Corbyn Morris - An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)
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Corbyn Morris >> An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule (1744)
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Upon the same Principle of scorning all _Imitation_, the _Humourist_
seldom heartily assents to any speculative Opinion, which is deliver'd
by another; for he is above being inform'd or set right in his
Judgment by any Person, even by a Brother _Humourist_. If two of this
_Cast_ happen to meet, instead of uniting together, they are afraid of
each other; and you shall observe _one_, in order to court the good
Opinion of the _other_, produce a Specimen of his own Perfection as an
_Humourist_; by exhibiting some unusual Strain of _sensible Oddity_,
or by unexpectedly biting a poor _Insipid_; which the other
_Humourist_ shall answer again in the same manner, in order to
display _his_ Talents.
These are the _Foibles_ and _narrow_ Whims of a perfect _Humourist_.
But, on the other hand, he stands upon a very enlarged Basis; Is a
Lover of Reason and Liberty; and scorns to flatter or betray; nor will
he falsify his Principles, to court the Favour of the Great. He is not
credulous, or fond of Religious or Philosophical Creeds or Creed-
makers; But then he never offers himself to forge Articles of Faith
for the rest of the World. Abounding in poignant and just Reflections;
The Guardian of Freedom, and Scourge of such as do wrong. It is _He_
checks the Frauds, and curbs the Usurpations of every Profession. The
venal Biass of the assuming Judge, the cruel Pride of the starch'd
Priest, the empty Froth of the florid Counsellor, the false Importance
of the formal Man of Business, the specious Jargon of the grave
Physician, and the creeping Taste of the trifling Connoisseur, are all
bare to his Eye, and feel the Lash of his Censure; It is _He_ that
watches the daring Strides, and secret Mines of the ambitious Prince,
and desperate Minister: _He_ gives the Alarm, and prevents their
Mischief. Others there are who have Sense and Foresight; but _they_
are brib'd by Hopes or Fears, or bound by softer Ties; It is _He_
only, the _Humourist_, that has the Courage and Honesty to cry out,
unmov'd by personal Resentment: He flourishes only in a Land of
_Freedom_, and when _that_ ceases he dies too, the last and noblest
_Weed_ of the Soil of _Liberty_.
It is a palpable _Absurdity_ to suppose a Person an _Humourist_,
without excellent Sense and Abilities; as much as to suppose a _Smith_
in his full Business, without his _Hammers_ or _Forge_.--But the
_Humourist_, as he advances in Years, is apt to grow intolerable to
himself and the World; becoming at length, uneasy, and fatigued with
the constant View of the same Follies; like a Person who is tir'd
with seeing the same Tragi-Comedy continually acted. This sowres his
Temper; And unless some favorable Incidents happen to mellow him, he
resigns himself wholly to Peevishness.--By which Time he perceives
that the World is quite tir'd of _him_.--After which he drags on the
Remainder of his Life, in a State of _War_ with the rest of Mankind.
The _Humourist_ is constitutionally, and also from Reflection, a Man
of _Sincerity_.--If he is a _Rogue_ upon any Occasion, he is more
wilfully one, and puts greater Violence upon himself in being such,
than the rest of the World; And though he may generally seem to have
little _Benevolence_, which is the common Objection against him,
it is only for want of proper Objects; for no Person has certainly
a quicker _Feeling_; And there are Instances frequent, of greater
Generosity and humane Warmth flowing from an _Humourist_, than are
capable of proceeding from a weak _Insipid_, who labours under a
continual Flux of Civility.
Upon the whole, the _Humourist_ is perhaps the least of all others,
a _despicable_ Character. But Imitations, which are frequently seen
of this Character, are excessively despicable.--What can be more
ridiculous, than a Wretch setting up for an _Humourist_, merely upon
the Strength of disrelishing every Thing, without any Principle;--The
Servants, Drawers, Victuals, Weather,--and growling without Poignancy
of Sense, at every new Circumstance which appears, in public or
private. A perfect and compleat _Humourist_ is rarely to be found;
and when you hear his _Voice_, is a different Creature.--In writing to
_Englishmen_, who are generally tinged, deeply or slightly, with the
_Dye_ of the _Humourist_, it seem'd not improper to insist the longer
upon this Character; However, let none be too fond of it; For though
an _Humourist_ with his Roughness is greatly to be preferr'd to a
smooth _Insipid_, yet the Extremes of both are equally wretched:
_Ideots_ being only the lowest Scale of _Insipids_, as _Madmen_ are no
other than _Humourists_ in Excess.
