Essay upon Wit | Page 8

Tillotson has the following
Paragraph: "Nothing that trespasses upon the Modesty of the Company,
and the Decency of Conversation, can become the Mouth of a wise and
vertuous Person. This kind of Conversation would fain pass for Wit
among some sort of Persons, to whom it is acceptable; but whatever
savours of Rudeness and Immodesty, and Ill-Manners, is very far from
deserving that Name; and they that are sober and vertuous cannot
entertain any Discourse of this kind, with Approbation and Acceptance.
A well bred Person will never offend in this way. And therefore it
cannot but be esteem'd as an Affront to modest Company, and a rude
presuming upon their Approbation, impudently taking it for granted,
that all others are as lewd and dissolute as themselves."
Men of finer Spirits do likewise abuse their Parts, as well as misapply
their Time, when to gain Applause and increase their Popularity, they
run, without Distinction, into Company, and by too great
Condescention and false Humanity, mingle in inferior and unworthy
Assemblies; where delighted with the silly Approbation of ignorant
Laughers, they shine forth in a great Effusion of Wit and Humour; by
which they make themselves cheap, if not contemptible in the Opinion
of wise and discerning Persons. Men of singular Wit, like Women of
great Beauty, should never be unguarded; for if not endow'd with a
decent Reservedness, a modest Air, and a discreet Behaviour, they sink
in their Value, and by appearing in all Places, and becoming common
and familiar, lose, in a great measure, their Honour, and the Opinion of
their Merit. It is a meretricious Prostitution of Wit, when the Possessors
of it can deny no Addresses, and refuse no Invitations and
Appointments, but suffer themselves to be shown at every
Entertainment; Besides the gratifying of their Vanity, by a constant
pursuit of Approbation and Praise, which is the Spring whence this
Prodigality of Parts and waste of facetious Humour chiefly arise; it is
evident, they spend a great deal of Time, of which a wise Man can give
no Account, while Wit, which should in its proper place, renew and
revive the Spirits for useful Employment, becomes a continu'd

Diversion, and makes everlasting Idleness the Business of Life.
It is pity that a Man of fine Spirit and a fertile, as well as delicate
Imagination, should think himself engag'd in high Conversation, when
he is only employ'd in the lowest Affairs that concern Mankind. His
Post is of the same Kind, and but the next in Order above that of
Players on Instruments, admirable Voices, excellent Actors on the
Stage, and famous Dancers; whose Province is only to amuse and
recreate; and is therefore far below theirs, who are either busied in
governing the State, defending their Country, improving the Minds, or
relieving the Bodies of other Men.
Hence the Labours of the meanest Persons, that conduce to the Welfare
and Benefit of the Publick, are more valuable, because more useful,
than the Employments of those, who apply themselves only, or
principally, to divert and entertain the Fancy; and therefore must be as
much preferable to the Occupation or Profession of a Wit, as the
Improvement and Happiness of Men is to be regarded above their Mirth
and Recreation. I allow, that the Talents of these ingenious Men are
very much to be esteem'd in their proper place; that is, as they unbend
the Mind, relieve the Satiety of Contemplation and Labour, and by the
Delight which they give, refresh the Spirits and fit them for the Returns
of Study and Employment: But then it must be granted, that, as I have
said, this is the meanest, as being the least beneficial Province in which
our intellectual Faculties can be engag'd; and therefore these facetious
Men can only claim the highest Rank among those, who are Inventors
or Ministers of Pleasure, and provide Amusements and Recreations for
the Busy and the Wise.
I would illustrate what I have asserted by the following Reflection.
Domestick Fowls, the Hen, the Turkey, and Goose are preferable, as
more useful, to the singing Bird, and the Parrot. The Ox, that ploughs
the Field and brings home the Harvest, the Horse, the Mule, and even
the stupid Ass, that carry their Owners, or their Goods and
Merchandize, are more to be regarded than the Hound, the Lap-Dog,
and various other Animals that seem to have been created only for our
Pleasure and Amusement: And the Reason of this is very evident,
Mankind may be very happy, and States and Kingdoms may remain in
a flourishing Condition, tho there were no such diverting Creatures in
the World: And from the same Consideration, Men, tho of a lower

Station, who are not only beneficial, but necessary to the Well-being of
Human Societies, are of far