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
_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.
To these you are to add the perfect _good Breeding_ and _Civility_ of
the Knight upon every Occasion; which are some Kind of Merit in his
Favour, and entitle him to Respect, by the Rules of common Gentility
and Decency; At the same time his Courage, his Honour, Generosity,
and Humanity, are conspicuous in every Act and Attempt; The _Foibles_
which he possesses, besides giving you exquisite Pleasure, are wholly
inspir'd by these worthy Principles; Nor is there any thing base, or
detestable, in all his Temper or Conduct; It was from hence that the
DUKE and the DUTCHESS were extremely delighted with his Visit at their
_Castle_; And you yourself, if he existed in real Life, would be fond
of his Company at your own Table; which proves him, upon the whole, to
be an amiable Character;--It is therefore no wonder that Signior _Don
Quixote of la Mancha_ has been so courteously receiv'd in every
Country of _Europe_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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