L’athsmatique Damon a cru que l’air des champs Repareroit en lui le ravage des ans, Il s’est fait, a grands fraix, transporter en Bretagne. Or voiez ce qu’a fait l’air natal qu’il a pris! Damon seroit mort à Paris: Damon est mort à la campagne. Having discussed wit in the thought, we proceed to what is verbal only, commonly called _a play of words_. This sort of wit depends for the most part upon chusing words that have different significations. By this artifice, hocus-pocus tricks are played in language; and thoughts plain and simple take on a very different appearance. Play is necessary for man, in order to refresh him after labour; and accordingly man loves play. He even relisheth a play of words; and it is happy for us, that words can be employed, not only for useful purposes, but also for our amusement. This amusement accordingly, though humble and low, is relished by some at all times, and by all at some times, in order to unbend the mind. It is remarkable, that this low species of wit, has, at one time or other, made a figure in most civilized nations, and has gradually gone into disrepute. So soon as a language is formed into a system, and the meaning of words are ascertained with tolerable accuracy, opportunity is afforded for expressions, which, by the double meaning of some words, give a familiar thought the appearance of being new. And the penetration of the reader or hearer, is gratified in detecting the true sense disguised under the double meaning. That this sort of wit was in England deemed a reputable amusement, during the reigns of Elisabeth and James I. is vouched by the works of Shakespear, and even by the writings of grave divines. But it cannot have any long endurance: for as language ripens, and the meaning of words is more and more ascertained, words held to be synonymous diminish daily; and when those that remain have been more than once employed, the pleasure vanisheth with the novelty. * * * * * I proceed to examples, which, as in the former case, shall be distributed into different classes. * * * * * A seeming resemblance from the double meaning of a word. Beneath this stone my wife doth lie: She’s now at rest, and so am I. A seeming contrast from the same cause, termed _a verbal antithesis_, which hath no despicable effect in ludicrous subjects. Whilst Iris his cosmetic wash would try To make her bloom revive, and lovers die. Some ask for charms, and others philters chuse, To gain Corinna, and their quartans lose, _Dispensary, canto 2._ And how frail nymphs, oft by abortion, aim To lose a substance, to preserve a name. _Ibid. canto 3._ Other seeming connections from the same cause. Will you employ your conqu’ring sword, To break a fiddle and your word. _Hudibras, canto 2._