It may be proper to observe in this place, that though all
_Ostentation_, _Affectation_, and _Imitation_ are excluded from the
Composition of a perfect _Humourist_; yet as they are the obvious
_Foibles_ of some Persons in Life, they may justly be made the Subject
of _Humour_.
For HUMOUR extensively and fully understood, is _any remarkable_
Oddity _or_ Foible _belonging to a_ Person _in_ real Life; _whether
this_ Foible _be constitutional, habitual_, or _only affected; whether
partial in one or two Circumstances; or tinging the whole Temper and
Conduct of the_ Person.
It has from hence been observ'd, that there is more HUMOUR in the
_English_ Comedies than in others; as we have more various odd
_Characters_ in real Life, than any other Nation, or perhaps than
all other Nations together.
That HUMOUR gives more Delight, and leaves a more pleasurable
Impression behind it, than WIT, is universally felt and established;
Though the Reasons for this have not yet been assign'd.--I shall
therefore beg Leave to submit the following.
1. HUMOUR is more _interesting_ than WIT in general, as the _Oddities_
and _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_ are more apt to affect our
Passions, than any Oppositions or Relations between _inanimate_
Objects.
2. HUMOUR is _Nature_, or what really appears in the Subject, without
any Embellishments; WIT only a Stroke of _Art_, where the original
Subject, being insufficient of itself, is garnished and deck'd with
auxiliary Objects.
3. HUMOUR, or the Foible of a _Character_ in real Life, is usually
insisted upon for some Length of Time. From whence, and from the
common Knowledge of the Character, it is universally felt and
understood.--Whereas the Strokes of WIT are like sudden _Flashes_,
vanishing in an Instant, and usually flying too fast to be
sufficiently marked and pursued by the Audience.
4. HUMOUR, if the Representation of it be just, is compleat and
perfect in its Kind, and entirely fair and unstrain'd.--Whereas in the
Allusions of WIT, the Affinity is generally imperfect and defective in
one Part or other; and even in those Points where the Affinity may be
allow'd to subsist, some Nicety and Strain is usually requir'd to make
it appear.
5. HUMOUR generally appears in such Foibles, as each of the Company
thinks himself superior to.--Whereas WIT shews the Quickness and
Abilities of the Person who discovers it, and places him superior
to the rest of the Company.
6. Humour, in the Representation of the _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in
_real Life_, frequently exhibits very _generous benevolent_ Sentiments
of the Heart; And these, tho' exerted in a particular odd Manner,
justly command our Fondness and Love.--Whereas in the Allusions of WIT,
_Severity_, _Bitterness_, and _Satire_, are frequently exhibited.--And
where these are avoided, not worthy amiable Sentiments of the _Heart_,
but quick unexpected Efforts of the _Fancy_, are presented.
7. The odd Adventures, and Embarrassments, which _Persons_ in _real
Life_ are drawn into by their _Foibles_, are fit Subjects of _Mirth_.
--Whereas in pure WIT, the Allusions are rather _surprizing_, than
_mirthful_; and the _Agreements_ or _Contrasts_ which are started
between Objects, without any relation to the _Foibles_ of _Persons_
in real Life, are more fit to be _admired_ for their _Happiness_ and
_Propriety_, than to excite our _Laughter_.--Besides, WIT, in the
frequent Repetition of it, tires the Imagination with its precipitate
Sallies and Flights; and teizes the Judgment.--Whereas HUMOUR, in the
Representation of it, puts no Fatigue upon the _Imagination_, and
gives exquisite Pleasure to the _Judgment_.
These seem to me to be the different Powers and Effects of HUMOUR and
WIT. However, the most agreeable Representations or Competitions of
all others, appear not where they _separately_ exist, but where they
are _united_ together in the same Fabric; where HUMOUR is the _Ground-
work_ and chief Substance, and WIT happily spread, _quickens_ the
whole with Embellishments.
