Now，imagineamasteroftheComictreatingthistheme，andparticularlytheargumentonit。ImagineanAristophaniccomedyofTHECENTENARIAN，withchoricpraisesofheroicalearlydeath，andthesameofastubbornvitality，andthepoetlaughingatthechorus;andthegrandquestionforcontentionindialogue，astotheexactagewhenamanshoulddie，totheidenticalminute，thathemaypreservetherespectofhisfellows，followedbyasystematicattempttomakeanaccuratemeasurementinparallellines，withatoughrope—yarnbyoneparty，andastringofyawnsbytheother，oftheveteran'spowerofenduringlife，andourcapacityforenduringHIM，withtremendouspullingonbothsides。
　　WouldnottheComicviewofthediscussionillumineitandthedisputantslikeverylightning？Therearequestions，aswellaspersons，thatonlytheComiccanfitlytouch。
　　Aristophaneswouldprobablyhavecrownedtheancienttree，withtheconsolatoryobservationtothehaggardlineoflong—expectantheirsoftheCentenarian，thattheylivetoseetheblessednessofcomingofastrongstock。Theshaftsofhisridiculewouldmainlyhavebeenaimedatthedisputants。Forthesolegroundoftheargumentwastheoldman'scharacter，andsophistsarenotneededtodemonstratethatwecanverysoonhavetoomuchofabadthing。A
　　CentenariandoesnotnecessarilyprovoketheComicidea，nordoesthecorpseofaduke。Itisnotprovokedintheorderofnature，untilwedrawitspenetratingattentivenesstosomecircumstancewithwhichwehavebeenmixingourprivateinterests，orourspeculativeobfuscation。Dulness，insensibletotheComic，hastheprivilegeofarousingit;andthelayingofadullfingeronmattersofhumanlifeisthesurestmethodofestablishingelectricalcommunicationswithabatteryoflaughter——wheretheComicideaisprevalent。
　　ButiftheComicideaprevailedwithus，andwehadanAristophanestobarbandwingit，weshouldbebreathingairofAthens。Prosersnowpouringforthonuslikepublicfountainswouldbecutshortinthestreetandleftblinking，dumbaspillar—posts，withlettersthrustintotheirmouths。Weshouldthrowoffincubus，ourdreadfulfamiliar——bysomecalledboredom——whomitisourpresenthumiliationtobejustaliveenoughtoloathe，neverquickenoughtofoil。
　　Therewouldbeabrightandpositive，clearHellenicperceptionoffacts。ThevapoursofUnreasonandSentimentalismwouldbeblownawaybeforetheywereproductive。WherewouldPessimistandOptimistbe？Theywouldinanycasehaveadiminishedaudience。
　　Yetpossiblythechangeofdespots，fromgood—naturedoldobtusenesstokeen—edgedintelligence，whichisbynaturemerciless，wouldbemorethanwecouldbear。Theruptureofthelinkbetweendullpeople，consistinginthefraternalagreementthatsomethingistoocleverforthem，andashotbeyondthem，isnottobethoughtoflightly;for，slenderthoughthelinkmayseem，itisequivalenttoacementformingaconcreteofdensecohesion，verydesirableintheestimationofthestatesman。
　　ApoliticalAristophanes，takingadvantageofhislyricalBacchiclicence，wasfoundtoomuchforpoliticalAthens。Iwouldnotasktohavehimrevived，butthatthesharplightofsuchaspiritashismightbewithustostrikenowandthenonpublicaffairs，publicthemes，tomakethemspinalongmorebriskly。
　　Hehatedwiththepolitician'sfervourthesophistwhocorruptedsimplicityofthought，thepoetwhodestroyedpurityofstyle，thedemagogue，'thesaw—toothedmonster，'who，asheconceived，chicanedthemob，andheheldhisownagainstthembystrengthoflaughter，untilfines，thecurtailingofhisComiclicenceinthechorus，andultimatelytheruinofAthens，whichcouldnolongersupporttheexpenseofthechorus，threwhimaltogetherondialogue，andbroughthimunderthelaw。Afterthecatastrophe，thepoet，whohadeverbeengazingbackatthemenofMarathonandSalamis，musthavefeltthathehadforeseenit;andthathewaswisewhenhepleadedforpeace，andderidedmilitarycoxcombry，andthecaptiousoldcreatureDemus，wecanadmit。HehadtheComicpoet'sgiftofcommon—sense——
