But as this would be a very invidious
task, I shall only observe in general that False Humour differs from
the True as a monkey does from a man.
First of all, he is exceedingly given to little apish tricks and
buffooneries.
Secondly, he so much delights in mimicry, that it is all one to him
whether he exposes by it vice and folly, luxury and avarice; or, on
the contrary, virtue and wisdom, pain and poverty.
Thirdly, he is wonderfully unlucky, insomuch that he will bite the
hand that feeds him, and endeavour to ridicule both friends and foes
indifferently. For, having but small talents, he must be merry
where he can, not where he should.
Fourthly, Being entirely void of reason, he pursues no point either
of morality or instruction, but is ludicrous only for the sake of
being so.
Fifthly, Being incapable of anything but mock representations, his
ridicule is always personal, and aimed at the vicious man, or the
writer; not at the vice, or at the writing.
I have here only pointed at the whole species of false humorists;
but, as one of my principal designs in this paper is to beat down
that malignant spirit which discovers itself in the writings of the
present age, I shall not scruple, for the future, to single out any
of the small wits that infest the world with such compositions as
are ill-natured, immoral, and absurd.
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