This is the Excellency of the _Character_ of Sir _John Falstaff_;
the _Ground-work_ is _Humour_, the Representation and Detection of
a bragging and vaunting _Coward_ in _real Life_; However, this alone
would only have expos'd the _Knight_, as a meer _Noll Bluff_, to the
Derision of the Company; And after they had once been gratify'd with
his Chastisement, he would have sunk into Infamy, and become quite
odious and intolerable: But here the inimitable _Wit_ of Sir _John_
comes in to his Support, and gives a new _Rise_ and _Lustre_ to his
Character; For the sake of his _Wit_ you forgive his _Cowardice_; or
rather, are fond of his _Cowardice_ for the Occasions it gives to his
_Wit_. In short, the _Humour_ furnishes a Subject and Spur to the
_Wit_, and the _Wit_ again supports and embellishes the _Humour_.
At the _first_ Entrance of the _Knight_, your good Humour and Tendency
to _Mirth_ are irresistibly excited by his jolly Appearance and
Corpulency; you feel and acknowledge him, to be the fittest Subject
imaginable for yielding _Diversion_ and _Merriment_; but when you
see him immediately set up for _Enterprize_ and _Activity_, with his
evident _Weight_ and _Unweildiness_, your Attention is all call'd
forth, and you are eager to watch him to the End of his Adventures;
Your Imagination pointing out with a full Scope his future
Embarrassments. All the while as you accompany him forwards, he
_heightens_ your Relish for his future Disasters, by his happy Opinion
of his own Sufficiency, and the gay Vaunts which he makes of his
Talents and Accomplishments; so that at last when he falls into a
Scrape, your Expectation is exquisitely gratify'd, and you have the
full Pleasure of seeing all his trumpeted Honour laid in the Dust.
When in the midst of his Misfortunes, instead of being utterly
demolish'd and sunk, he rises again by the superior Force of his
_Wit_, and begins a _new_ Course with fresh Spirit and Alacrity;
This excites you the more to _renew_ the Chace, in full View of his
_second_ Defeat; out of which he recovers again, and triumphs with
new Pretensions and Boastings. After this he immediately starts upon
a _third_ Race, and so on; continually detected and caught, and
yet constantly extricating himself by his inimitable _Wit_ and
_Invention_; thus yielding a perpetual _Round_ of Sport and Diversion.
Again, the genteel _Quality_ of Sir _John_ is of great Use in
supporting his Character; It prevents his _sinking_ too low after
several of his Misfortunes; Besides, you allow him, in consequence of
his _Rank_ and _Seniority_, the Privilege to dictate, and take the
Lead, and to rebuke others upon many Occasions; By this he is sav'd
from appearing too _nauseous_ and _impudent_. The good _Sense_
which he possesses comes also to his Aid, and saves him from being
_despicable_, by forcing your Esteem for his real Abilities.--Again,
the _Privilege_ you allow him of rebuking and checking others, when he
assumes it with proper Firmness and Superiority, helps to _settle_
anew, and _compose_ his Character after an Embarrassment; And reduces
in some measure the _Spirit_ of the Company to a proper _Level_,
before he sets out again upon a fresh Adventure;--without this, they
would be kept continually _strain'd_, and _wound up_ to the highest
Pitch, without sufficient Relief and Diversity.
It may also deserve to be remark'd of _Falstaff_, that the _Figure_
of his _Person_ is admirably suited to the _Turn_ of his _Mind_; so
that there arises before you a perpetual _Allusion_ from one to the
other, which forms an incessant Series of _Wit_, whether they are in
_Contrast_ or _Agreement_ together.--When he pretends to _Activity_,
there is _Wit_ in the _Contrast_ between his _Mind_ and his _Person_,
--And _Wit_ in their _Agreement_, when he triumphs in _Jollity_.
