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。
