Sainte—BeuveconjuresuptheghostofMenander，saying:FortheloveofmeloveTerence。ItisthroughloveofTerencethatmodernsareabletoloveMenander;andwhatispreservedofTerencehasnotapparentlygivenusthebestofthefriendofEpicurus。[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]thelovertakeninhorror，and[Greektext]thedamselshornofherlocks，haveapromisingsoundforscenesofjealousyandatoomasterfuldisplayoflordlyauthority，leadingtoregrets，ofthekindknowntointemperatemenwhoimaginedtheywerefightingwiththeweaker，asthefragmentsindicate。
　　OfthesixcomediesofTerence，fourarederivedfromMenander;two，theHecyraandthePhormio，fromApollodorus。ThesetwoareinferiorincomicactionandthepeculiarsweetnessofMenandertotheAndria，theAdelphi，theHeautontimorumenus，andtheEunuchus:
　　butPhormioisamoredashingandamusingconvivialparasitethantheGnathoofthelast—namedcomedy。Therewerenumerousrivalsofwhomweknownexttonothing——exceptbythequotationsofAthenaeusandPlutarch，andtheGreekgrammarianswhocitedthemtosupportadictum——inthisasintheprecedingperiodsofcomedyinAthens，forMenander'splaysarecountedbymanyscores，andtheywerecrownedbytheprizeonlyeighttimes。Thefavouritepoetwithcritics，inGreeceasinRome，wasMenander;andifsomeofhisrivalshereandtheresurpassedhimincomicforce，andout—strippedhimincompetitionbyanappositenesstotheoccasionthathadpreviouslyinthesamewaydeprivedthegeniusofAristophanesofitsduerewardinCloudsandBirds，hispositionaschiefofthecomicpoetsofhisagewasunchallenged。PlutarchveryunnecessarilydragsAristophanesintoacomparisonwithhim，totheconfusionoftheolderpoet。Theiraims，themattertheydealtin，andthetimes，werequitedissimilar。ButitisnowonderthatPlutarch，writingwhenAthenianbeautyofstylewasthedelightofhispatrons，shouldrankMenanderatthehighest。InwhatdegreeoffaithfulnessTerencecopiedMenander，whether，ashestatesofthepassageintheAdelphitakenfromDiphilus，verbumdeverbointhelovelierscenes—
　　—thedescriptionofthelastwordsofthedyingAndrian，andofherfuneral，forinstance——remainsconjectural。ForusTerenceshareswithhismasterthepraiseofanamenitythatislikeElysianspeech，equableandevergracious;likethefaceoftheAndrian'syoungsister:
　　'Adeomodesto，adeovenusto，utnihilsupra。'
　　Thecelebrated'flensquamfamiliariter，'ofwhichtheclosestrenderinggroundshopelesslyonharshprose，toexpressthesorrowfulconfidingnessofayounggirlwhohaslosthersisteranddearestfriend，andhasbutherloverlefttoher;'sheturnedandflungherselfonhisbosom，weepingasthoughathomethere':thisourinstincttellsusmustbeGreek，thoughhardlyfinerinGreek。
　　CertainlinesofTerence，comparedwiththeoriginalfragments，showthatheembellishedthem;buthistastewastooexquisiteforhimtodootherthandevotehisgeniustothehonesttranslationofsuchpiecesastheabove。Menander，then;withhim，throughtheaffinityofsympathy，Terence;andShakespeareandMolierehavethisbeautifultranslucencyoflanguage:andthestudyofthecomicpoetsmightberecommended，ifforthatonly。
　　AsingularillfatebefellthewritingsofMenander。WhatwehaveofhiminTerencewaschosenprobablytopleasethecultivatedRomans;{8}andisaromanticplaywithacomicintrigue，obtainedintwoinstances，theAndriaandtheEunuchus，byrollingacoupleofhisoriginalsintoone。Thetitlesofcertainofthelostplaysindicatethecomicilluminingcharacter;aSelf—pitier，aSelf—
