Inthecaseof\'poorrelatives，\'ontheotherhand，itistherich，whomtheyperplex，thatarereallycomic;andtolaughattheformer，notseeingthecomedyofthelatter，istobetraydulnessofvision。HumouristandSatiristfrequentlyhunttogetherasIroneistsinpursuitofthegrotesque，totheexclusionoftheComic。ThatwasanaffectingmomentinthehistoryofthePrinceRegent，whentheFirstGentlemanofEuropeburstintotearsatasarcasticremarkofBeauBrummell\'sonthecutofhiscoat。Humour，Satire，Irony，pounceonitaltogetherastheircommonprey。TheComicspiriteyesbutdoesnottouchit。Putintoaction，itwouldbefarcical。ItistoogrossforComedy。
Incidentsofakindcastingridiculeonourunfortunatenatureinsteadofourconventionallife，provokederisivelaughter，whichthwartstheComicidea。Butderisionisfoiledbytheplayoftheintellect。MostofdoubtfulcausesincontestareopentoComicinterpretation，andanyintellectualpleadingofadoubtfulcausecontainsgermsofanIdeaofComedy。
Thelaughterofsatireisablowinthebackortheface。ThelaughterofComedyisimpersonalandofunrivalledpoliteness，nearerasmile;oftennomorethanasmile。Itlaughsthroughthemind，fortheminddirectsit;anditmightbecalledthehumourofthemind。
Oneexcellenttestofthecivilizationofacountry，asIhavesaid，ItaketobetheflourishingoftheComicideaandComedy;andthetestoftrueComedyisthatitshallawakenthoughtfullaughter。
Ifyoubelievethatourcivilizationisfoundedincommon—sense（anditisthefirstconditionofsanitytobelieveit），youwill，whencontemplatingmen，discernaSpiritoverhead;notmoreheavenlythanthelightflashedupwardfromglassysurfaces，butluminousandwatchful;nevershootingbeyondthem，norlaggingintherear;socloselyattachedtothemthatitmaybetakenforaslavishreflex，untilitsfeaturesarestudied。Ithasthesage\'sbrows，andthesunnymaliceofafaunlurksatthecornersofthehalf—closedlipsdrawninanidlewarinessofhalftension。Thatslimfeastingsmile，shapedlikethelong—bow，wasonceabigroundsatyr\'slaugh，thatflungupthebrowslikeafortressliftedbygunpowder。Thelaughwillcomeagain，butitwillbeoftheorderofthesmile，finelytempered，showingsunlightofthemind，mentalrichnessratherthannoisyenormity。Itscommonaspectisoneofunsolicitousobservation，asifsurveyingafullfieldandhavingleisuretodartonitschosenmorsels，withoutanyflutteringeagerness。Men\'sfutureuponearthdoesnotattractit;theirhonestyandshapelinessinthepresentdoes;andwhenevertheywaxoutofproportion，overblown，affected，pretentious，bombastical，hypocritical，pedantic，fantasticallydelicate;wheneveritseesthemself—deceivedorhoodwinked，giventorunriotinidolatries，driftingintovanities，congregatinginabsurdities，planningshort—
sightedly，plottingdementedly;whenevertheyareatvariancewiththeirprofessions，andviolatetheunwrittenbutperceptiblelawsbindingtheminconsiderationonetoanother;whenevertheyoffendsoundreason，fairjustice;arefalseinhumilityorminedwithconceit，individually，orinthebulk——theSpiritoverheadwilllookhumanelymalignandcastanobliquelightonthem，followedbyvolleysofsilverylaughter。ThatistheComicSpirit。
Nottodistinguishitistobebull—blindtothespiritual，andtodenytheexistenceofamindofmanwheremindsofmenareinworkingconjunction。
Youmust，asIhavesaid，believethatourstateofsocietyisfoundedincommon—sense，otherwiseyouwillnotbestruckbythecontraststheComicSpiritperceives，orhaveittolooktoforyourconsolation。Youwill，infact，bestandinginthatpeculiarobliquebeamoflight，yourselfilluminatedtothegeneraleyeastheveryobjectofchaseanddoomedquarryofthethingobscuretoyou。Buttofeelitspresenceandtoseeitisyourassurancethatmanysaneandsolidmindsarewithyouinwhatyouareexperiencing:
andthisofitselfsparesyouthepainofsatiricalheat，andthebittercravingtostrikeheavyblows。Yousharethesublimeofwrath，thatwouldnothavehurtthefoolish，butmerelydemonstratetheirfoolishness。MolierewascontentedtorevengehimselfonthecriticsoftheEcoledesFemmes，bywritingtheCritiquedel\'EcoledesFemmes，oneofthewisestaswellastheplayfullestofstudiesincriticism。Aperceptionofthecomicspiritgiveshighfellowship。Youbecomeacitizenoftheselecterworld，thehighestweknowofinconnectionwithouroldworld，whichisnotsupermundane。Lookthereforyourunchallengeableupperclass！Youfeelthatyouareoneofthisourcivilizedcommunity，thatyoucannotescapefromit，andwouldnotifyoucould。Goodhopesustainsyou;wearinessdoesnotoverwhelmyou;inisolationyouseenocharmsforvanity;personalprideisgreatlymoderated。Norshallyourtitleofcitizenshipexcludeyoufromworldsofimaginationorofdevotion。TheComicspiritisnothostiletothesweetestsongfullypoetic。Chaucerbubbleswithit:Shakespeareoverflows:thereisamildmoon\'srayofit（palewithsuper—
refinementthroughdistancefromourfleshandbloodplanet）inComus。Popehasit，anditisthedaylightsideofthenighthalfobscuringCowper。Itisonlyhostiletothepriestlyelement，whenthat，bybalefulswelling，transcendsandoverlapstheboundsofitsoffice:andthen，inextremecases，itistootruetoitselftospeak，andveilsthelamp:as，forexample，thespectacleofBossuetoverthedeadbodyofMoliere:atwhichthedarkangelsmay，butmendonotlaugh。
Wehavehadcomicpulpits，forasignthatthelaughter—movingandtheworshipfulmaybeinalliance:Iknownothowfarcomic，orhowmuchassistedinseemingsobytheunexpectednessandthereliefofitsappearance:atleasttheyarepopular，theyaresaidtowintheear。Laughterisopentoperversion，likeothergoodthings;thescornfulandthebrutalsortsarenotunknowntous;butthelaughterdirectedbytheComicspiritisaharmlesswine，conducingtosobrietyinthedegreethatitenlivens。Itentersyoulikefreshairintoastudy;aswhenoneofthesuddencontrastsofthecomicideafloodsthebrainlikereassuringdaylight。Youarecognizantofthetruekindbyfeelingthatyoutakeitin，savourit，andhavewhatflowersliveon，naturalairforfood。Thatwhichyougiveout——thejoyfulroar——isnotthebetterpart;letthatgotogoodfellowshipandthebenefitofthelungs。Aristophanespromiseshisauditorsthatiftheywillretaintheideasofthecomicpoetcarefully，astheykeepdriedfruitsinboxes，theirgarmentsshallsmellodoriferousofwisdomthroughouttheyear。Theboastwillnotbethoughtanemptyonebythosewhohavechoicefriendsthathavestockedthemselvesaccordingtohisdirections。
Suchtreasuriesofsparklinglaughterarewellsinourdesert。
Sensitivenesstothecomiclaughisastepincivilization。Toshrinkfrombeinganobjectofitisastepincultivation。Weknowthedegreeofrefinementinmenbythemattertheywilllaughat，andtheringofthelaugh;butweknowlikewisethatthelargernaturesaredistinguishedbythegreatbreadthoftheirpoweroflaughter，andnoonereallylovingMoliereisrefinedbythatlovetodespiseorbedensetoAristophanes，thoughitmaybethattheloverofAristophaneswillnothaverisentotheheightofMoliere。
Embracethemboth，andyouhavethewholescaleoflaughterinyourbreast。NothingintheworldsurpassesinstormyfunthesceneinTheFrogs，whenBacchusandXanthiasreceivetheirthrashingsfromthehandsofbusinesslikeOEacus，todiscoverwhichisthedivinityofthetwo，byhisimperviousnesstothemortalconditionofpain，andeach，undertheobligationofnotcryingout，makesbelievethathishorriblebellow——thegod\'siouioubeingthelustier——meansonlythestoppingofasneeze，orhorsemansighted，orthepreludetoaninvocationtosomedeity:andtheslavecontrivesthatthegodshallgetthebiggerlotofblows。PassagesofRabelais，oneortwoinDonQuixote，andtheSupperintheManneroftheAncients，inPeregrinePickle，areofasimilarcataractoflaughter。Butitisnotilluminating;itisnotthelaughterofthemind。Moliere\'slaughter，inhispurestcomedies，isethereal，aslighttoournature，ascolourtoourthoughts。TheMisanthropeandtheTartuffehavenoaudiblelaughter;butthecharactersaresteepedinthecomicspirit。Theyquickenthemindthroughlaughter，fromcomingoutofthemind;andthemindacceptsthembecausetheyareclearinterpretationsofcertainchaptersoftheBooklyingopenbeforeusall。BetweenthesetwostandShakespeareandCervantes，withthericherlaughofheartandmindinone;withmuchoftheAristophanicrobustness，somethingofMoliere\'sdelicacy。