To compleat the whole,--you have in this Character of _Falstaff_,
not only a free Course of _Humour_, supported and embellish'd with
admirable _Wit_; but this _Humour_ is of a Species the most _jovial_
and _gay_ in all Nature.--Sir _Jobn Falstaff_ possesses Generosity,
Chearfulness, Alacrity, Invention, Frolic and Fancy superior to all
other Men;--The _Figure_ of his _Person_ is the Picture of Jollity,
Mirth, and Good-nature, and banishes at once all other Ideas from your
Breast; He is happy himself, and makes you happy.--If you examine him
further, he has no Fierceness, Reserve, Malice or Peevishness lurking
in his Heart; His Intentions are all pointed at innocent Riot and
Merriment; Nor has the Knight any inveterate Design, except against
_Sack_, and that too he _loves_.--If, besides this, he desires to
pass for a Man of _Activity_ and _Valour_, you can easily excuse so
harmless a _Foible_, which yields you the highest Pleasure in its
constant _Detection_.
If you put all these together, it is impossible to _hate_ honest
_Jack Falstaff_; If you observe them again, it is impossible to avoid
_loving_ him; He is the gay, the witty, the frolicksome, happy, and
fat _Jack Falstaff_, the most delightful _Swaggerer_ in all Nature.--
You must _love_ him for your _own_ sake,--At the same time you cannot
but _love_ him for _his own_ Talents; And when you have _enjoy'd_
them, you cannot but _love_ him in _Gratitude_;--He has nothing to
disgust you, and every thing to give you Joy;--His _Sense_ and his
_Foibles_ are equally directed to advance your Pleasure; And it is
impossible to be tired or unhappy in his Company.
This _jovial_ and _gay_ Humour, without any thing _envious_,
_malicious_, _mischievous_, or _despicable_, and continually
_quicken'd_ and adorn'd with _Wit_, yields that peculiar Delight,
without any _Alloy_, which we all feel and acknowledge in _Falstaff's_
Company.--_Ben Johnson_ has _Humour_ in his _Characters_, drawn with
the most masterly Skill and Judgment; In Accuracy, Depth, Propriety,
and Truth, he has no _Superior_ or _Equal_ amongst _Ancients_ or
_Moderns_; But the _Characters_ he exhibits are of _satirical_, and
_deceitful_, or of a _peevish_ or _despicable_ Species; as _Volpone_,
_Subtle_, _Morose_, and _Abel Drugger_; In all of which there is
something very justly to be _hated_ or _despised_; And you feel
the same Sentiments of _Dislike_ for every other _Character_ of
_Johnson_'s; so that after you have been _gratify'd_ with their
_Detention_ and _Punishment_, you are quite tired and disgusted with
their Company:--Whereas _Shakespear_, besides the peculiar _Gaiety_ in
the _Humour_ of _Falstaff_, has guarded him from disgusting you with
his _forward Advances_, by giving him _Rank_ and _Quality_; from being
_despicable_ by his real good _Sense_ and excellent _Abilities_; from
being _odious_ by his _harmless Plots_ and _Designs_; and from being
_tiresome_ by his inimitable Wit, and his new and incessant _Sallies_
of highest _Fancy_ and _Frolick_.
This discovers the _Secret_ of carrying COMEDY to the highest Pitch of
Delight; Which lies
in drawing the Persons exhibited, with such chearful and amiable
_Oddities_ and _Foibles_, as you would chuse in your own
_Companions_ in _real Life;
--otherwise, tho' you may be diverted at first with the _Novelty_ of a
Character, and with a proper _Detection_ and _Ridicule_ of it, yet its
_Peevishness_, _Meanness_, or _Immorality_, will begin to disgust you
after a little Reflection, and become soon _tiresome_ and _odious_; It
being certain, that
whoever cannot be endured as an _accidental_ Companion in _real
Life_, will never become, for the very same Reasons, a _favorite
comic Character_ in the Theatre.
This _Relish_ for _generous_ and _worthy_ Characters alone, which
we all feel upon the _Theatre_, where no Biass of Envy, Malice, or
personal Resentment draws us aside, seems to be some Evidence of our
_natural_ and _genuin_ Disposition to _Probity_ and _Virtue_; tho' the
Minds of most Persons being early and deeply _tinged_ with vicious
Passions, it is no wonder that _Stains_ have been generally mistaken
for _original Colours_.
It may be added, that _Humour_ is the most exquisite and delightful,
when the _Oddities_ and _Foibles_ introduc'd are not _mischievous_ or
_sneaking_, but _free_, _jocund_, and _liberal_; and such as result
from a generous Flow of Spirits, and a warm universal _Benevolence_.