　　whichdoesnotalwaysincludepoliticalintelligence;yethispoliticaltendencyraisedhimabovetheOldComedyturnforuproariousfarce。HeabusedSocrates，butXenophon，thediscipleofSocrates，byhistrainedrhetoricsavedtheTenThousand。
　　AristophanesmightsaythatifhiswarningshadbeenfollowedtherewouldhavebeennosuchthingasamercenaryGreekexpeditionunderCyrus。Athens，however，wasonalandslip，falling;nonecouldarrestit。Togazeback，toupholdtheoldtimes，wasamostnaturalconservatism，andfruitless。Thealoehadbloomed。Whetherrightorwronginhispoliticsandhiscriticisms，andbearinginmindtheinstrumentsheplayedonandtheaudiencehehadtowin，thereisanideainhiscomedies:itistheIdeaofGoodCitizenship。
　　Heisnotlikelytoberevived。Hestands，likeShakespeare，anunapproachable。Swiftsaysofhim，withalovingchuckle:
　　'ButasforComicAristophanes，Thedogtoowittyandtooprofaneis。'
　　Aristophaneswas'profane，'undersatiricdirection，unlikehisrivalsCratinus，Phrynichus，Ameipsias，Eupolis，andothers，ifwearetobelievehim，whointheirextraordinaryDonnybrookFairofthedayofComedy，thumpedoneanotherandeverybodyelsewithabsoluteheartiness，ashedid，butaimedatsmallgame，anddraggedforthparticularwomen，whichhedidnot。Heisanaggregateofmanymen，allofacertaingreatness。WemaybuildupaconceptionofhispowersifwemountRabelaisuponHudibras，lifthimwiththesongfulnessofShelley，givehimaveinofHeinrichHeine，andcoverhimwiththemantleoftheAnti—Jacobin，adding（thattheremaybesomeIrishinhim）adashofGrattan，beforeheisinmotion。
　　Butsucheffortsatconceivingonegreatonebyincorporationofminorsarevain，andcryforexcuse。SupposingWilkesforleadingmaninacountryconstantlyplungingintowarundersomeplumedLamachus，withenemiesperiodicallyfiringthelanduptothegatesofLondon，andaSamuelFoote，ofprodigiousgenius，attackinghimwithridicule，IthinkitgivesanotionoftheconflictengagedinbyAristophanes。Thislaughingbald—pate，ashecallshimself，wasaTitanicpamphleteer，usinglaughterforhispoliticalweapon;alaughterwithoutscruple，thelaughterofHercules。Hewasprimedwithwit，aswiththegarlichespeaksofgivingtothegame—cocks，tomakethemfightthebetter。Andhewasalyricpoetofaerialdelicacy，withthehomelysongofajollynationalpoet，andapoetofsuchfeelingthatthecomicmaskisattimesnobroaderthanaclothonafacetoshowtheseriousfeaturesofourcommonlikeness。
　　Heisnottoberevived;butifhismethodwerestudied，someofthefireinhimwouldcometous，andwemightberevived。
　　Takingthemgenerally，theEnglishpublicaremostinsympathywiththisprimitiveAristophaniccomedy，whereinthecomiciscappedbythegrotesque，ironytipsthewit，andsatireisanakedsword。
　　TheyhavethebasisoftheComicinthem:anesteemforcommon—
