Essay upon Wit | Page 3

and
diversify'd from all other intellectual Endowments. Wit therefore is the
Accomplishment of a warm, sprightly, and fertile Imagination, enrich'd
with great Variety of proper Ideas; which active Principle is however
under the Direction of a regular Judgment, that takes care of the Choice
of just and suitable Materials, prescribes to the tighter Faculties the due
Bounds of their Sport and Activity, and assists and guides them, while
they imprint on the Conceptions of the Mind their peculiar and
delightful Figures. The Addition of Wit to proper Subjects, is like the
artful Improvement of the Cook, who by his exquisite Sauce gives to a
plain Dish, a pleasant and unusual Relish. A Man of this Character
works on simple Proportions a rich Embroidery of Flowers and Figures,
and imitates the curious Artist, who studs and inlays his prepar'd Steel
with Devices of Gold and Silver. But Wit is not only the Improvement
of a plain Piece by intellectual Enameling; besides this, it animates and
warms a cold Sentiment, and makes it glow with Life and Vigor; and
this it effects, as is express'd in the last Part of the Definition, by giving

it as elegant and surprizing Turn. It always conveys the Thought of the
Speaker or Writer cloath'd in a pleasing, but foreign Dress, in which it
never appear'd to the Hearer before, who however had been long
acquainted with it; and this Appearance in the Habit of a Stranger must
be admirable, since Surprize naturally arises from Novelty, as Delight
and Wonder result from Surprize; which I have more fully explain'd in
the former Essay.
As to its efficient Cause; Wit owes its Production to an extraordinary
and peculiar Temperament in the Constitution of the Possessors of it, in
which is found a Concurrence of regular and exalted Ferments, and an
Affluence of Animal Spirits refin'd and rectify'd to a great degree of
Purity; whence being endow'd with Vivacity, Brightness and Celerity,
as well in their Reflexions as direct Motions, they become proper
Instruments for the sprightly Operations of the Mind; by which means
the Imagination can with great Facility range, the wide Field of Nature,
contemplate an infinite Variety of Objects, and by observing the
Similitude and Disagreement of their several Qualities, single out and
abstract, and then suit and unite those Ideas, which will best serve its
purpose. Hence beautiful Allusions, surprizing Metaphors and
admirable Sentiments are always ready at hand: And while the Fancy is
full of Images collected from innumerable Objects and their different
Qualities, Relations and Habitudes, it can at pleasure dress a common
Notion in a strange, but becoming Garb; by which, as before observ'd,
the same Thought will appear a new one, to the great Delight and
Wonder of the Hearer. What we call Genius results from this particular
happy Complexion in the first Formation of the Person that enjoys it,
and is Nature's Gift, but diversify'd by various specifick Characters and
Limitations, as its active Fire is blended and allay'd by different
Proportions of Phlegm, or reduc'd and regulated by the Contrast of
opposite Ferments. Therefore as there happens in the Composition of a
facetious Genius a greater or less, tho still an inferior degree of
Judgment and Prudence, and different Kinds of Instincts and Passions,
one Man of Wit will be vary'd and distinguish'd from another. That
Distinction that seems common to Persons of this Denomination, is an
inferior Degree of Wisdom and Discretion; and tho these two Qualities,
Wit and Discretion, are almost incapable of a friendly Agreement, and
will not, but with great Difficulty, be work'd together and incorporated

in the Constitution of any Individual; yet this Observation is not so
conspicuous in any, as in those, whose native Complexion comes the
nearest to a Subversion and Absence of Mind, tho it should never
degenerate into that distemper'd Elevation of the Spirits: Nothing is
more common, than to see Persons of this Class always Think Right,
and always Act Wrong; admirable for the richness, delicacy, and
brightness of their Imaginations, and at the same Time to be pity'd for
their want of Prudence and common Sense; abounding with excellent
Maxims and instructive Sentiments, which however are not of the least
Use to themselves in the Conduct of their Lives. And hence it is certain,
that tho the Gentlemen of a pleasant and witty Turn of Mind often
make the industrious Merchant, and grave Persons of all Professions,
the Subjects of their Raillery, and expose them as stupid Creatures, not
supportable in good Company; yet these in their Turn believe they have
as great a right, as indeed they have, to reproach the others for want of
Industry, good Sense, and regular Oeconomy, much more valuable
Talents than those, which any mere Wit can boast of; and therefore
wise Parents,