An Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, Humour, Railery, Satire, and Ridicule | Page 7

be found any
Assemblance or Congruity, thereby to make up pleasant Pictures, and
agreeable Visions in the Fancy. Judgment, on the contrary, lies quite on
the other side; in separating carefully one from another, Ideas
, wherein
can be found the least Difference, thereby to avoid being missed by
Similitude, and by Affinity to take one thing for another. This is a Way
of proceeding quite contrary to Metaphor and Allusion; wherein for the
most Part lies that Entertainment and Pleasantry of Wit, which strikes

so lively on the Fancy, and therefore is acceptable to all People,
because its Beauty appears at first Sight, and there is required no
Labour of Thoughts to examine what Truth, or Reason, there is in it.
The Mind, without looking any further, rests satisfied with the
Agreeableness of the Picture, and the Gaiety of the Fancy. And it is a
kind of an Affront to go about to examine it by the severe Rules of
Truth, and good Reason, whereby it appears, that it conflicts in
something that is not perfectly conformable to them.
It is to be observed that Mr. Locke has here only occasionally, and
passantly, delivered his Sentiments upon this Subject; but yet he has
very happily explained the chief Properties of WIT. It was his Remark
First, that it lies for the most Part in assembling together with
Quickness and Variety Objects, which possess an Affinity, or Congruity,
with each other; which was the first just Information obtained by the
literary World, upon this Subject.
As to what he adds, That the Intention, and Effects, of this Assemblage
of similar Objects, is _to make up pleasant Pictures, and agreeable
Visions in the Fancy_, it is, as I humbly apprehend, not quite perfect:
For the Business of this Assemblage is not merely to raise pleasant
Pictures in the Fancy, but also to enlighten thereby the original
Subject.--This is evident; because in such Assemblages, the only
Foundation upon which the new Subject is suddenly introduced, is the
Affinity, and consequently the Illustration, it bears to the first
Subject.--The Introduction of pleasant Pictures and Visions, which
present not a new Illustration, and Light, to the original Subjects, being
rather wild Sallies of Vivacity, than well-aimed, apposite Strokes of
WIT.
It is Mr. _Locke_'s Conclusion, at last, That WIT _consists in
something that is not perfectly conformable to Truth, and good
Reason_.--This is a Problem of some Curiosity; and I apprehend Mr.
_Locke_'s Determination upon it to be right:--For the Direction of WIT
is absolutely different from the Direction of TRUTH and GOOD
REASON; It being the Aim of WIT to strike the _Imagination_; of
TRUTH and GOOD REASON, to convince the _Judgment_: From

thence they can never be perfectly coincident.
It is however true, that there may be Instances of WIT, wherein the
Agreement between the two Objects shall be absolutely just, and
perceived to be such at the first Glance. Such Instances of WIT, will be
then also _Self-evident_ TRUTHS. They will both agree in their
obvious, and quick _Perspicuity_; but will be still different in this, that
the Effort of the One is to strike the Fancy, whereas the Other is wholly
exerted in gratifying the Judgment.
The Sentiments of Mr. Addison upon WIT, are professedly delivered in
the Spectator Nº. 62. annexed to the following Essay. He has there
justly commended Mr. _Locke_'s Description of WIT; but what he
adds, by Way of Explanation to it, that the Assemblage of Ideas must
be such as shall give Delight, and Surprize, is not true, in regard to the
Former, Delight being no essential Property of WIT; for if the original
Subject be unpleasant, or deformed, the sudden unexpected
Arrangement of a similar Object with it, may give us Surprize, and be
indisputably WIT, and yet be far from creating any Delight.
This Gentleman has also given the following Example, in order to
illustrate the Necessity there is, that Surprize should be always an
Attendant upon WIT.
"When a Poet tells us, the Bosom of his Mistress is as white as Snow,
there is no Wit in the Comparison; but when he adds, with a Sigh, that
it as cold too, it then grows to Wit."
--To compare a Girl's Bosom to Snow for its Whiteness I apprehend to
be WIT, notwithstanding the Authority of so great a Writer to the
contrary. For there is a Lustre resulting from the natural and splendid
Agreement between these Objects, which will always produce WIT;
such, as cannot be destroyed, though it will quickly be rendered trite,
by frequent Repetition.
This Problem, How far SURPRIZE _is, or is not, necessary to_ WIT, I
humbly apprehend, may be thus solved.--In Subjects which have a
natural and splendid Agreement, there will always be WIT upon their

Arrangement together; though when it