　　chastiser，anIll—temperedman，aSuperstitious，anIncredulous，etc。，pointtosuggestivedomesticthemes。
　　TerenceforwardedmanuscripttranslationsfromGreece，thatsufferedshipwreck;he，whocouldhaverestoredthetreasure，diedonthewayhome。ThezealotsofByzantiumcompletedtheworkofdestruction。
　　SowehavethefourcomediesofTerence，numberingsixofMenander，withafewsketchesofplots——oneofthem，theThesaurus，introducesamiser，whomweshouldhavelikedtocontrastwithHarpagon——andamultitudeofsmallfragmentsofasententiouscast，fittedforquotation。Enoughremainstomakehisgreatnessfelt。
　　WithoutundervaluingotherwritersofComedy，IthinkitmaybesaidthatMenanderandMolierestandalonespeciallyascomicpoetsofthefeelingsandtheidea。IneachofthemthereisaconceptionoftheComicthatrefineseventopain，asintheMenedemusoftheHeautontimorumenus，andintheMisanthrope。MenanderandMolierehavegiventheprincipaltypestoComedyhitherto。TheMicioandDemeaoftheAdelphi，withtheiropposingviewsofthepropermanagementofyouth，arestillalive;theSganarellesandArnolphesoftheEcoledesMarisandtheEcoledesFemmes，arenotallburied。
　　Tartuffeisthefatherofthehypocrites;Orgonofthedupes;
　　Thraso，ofthebraggadocios;Alcesteofthe'Manlys';DavusandSyrusoftheintriguingvalets，theScapinsandFigaros。LadiesthatsoarintherealmsofRose—Pink，whoselanguagewearsthenoddingplumesofintellectualconceit，aretraceabletoPhilaminteandBeliseoftheFemmesSavantes:andthemordantwittywomenhavethetongueofCelimene。Thereasonis，thatthesetwopoetsidealizeduponlife:thefoundationoftheirtypesisrealandinthequick，buttheypaintedwithspiritualstrength，whichisthesolidinArt。
　　TheidealisticconceptionsofComedygivesbreadthandopportunitiesofdaringtoComicgenius，andhelpstosolvethedifficultiesitcreates。How，forexample，shallanaudiencebeassuredthatanevidentandmonstrousdupeisactuallydeceivedwithoutbeinganabsolutefool？InLeTartuffethenoteofhighComedystrikeswhenOrgononhisreturnhomehearsofhisidol'sexcellentappetite。
　　'Lepauvrehomme！'heexclaims。Heistoldthatthewifeofhisbosomhasbeenunwell。'EtTartuffe？'heasks，impatienttohearhimspokenof，hismindsuffusedwiththethoughtofTartuffe，crazywithtenderness，andagainhecroons，'Lepauvrehomme！'Itisthemother'scryofpityingdelightatanurse'srecitalofthefeatsinyounganimalgluttonyofhercherishedinfant。AfterthismasterstrokeoftheComic，younotonlyputfaithinOrgon'sroseateprepossession，youshareitwithhimbycomicsympathy，andcanlistenwithnomorethanatrembleofthelaughingmusclestotheinstancehegivesofthesublimehumanityofTartuffe:
　　'Unrienpresquesuffitpourlescandaliser，Jusque—le，qu'ilsevintl'autrejouraccuserD'avoirprisunepuceenfaisantsapriere，Etdel'avoirtueeavectropdecolere。'
　　Andtohavekilledittoowrathfully！TranslatingMoliereislikehumminganaironehasheardperformedbyanaccomplishedviolinistofthepuretoneswithoutflourish。
　　Orgon，awakeningtofindanotherdupeinMadamePernelle，incredulousoftherevelationswhichhaveatlastopenedhisownbesottedeyes，isasceneofthedoubleComic，vivifiedbythespellpreviouslycastonthemind。Therewefeelthepowerofthepoet'screation;andinthesharplightofthatsuddenturnthehumanityislivelierthananyrealisticworkcanmakeit。
　　ItalianComedygivesmanyhintsforaTartuffe;buttheymaybefoundinBoccaccio，aswellasinMachiavelli'sMandragola。TheFrateTimoteoofthispieceisonlyaveryoilyfriar，compliantlyassistinganintriguewithecclesiasticalsophisms（tousethemildestword）forpayment。FrateTimoteohasafineItalianpriestlypose。