It is obviously from hence, that the _Character_ of Sir _Roger_ de
_Coverly_ in the _Spectators_ is so extremely agreeable. His _Foibles_
are all derived from some amiable Cause.--If he believes that _one
Englishman_ can conquer _two Frenchmen_, you laugh at his _Foible_,
and are fond of a _Weakness_ in the Knight, which proceeds from his
high Esteem of his _own Country-men_.--If he chuses you should employ
a _Waterman_ or _Porter_ with _one_ Leg, you readily excuse the
Inconvenience he puts you to, for his worthy regard to the Suffering
of a brave _Soldier_.--In short, though he is guilty of continual
Absurdities, and has little Understanding or real Abilities, you
cannot but _love_ and _esteem_ him, for his _Honour_, _Hospitality_,
and universal _Benevolence_.
It is indeed true, that his _Dignity_, _Age_, and _Rank_ in his
Country, are of constant Service in _upholding_ his Character.
These are a perpetual _Guard_ to the Knight, and preserve him from
_Contempt_ upon many Occasions.--All which corresponds entirely with
the fore-going _Remark_. For you would be fond of Sir _Roger's_
Acquaintaince and Company in _real Life_, as he is a Gentleman of
_Quality_ and _Virtue_; You love and admire him in the _Spectators_
for the _same_ Reasons; And for these also he would become, if he was
rightly exhibited, a _favorite_ Character in the _Theatre_.
It may be proper to observe in this Place, that the _Business_
of COMEDY is to exhibit the whimsical _unmischievous Oddities_,
_Frolics,_ and _Foibles_ of _Persons_ in _real Life_; And also to
_expose_ and _ridicule_ their _real Follies_, _Meanness_, and _Vices_.
The _former_, it appears, is more pleasurable to the Audience, but the
_latter_ has the Merit of being more instructive.
The _Business_ of TRAGEDY is to exhibit the _Instability_ of _human_
Grandeur, and the unexpected _Misfortunes_ and _Distresses_ incident
to the _Innocent_ and _Worthy_ in all Stations.--And also to shew the
terrible Sallies and the miserable Issue and Punishment of ungovern'd
Passions and Wickedness.--The _former_ softens the Heart and fills it
with Compassion, Humility and Benevolence.--Compositions of this Sort
are the highest, most admirable, and useful in all Nature, when they
are finish'd with Propriety and Delicacy, and justly wrought up
with the Sublime and Simplicity.--The _latter_ Species of _Tragedy_
terrifies and shocks us, in exhibiting both the Crimes and the
Punishments. It threatens us into Moderation and Justice, by shewing
the terrible Issue of their Contraries. Pieces of this Sort, conducted
with Propriety, and carrying Application to ourselves, can scarcely be
desireable; But as they are generally conducted, they amount only to
giving us an absurd Representation of a Murther committed by some
furious foaming _Basha_, or _Sultan_.
To return.--_Johnson_ in his COMIC Scenes has expos'd and ridicul'd
_Folly_ and _Vice_; _Shakespear_ has usher'd in _Joy_, _Frolic_ and
_Happiness_.--The _Alchymist_, _Volpone_ and _Silent Woman_ of
_Johnson_, are most exquisite _Satires_. The _comic_ Entertainments of
_Shakespear_ are the highest Compositions of _Raillery_, _Wit_
and _Humour_. _Johnson_ conveys some Lesson in every Character.
_Shakespear_ some new Species of Foible and Oddity. The one pointed
his Satire with masterly Skill; the other was inimitable in touching
the Strings of Delight. With _Johnson_ you are confin'd and
instructed, with _Shakespear_ unbent and dissolv'd in Joy. _Johnson_
excellently concerts his Plots, and all his Characters unite in the
one Design. _Shakespear_ is superior to such Aid or Restraint; His
Characters continually sallying from one independent Scene to another,
and charming you in each with fresh Wit and Humour.