　　sense。Theycordiallydislikethereverseofit。Theyhavearichlaugh，thoughitisnotthegrosrireoftheGaultossinggrossel，northepolishedFrenchman'smentallydigestivelaugh。Andiftheyhavenow，likeamonarchwithatroopofdwarfs，toomanyjesterskickingthedictionaryabout，toletthemreflectthattheyaredull，occasionally，likethepensivemonarchsurprisinghimselfwithanideaofanideaofhisown，theylookso。Andtheyaregiventolookingintheglass。Theymustseethatsomethingailsthem。Howmucheventhebetterorderofthemwillendure，withoutathoughtofthedefensive，whenthepersonafflictingthemisprotectedfromsatire，wereadinMemoirsofaPrecedingAge，wherethevulgarlytyrannoushostessofagreathouseofreceptionshuffledtheguestsandplayedthemlikeapackofcards，withherexactestimateofthestrengthofeachoneprintedonthem:andstillthishousecontinuedtobethemostpopularinEngland;nordidtheladyeverappearinprintorontheboardsasthecomictypethatshewas。
　　Ithasbeensuggestedthattheyhavenotyetspirituallycomprehendedthesignificationoflivinginsociety;forwhoarecheerfuller，briskerofwit，inthefields，andasexplorers，colonisers，backwoodsmen？Theyarehappyinroughexercise，andalsoincompleterepose。Theintermediatecondition，whentheyarecalledupontotalktooneanother，uponotherthanaffairsofbusinessortheirhobbies，revealsthemwearingacuriouslookofvacancy，asitwerethesocketofaneyewanting。TheComicisperpetuallyspringingupinsociallife，and，itoppressesthemfromnotbeingperceived。
　　Thus，atadinner—party，oneoftheguests，whohappenstohaveenrolledhimselfinaBurialCompany，politelyentreatstheotherstoinscribetheirnamesasshareholders，expatiatingontheadvantagesaccruingtothemintheeventoftheirverypossiblespeedydeath，thesalubrityofthesite，theaptitudeofthesoilforaquickconsumptionoftheirremains，etc。;andtheydrinksadnessfromtheincongruousman，andconceiveindigestion，notseeinghiminasharplydefinedlight，thatwouldbidthemtastethecomicofhim。OritismentionedthatanewlyelectedmemberofourParliamentcelebrateshisarrivalateminencebythepublicationofabookoncab—fares，dedicatedtoabelovedfemalerelativedeceased，andthecommentonitistheword'Indeed。'But，merelyforacontrast，turntoanotuncommonsceneofyesterdayinthehunting—field，whereabrilliantyoungrider，havingbrokenhiscollar—bone，trotsawayverysoonafter，againstmedicalinterdict，halfputtogetherinsplinters，tothemostdistantmeetofhisneighbourhood，sureofescapinghisdoctor，whoisthefirstpersonheencounters。'Icameherepurposelytoavoidyou，'saysthepatient。'Icameherepurposelytotakecareofyou，'saysthedoctor。Offtheygo，andcometoaswollenbrook。Thepatientclearsithandsomely:thedoctortumblesin。Allthefieldarealivewiththeheartiestrelishofeveryincidentandeverycross—
　　lightonit;anddullwouldthemanhavebeenthoughtwhohadnothiswordtosayaboutitwhenridinghome。
　　InourproseliteraturewehavehaddelightfulComicwriters。
　　BesidesFieldingandGoldsmith，thereisMissAusten，whoseEmmaandMr。Eltonmightwalkstraightintoacomedy，weretheplotarrangedforthem。Galt'sneglectednovelshavesomecharactersandstrokesofshrewdcomedy。InourpoeticliteraturethecomicisdelicateandgracefulabovethetouchofItalianandFrench。Generally，however，theEnglishelectexcelinsatire，andtheyarenoblehumourists。Thenationaldispositionisforhard—hitting，withamoralpurposetosanctionit;orforarosy，sometimesalarmoyant，geniality，notunmanlyinitsvergingupontenderness，andwithasingularattractionforthick—headedness，todecorateitwithasses'
　　earsandthemostbeautifulsylvanhaloes。ButtheComicisadifferentspirit。
　　YoumayestimateyourcapacityforComicperceptionbybeingabletodetecttheridiculeofthemyoulove，withoutlovingthemless:andmorebybeingabletoseeyourselfsomewhatridiculousindeareyes，andacceptingthecorrectiontheirimageofyouproposes。
