Thus delightfully wrought, as this History is, with _Humour_ and _Ridicule_, yet _Cervantes_, still fearful of tiring you with too much of the _Errantry_, has introduc'd the most charming Variety of other Adventures; --All along in the pacific Intervals, you are inform'd of the private Occurrences between the Knight and his 'Squire; And from these, where it is least to be expected, you are surpriz'd with the most high and delicious Repast;-- Nothing can be more pregnant with Mirth, than the Opposition continually working between the grave Solemnity and Dignity of _Quixote_, and the arch Ribaldry and Meanness of _Sancho_; And the Contrast can never be sufficiently admir'd, between the _excellent fine Sense_ of the ONE, and the _dangerous common Sense_ of the OTHER. It is here that the Genius and Power of _Cervantes_ is most admirably shewn; He was the greatest Master that ever appear'd, in finely opposing, and contrasting his Characters. It is from hence that you feel a Poignancy and Relish in his Writings, which is not to be met with in any others; The natural Reflexions and Debates of _Quixote_ and _Sancho_ would have been barren, insipid, and trite, under other Management; But _Cervantes_, by his excellent Skill in the _Contrast_, has from these drawn a Regale, which for high, quick, racy Flavour, and Spirit, has yet never been equall'd. It may here be enquir'd, What Species of Composition or Character is the most pleasurable, and mirthful, in all Nature?--In _Falstaff_, you have _Humour_ embelish'd with _Wit_; In _Quixote_, _Humour_ made poignant with _Ridicule_; And it is certain that _Humour_ must always be the Ground-work of such Subjects, no Oddities in inanimate Objects being capable of interesting our Passions so strongly, as the Foibles of Persons in real Life;--The chief Substance of _Johnson_'s Compositions is _Humour_ and _Satire_; upon which Plan, as hath been already observ'd, he is oblig'd to demolish, and render detestable, his own Characters;--_Humour_ and _Raillery_ are also capable of furnishing a Repast of quick Relish and Flavour; In written Compositions, the Attack of the _Raillery_, as well as the Reception of it, may be happily conducted, which in other accidental Encounters are liable to Hazard; All Peevishness or Offence is thus easily avoided, and the Character attack'd is sav'd from being really contemptible;--But then indeed the Pleasure you are to receive generally depends upon the Confusion of the Person attack'd, without there being in reason a sufficient Cause for this Confusion;--It is for want of this just Foundation, that the Pleasure arising from _Raillery_ is apt to come forth with less Freedom, Fulness, and Conviction, though with more Delicacy, than that which is derived from _Wit_, or _Ridicule_;--However, _Humour_ and _Raillery_ united together, when the _Raillery_ is founded upon some _real_ Embarrassment in the Circumstance, as well as in the Confusion of the