's _Servant_ is the
Sense of the Word in the Question; and what Person is _like_ to his
Lordship, the Construction put upon it in the Answer: Thus a new
_original_ Subject is started, and being suddenly _arranged_ with all
that appear _similar_ to it, is _enlighten'd_ thereby, being found to
have no _equal_ in _England_.
However, though WIT may be _thus_ struck out, and also appears in the
_Contrast_ with great _Brilliancy_, yet the highest and most perfect
Instances of it result from the sudden and _direct Arrangement_
together of two Objects, which hold a perspicuous and splendid
_Agreement_ with each other; It is then adorn'd with the Charms of
_Propriety_, _Clearness_ and _Illustration_; It dispels the Darkness
around an Object, and presents it diftinctly and perfectly to our
View; chearing us with its _Lustre_, and at the same time informing us
with its _Light_.
Thus, a Gentleman was observing, that _there was_ somewhat _extremely
pleasing in an excellent_ Understanding, _when it appeared in a
beautiful_ Person; To which another returned, _It is like a fine_
Jewel _well set_; You are here pleased with the Happiness, Propriety,
and Splendor of this _new_ Object, which finely _elucidates_ the
original Sentiment;--In short, it is the Excellence of WIT, _to
present the_ first Image _again to your mind, with new unexpected_
Clearness _and_ Advantage.
It is also proper to add, that there may be WIT in a _Picture_,
_Landscape_, or in any _Prospect_, where a gay unexpected _Assemblage_
of _similar_, or _opposite_ Objects, is presented.
JUDGMENT, is the Faculty of discerning the various _Dimensions_,
and _Differences_, of Subjects.
INVENTION is the Faculty of finding out new _Assortments_, and
_Combinations_, of _Ideas_.
HUMOUR is any _whimsical Oddity_ or _Foible_, appearing in the
_Temper_ or _Conduct_ of a _Person_ in _real Life_.
This _whimsical Oddity_ of Conduct, which generally arises from the
strange _Cast_, or _Turn_ of Mind of a _queer_ Person, may also result
from _accidental_ Mistakes and Embarrassments between other Persons;
who being misled by a wrong Information and Suspicion in regard to a
Circumstance, shall act towards each other upon this Occasion, in the
same _odd whimsical_ manner, as _queer_ Persons.
If a _Person_ in real Life, discovers any odd and remarkable
_Features_ of Temper or Conduct, I call such a Person in the _Book_
of _Mankind_, a _Character_. So that the chief Subjects of HUMOUR are
Persons in real Life, who are _Characters_.
It is easy to be perceived, that HUMOUR, and WIT are extremely
different.
HUMOUR appears only in the _Foibles_ and _whimsical Conduct_ of
_Persons_ in real Life; WIT appears in _Comparisons_, either between
_Persons_ in real Life, or between _other Subjects_.
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