　　DONNA:Credetevoi，che'lTurcopassiquestoannoinItalia？
　　F。TIM。:Sevoinonfateorazione，si。
　　Priestlyarroganceandunctuousness，andtrickeriesandcasuistries，cannotbepaintedwithoutourdiscoveringalikenessinthelongItaliangallery。GoldonisketchedtheVenetianmannersofthedecadenceoftheRepublicwithaFrenchpencil，andwasanItalianScribeinstyle。
　　TheSpanishstageisricherinsuchComediesasthatwhichfurnishedtheideaoftheMenteurtoCorneille。Butyoumustforceyourselftobelievethatthisliarisnotforcinghisveinwhenhepileslieuponlie。Thereisnoprecedingtouchtowinthemindtocredulity。
　　SpanishComedyisgenerallyinsharpoutline，asofskeletons;inquickmovement，asofmarionnettes。TheComedymightbeperformedbyatroopofthecorpsdeballet;andintherecollectionofthereadingitresolvestoananimatedshuffleoffeet。Itis，infact，somethingotherthanthetrueideaofComedy。Wherethesexesareseparated，menandwomengrow，asthePortuguesecallit，affaimadosofoneanother，famine—stricken;andallthetragicelementsareonthestage。DonJuanisacomiccharacterthatsendssoulsflying:
　　nordoesthehumourofthebreakingofadozenwomen'sheartsconciliatetheComicMusewiththedrawingofblood。
　　GermanattemptsatComedyremindonevividlyofHeine'simageofhiscountryinthedancingofAttaTroll。Lessingtriedhishandatit，withasoberingeffectuponreaders。Theintentiontoproducethereverseeffectisjustvisible，andtherein，liketheportlygracesofthepooroldPyreneanBearpoisingandtwirlingonhisrighthind—legandhisleft，consiststhefun。JeanPaulRichtergivesthebesteditionoftheGermanComicinthecontrastofSiebenkaswithhisLenette。AlightoftheComicisinGoethe;enoughtocompletethesplendidfigureoftheman，butnomore。
　　TheGermanliterarylaugh，likethetimedawakeningsoftheirBarbarossainthehollowsoftheUntersberg，isinfrequent，andrathermonstrous——neveralaughofmenandwomeninconcert。Itcomesofunrefinedabstractfancy，grotesqueorgrim，orgross，likethepeculiarhumoursoftheirlittleearthmen。Spirituallaughtertheyhavenotyetattainedto:sentimentalismwaylaysthemintheflight。HereandthereaVolksliedorMarchenshowsanationalaptitudeforstoutanimallaughter;andweseethattheliteratureisbuiltonit，whichishopefulsofar;buttoenjoyit，toenterintothephilosophyoftheBroadGrin，thatseemstohesitatebetweentheskullandtheembryo，andreachesitsperfectioninbreadthfromthepullingoftwosquarefingersatthecornersofthemouth，onemusthaveaidof'thegoodRhinewine，'andbeofGermanbloodunmixedbesides。Thistreble—DutchlumbersomenessoftheComicspiritisofitselfexclusiveoftheideaofComedy，andthepoorvoiceallowedtowomeninGermandomesticlifewillaccountfortheabsenceofcomicdialoguesreflectinguponlifeinthatland。I
　　shallspeakofitagaininthesecondsectionofthislecture。
　　EastwardyouhavetotalsilenceofComedyamongapeopleintenselysusceptibletolaughter，astheArabianNightswilltestify。Wheretheveilisoverwomen's—faces，youcannothavesociety，withoutwhichthesensesarebarbarousandtheComicspiritisdriventotheguttersofgrossnesstoslakeitsthirst。ArabsinthisrespectareworsethanItalians——muchworsethanGermans;justinthedegreethattheirsystemoftreatingwomenisworse。