ThelaughterheardincirclesnotpervadedbytheComicidea，willsoundharshandsoulless，likeversifiedprose，ifyoustepintothemwithasenseofthedistinction。Youwillfancyyouhavechangedyourhabitationtoaplanetremoterfromthesun。Youmaybeamongpowerfulbrainstoo。Youwillnotfindpoets——orbutastrayone，over—worshipped。Youwillfindlearnedmenundoubtedly，professors，reputedphilosophers，andillustriousdilettanti。Theyhaveinthem，perhaps，everyelementcomposinglight，excepttheComic。Theyreadverse，theydiscourseofart;buttheireminentfacultiesarenotunderthatvigilantsenseofacollectivesupervision，spiritualandpresent，whichwehavetakennoteof。
Theybuildatempleofarrogance;theyspeakmuchinthevoiceoforacles;theirhilarity，ifitdoesnotdipingrossness，isusuallyaformofpugnacity。
Insufficiencyofsightintheeyelookingoutwardhasdeprivedthemoftheeyethatshouldlookinward。TheyhaveneverweighedthemselvesinthedelicatebalanceoftheComicideasoastoobtainasuspicionoftherightsandduesoftheworld;andtheyhave，inconsequence，anirritablepersonality。AverylearnedEnglishprofessorcrushedanargumentinapoliticaldiscussion，byaskinghisadversaryangrily:\'Areyouaware，sir，thatIamaphilologer？\'
Thepracticeofpolitesocietywillhelpintrainingthem，andtheprofessoronasofawithbeautifulladiesoneachsideofhim，maybecometheirpupilandascholarinmannerswithoutknowingit:heisatleastafairandpleasingspectacletotheComicMuse。Butthesocietynamedpoliteisvolatileinitsadorations，andto—
morrowwillbepettingabronzedsoldier，orablackAfrican，oraprince，oraspiritualist:ideascannottakerootinitsever—
shiftingsoil。Itisbesidesaddictedinself—defencetogabbleexclusivelyoftheaffairsofitsrapidlyrevolvingworld，aschildrenonawhirligoroundbestowtheirattentiononthewoodenhorseorcradleaheadofthem，toescapefromgiddinessandpreserveanotionofidentity。Theprofessorisbetteroutofacirclethatoftenconfoundsbylionizing，sometimesannoysbyabandoning，andalwaysconfuses。Theschoolthatteachesgentlywhatperilthereislestacultivatedheadshouldstillbecoxcomb\'s，andthecollisionswhichmaybefallhigh—soaringminds，emptyorfull，ismoretoberecommendedthanthesphereofincessantmotionsupplyingitwithmaterial。
LandswheretheComicspiritisobscureoverheadarerankwithrawcropsofmatter。Thetravelleraccustomedtosmoothhighwaysandpeoplenotcoveredwithburrsandpricklesisamazed，amidsomuchthatisfairandcherishable，tocomeuponsuchcuriousbarbarism。
AnEnglishmanpaidavisitofadmirationtoaprofessorintheLandofCulture，andwasintroducedbyhimtoanotherdistinguishedprofessor，towhomhetooksocordiallyastowalkoutwithhimaloneoneafternoon。Thefirstprofessor，aneruditeentirelyworthyofthesentimentofscholarlyesteempromptingthevisit，behaved（ifweexcludethedagger）withthevindictivejealousyofaninjuredSpanishbeauty。Afterashortpreludeofgloomandobscureexplosions，hedischargeduponhisfaithlessadmirertheboltsofpassionatelogicfamiliartotheearsofflightycaballeros:——\'EitherIamafitobjectofyouradmiration，orIamnot。Ofthesethingsone——eitheryouarecompetenttojudge，inwhichcaseIstandcondemnedbyyou;oryouareincompetent，andthereforeimpertinent，andyoumaybetakeyourselftoyourcountryagain，hypocrite！\'Theadmirerwasforpersuadingthewoundedscholarthatitisgiventoustobeabletoadmiretwoprofessorsatatime。Hewasdrivenforth。
