CHAP. XIII.

WIT.

WIT

IT is a quality of certain thoughts and expreffions : the term is never applied to an action nor a paffion, and as little to an external object.

However difficult it may be, in many inftances, to distinguish a witty thought or expreffion from one that is not fo, yet, in general, it may be laid down, that the term wit is appropriated to fuch thoughts and expreffions as are ludicrous, and also occafion fome degree of furprise by their fingularity. Wit also, in a figurative sense, expreffes a talent for inventing ludicrous thoughts or expreffions: we fay commonly a witty man, or a man of wit.

Wit in its proper fenfe, as explained above, is diftinguishable into two kinds; wit in the thought, and wit in the words or expreffion. Again, wit in the thought is of two kinds; ludicrous images, and ludicrous combinations of things that have little or no natural relation.

Ludicrous images that occafion furprise by their fingularity, as having little or no foundation in nature, are fabricated by the imagina

tion;

tion and the imagination is well qualified for the office; being of all our faculties the moft active, and the least under restraint.

following example;

Take the

Shylock. You knew (none so well, none fo well as you) of my daughter's flight.

Salino. That's certain; I for my part knew the tailor that made the wings fhe flew withal.

Merchant of Venice, A&t 111. Sc. 1,

The image here is undoubtedly witty. It is ludicrous and it muft occafion furprise; for having no natural foundation, it is altogether unexpected.

The other branch of wit in the thought, is that only which is taken notice of by Addison, following Locke, who defines it "to lie in the "affemblage of ideas; and putting those to

gether, with quickness and variety, wherein "can be found any refemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleasant pictures and

agreeable vifions in the fancy *." It may be defined more concifely, and perhaps more accurately, "A junction of things by distant and "fanciful relations, which furprise because they "are unexpected t." The following is a proper example.

We grant although he had much wit,

He was very shy of ufing it,

As

*B. ii. Ch. 11. § 2.

+ See Chap. 1.

As being loth to wear it out;
And therefore bore it not about,
Unless on holidays, or fo,

As men their best apparel do.

Hudibras, Canto 1.

Wit is of all the most elegant recreation: the image enters the mind with gaiety, and gives a fudden flash, which is extremely pleasant. Wit thereby gently elevates without ftraining, raises mirth without diffolutenefs, and relaxes while it. entertains.

Wit in the expreffion, commonly called a play of words, being a baftard fort of wit, is referved for the last place. I proceed to examples of wit in the thought; and firft of ludicrous images.

Falftaff, fpeaking of his taking Sir John Cole

ville of the Dale:

Here he is, and here I yield him; and 1 beseech your Grace, let it be book'd with the rest of this day's deeds; or, by the Lord, I will have it in a particular ballad elfe, with mine own picture on the top of it, Coleville kiffing my foot: to the which courfe if I be enforc'd, if you do not all fhew like gilt twopences to me; and I, in the clear fky of fame, o'erfhine you as much as the full moon doth the cinders of the element, which fhew like pins' heads to her; believe not the word of the Noble. Therefore let me have right, and let defert mount.

Second Part Henry IV. A&t iv. Sc. 6.

I knew, when seven juftices could not take up a quar

rel,

rel, but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an if; as, if you faid fo, then I faid fo; and they fhook hands, and fwore brothers; Your if is the only peacemaker; much virtue is in if. Shakespeare.

For there is not through all Nature, another fo callous, and infenfible a member, as the world's pofteriors, whether you apply to it the toe or the birch.

Preface to a Tale of a Tub.

The war hath introduced abundance of polyfyllables, which will never be able to live many more campaigns. Speculations, operations, preliminaries, ambassadors, palifadoes, communication, circumvallation, battalions, as numerous as they are, if they attack us too frequently in our coffeehouses, we fhall certainly put them to flight, and cut off the rear.

Speaking of Discord,

Tatler, N° 230.

She never went abroad, but fhe brought home fuch a bundle of monftrous lies, as would have amazed any mortal, but fuch as knew her; of a whale that had fwallowed a fleet of fhips; of the lions being let out of the Tower to destroy the Proteftant Religion; of the Pope's being feen in a brandy-shop at Wapping, &c.

Hiftory of John Bull, Part 1. Ch. 16.

The other branch of wit in the thought, namely, ludicrous combinations and oppofitions, may be traced through various ramifications. And, firft, fanciful causes affigned that have no natural relation to the effects produced:

Lancaster.

Lancaft. Fare you well, Falstaff; I, in my condition, Shall better speak of you than you deserve. [Exit. Falstaff. I would you had but the wit; 'twere better than your dukedom. Good faith, this fame young fober-blooded boy doth not love me; nor a man cannot make him laugh; but that's no marvel, he drinks no wine. There's never any of these demure boys come to any proof; for thin drink doth fo overcool their blood, and making many fish-meals, that they fall into a kind of male green-fickness; and then, when they marry, they get wenches. They are generally fools and cowards; which fome of us fhould be too, but for inflammation. A good fherris-fack hath a twofold operation in it: it ascends me into the brain; dries me there all the foolish, dull, and crudy vapours which environ it; makes it apprehenfive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery, and delectable shapes; which delivered o'er to the voice, the tongue, which is the birth, becomes excellent wit. The fecond property of your excellent fherris is, the warming of the blood; which before cold and fettled, left the liver white and pale; which is the badge of pufillanimity and cowardice: but the fherris warms it, and makes it course from the inwards to the parts extreme; it illuminateth the face, which, as a beacon, gives warning to all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to arm; and then the vital commoners and inland petty spirits mufter me all to their captain, the heart, who, great, and puff'd up with this retinue, doth any deed of courage: and thus valour comes of fherris. So that skill in the weapon is nothing without fack, for that fets it a-work; and learning a mere hoard of gold kept by a devil, till fack commences it, and fets it in act and use. VOL. I. Bb Hereof