　　M。Saint—MarcGirardin，theexcellentFrenchessayistandmasterofcriticalstyle，tellsofaconversationhehadoncewithanArabgentlemanonthetopicofthedifferentmanagementofthesedifficultcreaturesinOrientandinOccident:andtheArabspokeinpraiseofmanygoodresultsofthegreaterfreedomenjoyedbyWesternladies，andthecharmofconversingwiththem。Hewasquestionedwhyhiscountrymentooknomeasurestograntthemsomethingofthatkindofliberty。Hejumpedoutofhisindividualityinatwinkling，andenteredintothesentimentsofhisrace，replying，fromthepinnacleofasplendidconceit，withaffectedhumilityofmanner:'YOUcanlookonthemwithoutperturbation——butWE！'……Andafterthisprofoundlycomicinterjection，headded，indeeptones，'Theveryfaceofawoman！'
　　OurrepresentativeoftemperatenotionsdemurelyconsentedthattheArab'sprideofinflammabilityshouldinsistonthepruderyoftheveilasthecivilizingmediumofhisrace。
　　TherehasbeenfuninBagdad。ButthereneverwillbecivilizationwhereComedyisnotpossible;andthatcomesofsomedegreeofsocialequalityofthesexes。IamnotquotingtheArabtoexhortanddisturbthesomnolentEast;ratherforcultivatedwomentorecognizethattheComicMuseisoneoftheirbestfriends。Theyareblindtotheirinterestsinswellingtheranksofthesentimentalists。Letthemlookwiththeirclearestvisionabroadandathome。Theywillseethatwheretheyhavenosocialfreedom，Comedyisabsent:wheretheyarehouseholddrudges，theformofComedyisprimitive:wheretheyaretolerablyindependent，butuncultivated，excitingmelodramatakesitsplaceandasentimentalversionofthem。YettheComicwillout，astheywouldknowiftheylistenedtosomeoftheprivateconversationsofmenwhosemindsareundirectedbytheComicMuse:asthesentimentalman，tohisastonishment，wouldknowlikewise，ifheinsimilarfashioncouldreceivealesson。Butwherewomenareontheroadtoanequalfootingwithmen，inattainmentsandinliberty——inwhattheyhavewonforthemselves，andwhathasbeengrantedthembyafaircivilization——there，andonlywaitingtobetransplantedfromlifetothestage，orthenovel，orthepoem，pureComedyflourishes，andis，asitwouldhelpthemtobe，thesweetestofdiversions，thewisestofdelightfulcompanions。
　　Now，tolookaboutusinthepresenttime，IthinkitwillbeacknowledgedthatinneglectingthecultivationoftheComicidea，wearelosingtheaidofapowerfulauxiliar。YouseeFollyperpetuallyslidingintonewshapesinasocietypossessedofwealthandleisure，withmanywhims，manystrangeailmentsandstrangedoctors。Plentyofcommon—senseisintheworldtothrustherbackwhenshepretendstoempire。Butthefirst—bornofcommon—sense，thevigilantComic，whichisthegeniusofthoughtfullaughter，whichwouldreadilyextinguishherattheoutset，isnotservingasapublicadvocate。
　　Youwillhavenoticedthedispositionofcommon—sense，underpressureofsomepertinaciouspieceoflight—headedness，togrowimpatientandangry。Thatisasignoftheabsence，oratleastofthedormancy，oftheComicidea。ForFollyisthenaturalpreyoftheComic，knowntoitinallhertransformations，ineverydisguise;anditiswiththespringingdelightofhawkoverheron，houndafterfox，thatitgivesherchase，neverfretting，nevertiring，sureofhavingher，allowinghernorest。
　　Contemptisasentimentthatcannotbeentertainedbycomicintelligence。Whatisitbutanexcusetobeidlyminded，orpersonallylofty，orcomfortablynarrow，notperfectlyhumane？IfwedonotfeignwhenwesaythatwedespiseFolly，weshutthebrain。ThereisadisdainfulattitudeinthepresenceofFolly，partakingofthefoolishnesstoComicperception:andangerisnotmuchlessfoolishthandisdain。Thestrugglewehavetoconductisessenceagainstessence。LetnoonedoubtofthesequelwhenthisemanationofwhatisfirmestinusislaunchedtostrikedownthedaughterofUnreasonandSentimentalism:suchbeingFolly'sparentage，whenitisrespectable。