　　Eachoneofanaffectionatecouplemaybewilling，aswesay，todiefortheother，yetunwillingtouttertheagreeablewordattherightmoment;butifthewitsweresufficientlyquickforthemtoperceivethattheyareinacomicsituation，asaffectionatecouplesmustbewhentheyquarrel，theywouldnotwaitforthemoonorthealmanac，oraDorine，tobringbacktheflood—tideoftenderfeelings，thattheyshouldjoinhandsandlips。
　　Ifyoudetecttheridicule，andyourkindlinessischilledbyit，youareslippingintothegraspofSatire。
　　Ifinsteadoffallingfouloftheridiculouspersonwithasatiricrod，tomakehimwritheandshriekaloud，youprefertostinghimunderasemi—caress，bywhichheshallinhisanguishberendereddubiouswhetherindeedanythinghashurthim，youareanengineofIrony。
　　Ifyoulaughallroundhim，tumblehim，rollhimabout，dealhimasmack，anddropatearonhim，ownhislikenesstoyouandyourstoyourneighbour，sparehimaslittleasyoushun，pityhimasmuchasyouexpose，itisaspiritofHumourthatismovingyou。
　　TheComic，whichistheperceptive，isthegoverningspirit，awakeningandgivingaimtothesepowersoflaughter，butitisnottobeconfoundedwiththem:itenfoldsathinnerformofthem，differingfromsatire，innotsharplydrivingintothequiveringsensibilities，andfromhumour，innotcomfortingthemandtuckingthemup，orindicatingabroaderthantherangeofthisbustlingworldtothem。
　　Fielding'sJonathanWildpresentsacaseofthispeculiardistinction，whenthatmanofeminentgreatnessremarksupontheunfairnessofatrialinwhichthecondemnationhasbeenbroughtaboutbytwelvemenoftheoppositeparty;foritisnotsatiric，itisnothumorous;yetitisimmenselycomictohearaguiltyvillainprotestingthathisown'party'shouldhaveavoiceintheLaw。Itopensanavenueintovillains'ratiocination。{9}AndtheComicisnotcancelledthoughweshouldsupposeJonathantobegivingplaytohishumour。Imayhavedreamedthisorhaditsuggestedtome，foronreferringtoJonathanWild，Idonotfindit。
　　Applythecasetothemanofdeepwit，whoisevercertainofhiscondemnationbytheoppositeparty，andthenitceasestobecomic，andwillbesatiric。
　　ThelookofFieldinguponRichardsonisessentiallycomic。Hismethodofcorrectingthesentimentalwriterisamixtureofthecomicandthehumorous。ParsonAdamsisacreationofhumour。ButboththeconceptionandthepresentationofAlcesteandofTartuffe，ofCelimeneandPhilaminte，arepurelycomic，addressedtotheintellect:thereisnohumourinthem，andtheyrefreshtheintellecttheyquickentodetecttheircomedy，byforceofthecontrasttheyofferbetweenthemselvesandthewiserworldaboutthem;thatistosay，society，orthatassemblageofmindswhereoftheComicspirithasitsorigin。
　　Byronhadsplendidpowersofhumour，andthemostpoeticsatirethatwehaveexampleof，fusingattimestohardirony。Hehadnostrongcomicsense，orhewouldnothavetakenananti—socialposition，whichisdirectlyopposedtotheComic;andinhisphilosophy，judgedbyphilosophers，heisacomicfigure，byreasonofthisdeficiency。'SobalderphilosophirtistereinKind，'Goethesaysofhim。Carlyleseeshiminthiscomiclight，treatshiminthehumorousmanner。
　　TheSatiristisamoralagent，oftenasocialscavenger，workingonastorageofbile。
　　TheIroneistisonethingoranother，accordingtohiscaprice。
　　Ironyisthehumourofsatire;itmaybesavageasinSwift，withamoralobject，orsedate，asinGibbon，withamalicious。Thefoppishironyfrettingtobeseen，andtheironywhichleers，thatyoushallnotmistakeitsintention，arefailuresinsatiriceffortpretendingtothetreasuresofambiguity。