It may be further remark'd, that _Johnson_ by pursuing the most useful
Intention of _Comedy_, is in Justice oblig'd to _hunt down_ and
_demolish_ his own Characters. Upon this Plan he must necessarily
expose them to your _Hatred_, and of course can never bring out an
amiable Person. His _Subtle_, and _Face_ are detected at last, and
become mean and despicable. Sir _Epicure Mammon_ is properly trick'd,
and goes off ridiculous and detestable. The _Puritan Elders_ suffer
for their Lust of Money, and are quite nauseous and abominable; And
his _Morose_ meets with a severe Punishment, after having sufficiently
tir'd you with his Peevishness.--But _Shakespear_, with happier
Insight, always supports his Characters in your _Favour_. His Justice
_Shallow_ withdraws before he is tedious; The _French_ Doctor, and
_Welch_ Parson, go off in full Vigour and Spirit; Ancient _Pistoll_
indeed is scurvily treated; however, he keeps up his Spirits, and
continues to threaten so well, that you are still desirous of his
Company; and it is impossible to be tir'd or dull with the gay
unfading Evergreen _Falstaff_.
But in remarking upon the Characters of _Johnson_, it would be unjust
to pass _Abel Drugger_ without notice; This is a little, mean,
sneaking, sordid Citizen, hearkening to a Couple of Sharpers, who
promise to make him rich; they can scarcely prevail upon him to resign
the least Tittle he possesses, though he is assur'd, it is in order to
get more; and your Diversion arises, from seeing him _wrung_ between
_Greediness_ to _get_ Money, and _Reluctance_ to _part_ with any for
that Purpose. His Covetousness continually prompts him to follow the
Conjurer, and puts him at the same Time upon endeavouring to stop his
Fees. All the while he is excellently managed, and spirited on
by _Face_. However, this Character upon the whole is _mean_ and
_despicable_, without any of that free spirituous jocund Humour
abounding in _Shakespear_. But having been strangely exhibited upon
the Theatre, a few Years ago, with odd Grimaces and extravagant
Gestures, it has been raised into more Attention than it justly
deserved; It is however to be acknowledg'd, that _Abel_ has no
Hatred, Malice or Immorality, nor any assuming Arrogance, Pertness
or Peevishness; And his eager Desire of getting and saving Money, by
Methods he thinks lawful, are excusable in a Person of his Business;
He is therefore not odious or detestable, but harmless and inoffensive
in private Life; and from thence, correspondent with the Rule already
laid down, he is the most capable of any of _Johnson_'s Characters, of
being a Favourite on the Theatre.
It appears, that in Imagination, Invention, Jollity and gay Humour,
_Johnson_ had little Power; But _Shakespear_ unlimited Dominion. The
first was cautious and strict, not daring to sally beyond the Bounds
of Regularity. The other bold and impetuous, rejoicing like a Giant to
run his Course, through all the Mountains and Wilds of Nature and
Fancy.
It requires an almost painful Attention to mark the Propriety and
Accuracy of _Johnson_, and your Satisfaction arises from Reflection
and Comparison; But the Fire and Invention of _Shakespear_ in an
Instant are shot into your Soul, and enlighten and chear the most
indolent Mind with their own Spirit and Lustre.--Upon the whole,
_Johnson_'s Compositions are like finished Cabinets, where every
Part is wrought up with the most excellent Skill and Exactness;--
_Shakespear_'s like magnificent Castles, not perfectly finished or
regular, but adorn'd with such bold and magnificent Designs, as at
once delight and astonish you with their Beauty and Grandeur.
RAILLERY is a genteel poignant Attack of a _Person_ upon any
_slight Foibles_, _Oddities_, or _Embarrassments_ of his, in
which he is tender, or may be supposed to be tender, and
unwilling to come to a free Explanation.
SATIRE is a witty and severe Attack of _mischievous Habits_ or
_Vices_;
RIDICULE is a free _Attack_ of any _Motly Composition_, wherein a
real or affected _Excellence_ and _Defect_ both jointly appear,
_glaring_ together, and _mocking_ each other, in the same
_Subject_.
Hence the Aim of _Raillery_, is to please you, by some little
_Embarrassment_ of a _Person_; Of _Satire_, to scourge _Vice_, and
to deliver it up to your just _Detestation_; And of _Ridicule_, to
set an Object in a mean ludicrous Light, so as to expose it to your
_Derision_ and _Contempt_.
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