　　Ourmodernsystemofcombatingheristoolongdefensive，andcarriedontooploddinglywithconcreteenginesofwarintheattack。Shehastimetogetbehindentrenchments。Sheisreadytostandasiege，beforetheheavilyarmedmanofscienceandthewriteroftheleadingarticleorelaborateessayhaveprimedtheirbigguns。Itshouldberememberedthatshehascharmsforthemultitude;andanEnglishmultitudeseeinghermakeagallantfightofitwillbehalfinlovewithher，certainlywillingtolendheracheer。Benevolentsubscriptionsassisthertohireherownmanofscience，herownorganinthePress。Ifultimatelysheiscastoutandoverthrown，shecanstretchafingeratgapsinourranks。Shecansaythatshecommandedanarmyandseducedmen，whomwethoughtsobermenandsafe，toactasherlieutenants。Welearnrathergloomily，aftershehasflashedherlantern，thatwehaveinourmidstablemenandmenwithmindsforwhomthereisnopole—starinintellectualnavigation。Comedy，ortheComicelement，isthespecificforthepoisonofdelusionwhileFollyispassingfromthestateofvapourtosubstantialform。
　　OforabreathofAristophanes，Rabelais，Voltaire，Cervantes，Fielding，Moliere！Thesearespiritsthat，ifyouknowthemwell，willcomewhenyoudocall。Youwillfindtheveryinvocationofthemactonyoulikearenovatingair——theSouth—westcomingoffthesea，oracryintheAlps。
　　Noonewouldpresumetosaythatwearedeficientinjokers。Theyabound，andtheorganisationdirectingtheirmachinerytoshoottheminthewakeoftheleadingarticleandthepopularsentimentisgood。
　　ButtheComicdiffersfromtheminaddressingthewitsforlaughter;
　　andthesluggishwitswantsometrainingtorespondtoit，whetherinpubliclifeorprivate，andparticularlywhenthefeelingsareexcited。
　　ThesenseoftheComicismuchbluntedbyhabitsofpunningandofusinghumouristicphrase:thetrickofemployingJohnsonianpolysyllablestotreatoftheinfinitelylittle。Anditreallymaybehumorous，ofakind，yetitwillmissthepointbygoingtoomuchroundaboutit。
　　AcertainFrenchDukePasquierdied，someyearsback，ataveryadvancedage。HehadbeenthevenerableDukePasquierinhislateryearsuptotheperiodofhisdeath。TherewasareportofDukePasquierthathewasamanofprofoundegoism。Henceanargumentarose，andwaswarmlysustained，upontheexcessiveselfishnessofthosewho，inaworldoftroubles，andcallstoaction，andinnumerableduties，husbandtheirstrengthforthesakeoflivingon。Canitbepossible，theargumentran，foratrulygeneroushearttocontinuebeatinguptotheageofahundred？DukePasquierwasnotwithouthisdefenders，wholikenedhimtotheoakoftheforest——avenerablecomparison。
　　Theargumentwasconductedonbothsideswithspiritandearnestness，lightenedhereandtherebyfriskytouchesofthepolysyllabicplayful，remindingoneoftheseriouspursuitoftheirfunbytruantboys，thatareassuredtheyareoutoftheeyeoftheirmaster，andnowandthenindulgeinanimitationofhim。AndwellmightitbesupposedthattheComicideawasasleep，notoverlookingthem！Itresolvedatlasttothis，thateitherDukePasquierwasascandalonourhumanityinclingingtolifesolong，orthathehonoureditbysosturdyaresistancetotheenemy。Asonewhohasentangledhimselfinalabyrinthisgladtogetoutagainattheentrance，theargumentranabouttoconcludewithitscommencement。