　　TheHumouristofmeanorderisarefreshinglaugher，givingtonetothefeelingsandsometimesallowingthefeelingstobetoomuchforhim。ButthehumouristofhighhasanembraceofcontrastsbeyondthescopeoftheComicpoet。
　　HeartandmindlaughoutatDonQuixote，andstillyoubroodonhim。
　　ThejuxtapositionoftheknightandsquireisaComicconception，theoppositionoftheirnaturesmosthumorous。TheyareasdifferentasthetwohemispheresinthetimeofColumbus，yettheytouchandareboundinonebylaughter。Theknight'sgreataimsandconstantmishaps，hischivalrousvaliancyexercisedonabsurdobjects，hisgoodsensealongthehighroadofthecraziestofexpeditions;thecompassionheplucksoutofderision，andtheadmirablefigurehepreserveswhilestalkingthroughthefranticallygrotesqueandburlesqueassailinghim，areintheloftiestmoodsofhumour，fusingtheTragicsentimentwiththeComicnarrative。
　　Thestrokeofthegreathumouristisworld—wide，withlightsofTragedyinhislaughter。
　　Takingalivinggreat，thoughnotcreative，humouristtoguideourdescription:theskullofYorickisinhishandsinourseasonsoffestival;heseesvisionsofprimitivemancaperingpreposterouslyunderthegorgeousrobesofceremonial。Oursoulsmustbeonfirewhenwewearsolemnity，ifwewouldnotpressuponhisshrewdestnerve。Finiteandinfiniteflashfromonetotheotherwithhim，lendinghimatwo—edgedthoughtthatpeepsoutofhispeacefullestlinesbyfits，likethelanternofthefire—watcheratwindows，goingtheroundsatnight。Thecomportmentandperformancesofmeninsocietyaretohim，bythevividcomparisonwiththeirmortality，moregrotesquethanrespectable。Butaskyourself，Ishealwaystobereliedonforjustness？HewillflystraightastheemissaryeaglebacktoJoveatthetrueHero。Hewillalsomakeasdeterminedaswiftdescentuponthemanofhiswilfulchoice，whomwecannotdistinguishasatrueone。Thisvastpowerofhis，builtupofthefeelingsandtheintellectinunion，isoftenwantinginproportionandindiscretion。HumouriststouchinguponHistoryorSocietyaregiventobecapricious。Theyare，asinthecaseofSterne，giventobesentimental;forwiththemthefeelingsareprimary，aswithsingers。Comedy，ontheotherhand，isaninterpretationofthegeneralmind，andisforthatreasonofnecessitykeptinrestraint。TheFrenchlaymarkedstressonmesureetgout，andtheyownhowmuchtheyowetoMoliereforleadingtheminsimplejustnessandtaste。Wecanteachthemmanythings;theycanteachusinthis。
　　TheComicpoetisinthenarrowfield，orenclosedsquare，ofthesocietyhedepicts;andheaddressesthestillnarrowerenclosureofmen'sintellects，withreferencetotheoperationofthesocialworldupontheircharacters。Heisnotconcernedwithbeginningsorendingsorsurroundings，butwithwhatyouarenowweaving。Tounderstandhisworkandvalueit，youmusthaveasoberlikingofyourkindandasoberestimateofourcivilizedqualities。TheaimandbusinessoftheComicpoetaremisunderstood，hismeaningisnotseizednorhispointofviewtaken，whenheisaccusedofdishonouringournatureandbeinghostiletosentiment，tendingtospitefulnessandmakinganunfairuseoflaughter。ThosewhodetectironyinComedydosobecausetheychoosetoseeitinlife。
　　Poverty，saysthesatirist，hasnothingharderinitselfthanthatitmakesmenridiculous。ButpovertyisneverridiculoustoComicperceptionuntilitattemptstomakeitsragsconcealitsbarenessinaforlornattemptatdecency，orfoolishlytorivalostentation。
　　CalebBalderstone，inhisendeavourtokeepupthehonourofanoblehouseholdinastateofbeggary，isanexquisitelycomiccharacter。