A Critical Essay on Characteristic-Writings | Page 9

the principal Beauties, and to lay down the general Laws of _Characteristic-Writing_, is all that was propos'd. Besides, I shall have Occasion, in the Sequel of this Essay, to make some further Observations relating to the Constitution of _Characteristic-Writings_; which, to prevent Repetitions, I forbear mentioning here; but if the Reader be religious in the Observance of a strict Method, he is at full Liberty to alter the Situation of them, and to refer them to this Section.

SECT. IV.
Mr. de la Bruyere has given us a Translation of the Characters of _Theophrastus_; to which he has annex'd what he calls the Characters or Manners of the present Age. This Work was receiv'd with Applause, and the Author gain'd by it a great Reputation amongst Men of polite Literature. And if to make a great deal of Noise in the World, and to undergo several Editions, were infallible Proofs of the intrinsick Merit of a Book, Mr. _de la Bruyere_'s Performance would, upon both these Accounts, sufficiently recommend itself to our Approbation. --I confess, there are very considerable Beauties in this Piece: but yet if it should be examin'd by those Rules of Characteristic-Writing, which I have already mention'd, and which I take to be essential to Performances in this Kind, I am afraid it would not be able, in every Respect, to stand the Test of an impartial Examination.
I do not intend to enter upon an exact Critique of this Piece; the intended Brevity of this Essay will permit me to take Notice of but some few Particulars.--I have no Design or Desire to derogate from the Reputation of the deceas'd Author; but this I take to be a standing Rule in Critical Writings, as well as in judicious Reading, that we ought not to be so struck with the Beauties of an Author, as to be blind to his Failings; nor yet so prejudiced by his Failings, as to be blind to his Beauties.
The original Design of Characteristic-Writings is to give us real Images of Life. An exact Imitation of Nature is the chief Art which is to be us'd. The Imagination, I own, may be allow'd to work in Pieces of this Kind, provided it keeps within the Degrees of Probability; But Mr. de la Bruyere gives us Characters of Men, who are not to be found in Nature; and, out of a false Affectation of the Wonderful, he carries almost every thing to Excess; represents the Irregularities of Life as downright Madness, and by his false Colours converts Men into Monsters.
[I]Troilus is a very supercilious Man: And 'tis no ways inconsistent with this Character to suppose, that he may entertain a natural Antipathy against an ugly Face, or a bad Voice; but our Author represents him as labourirg under this Distemper to such a Degree of Excess, as, I believe, has never been observ'd in any Man. I do not know by what Name it may be call'd. Troilus conceives an immediate Aversion against a Person that enters the Room where he is; he shuns him, flies from him, and will throw himself out at the Window, rather than suffer himself to be accosted by one, whose Face and Voice he does not like.--Is this Humour, or, rather, are not these the genuine Symptoms of Madness and Phrenzy? And if Troilus does really act after this manner, is he not rather an Object of Pity, than a Subject for Humour and Ridicule?
[I: De la Societ�� & de la Conversation. Ad init.]
The Character of Cleanthes, in the same [K]Chapter, is a Misrepresentation of Nature.--"Cleanthes is a very honest Man; he has chosen a Wife, who is the best and the most reasonable Woman in the World: They, each of them, in their respective Ways, make up all the Pleasure and Agreeableness of the Company they are in: 'Tis impossible to meet with more Probity or Politeness. They part to Morrrow, and the Deed of their Separation is ready drawn up at the Notary's. There are, certainly, some Kinds of Merit that were never made to be together, and some Virtues that are incompatible." But those who are endow'd with such good Qualities, as Mr. de la Bruyere ascribes to Cleanthes and his Wife, can never agree to a willful Separation. Nay, 'tis a Contradiction to their Character to suppose that either of 'em is faln into those Circumstances, which only can make a Separation become lawful and just. 'Tis true, some Virtues and Accomplishments, as well as some Vices, may be inconsistent with each other. But to apply this Maxim to the present Case must betray a great Want of Judgment and Knowledge in the Nature of Things: For where can one expect to meet with a more perfect Harmony of Virtues, than in the reciprocal Honesty, Reason