Perhapsthismighthaveoccurredinanycountry，andacomedyofThePedant，discoveringthegreedyhumanitywithinthedustyscholar，wouldnotbringithometooneinparticular。IammindfulthatitwasinGermany，whenIobservethattheGermanshavegonethroughnocomictrainingtowarnthemofthesly，wiseemanationeyeingthemfromaloft，normuchofsatirical。HeinrichHeinehasnotbeenenoughtocausethemtosmartandmeditate。Nationally，aswellasindividually，whentheyareexcitedtheyareindangerofthegrotesque，aswhen，forinstance，theydeclinetolistentoevidence，andraiseanationaloutcrybecauseoneofGermanbloodhasbeenconvictedofcrimeinaforeigncountry。Theyareacutecritics，yettheystillwieldclubsincontroversy。ComparetheminthisrespectwiththepeopleschooledinLaBruyere，LaFontaine，Moliere;withthepeoplewhohavethefiguresofaTrissotinandaVadiusbeforethemforacomicwarningofthepersonalvanitiesofthecaressedprofessor。Itismorethandifferenceofrace。Itisthedifferenceoftraditions，temper，andstyle，whichcomesofschooling。
TheFrenchcontroversialistisapolishedswordsman，tobedreadedinhisgracesandcourtesies。TheGermanisOrson，orthemob，oramarchingarmy，indefenceofagoodcaseorabad——abigoralittle。Hisironyisamissileofterrifictonnage:sarcasmheemitslikeablastfromadragon\'smouth。HemustandwillbeTitan。Hestampshisfoeunderfoot，andisastonishedthatthecreatureisnotdead，butstinging;for，intruth，theTitaniscontending，bycomparison，withagod。
WhentheGermanslieontheirarms，lookingacrosstheAlsatianfrontieratthecrowdsofFrenchmenrushingtoapplaudL\'amiFritzattheTheatreFrancais，lookingandconsideringthemeaningofthatapplause，whichisgrimlycomicinitspoliticalresponsetothedomesticmoraloftheplay——whentheGermanswatchandaresilent，theirforceofcharactertells。Theyarekingsinmusic，wemaysayprincesinpoetry，goodspeculatorsinphilosophy，andourleadersinscholarship。Thatsogiftedarace，possessedmoreoverofthesterngoodsensewhichcollectsthewatersoflaughtertomakethewells，shouldshowatadisadvantage，Iholdforaproof，instructivetous，thatthedisciplineofthecomicspiritisneedfultotheirgrowth。Weseewhattheycanreachtointhatgreatfigureofmodernmanhood，Goethe。Theyareagrowingpeople;
theyareconversableaswell;andwhentheirmen，asinFrance，andatintervalsatBerlintea—tables，consenttotalkonequaltermswiththeirwomen，andtolistentothem，theirgrowthwillbeacceleratedandbeshapelier。Comedy，orinanyformtheComicspirit，willthencometothemtocutsomefiguresoutoftheblock，showthemthemirror，enlivenandirradiatethesocialintelligence。
ModernFrenchcomedyiscommendableforthedirectnessofthestudyofactuallife，asfarasthat，whichisbuttheearlystepinsuchascholarship，canbeofserviceincomposingandcolouringthepicture。Aconsequenceofthiscrude，thoughwell—meant，realismisthecollisionofthewritersintheirscenesandincidents，andintheircharacters。TheMuseofmostofthemisanAventuriere。Sheisclever，andacertaindiversionexistsintheunitedschemeforconfoundingher。Theobjectofthispersonistoreinstateherselfinthedecorousworld;andeither，havingaccomplishedthispurposethroughdeceit，shehasanostalgiedelaboue，thateventuallycastsherbackintoit，orsheisexposedinhercourseofdeceptionwhensheisabouttogainherend。Averygood，innocentyoungmanishervictim，oraveryastute，goodishyoungmanobstructsherpath。Thislatterisenabledtobethechampionofthedecorousworldbyknowingtheindecorouswell。HehasassistedintheprogressofAventurieresdownward;hewillnothelpthemtoascend。
Theworldiswithhim;andcertainlyitisnotmuchofanascensiontheyaspireto;butwhatsortofafigureishe？Thetriumphofacandidrealismistoshowhimnohero。Youaretoadmirehim（foritmustbesupposedthatrealismpretendstowakensomeadmiration）
asacrediblylivingyoungman;nobetter，onlyalittlefirmerandshrewder，thantherest。If，however，youthinkatall，afterthecurtainhasfallen，youarelikelytothinkthattheAventuriereshaveacasetopleadagainsthim。True，andtheauthorhasnotsaidanythingtothecontrary;hehasbutpaintedfromthelife;heleaveshisaudiencetothereflectionsofunphilosophicmindsuponlife，fromthespecimenhehaspresentedinthebrightandnarrowcircleofaspy—glass。
Idonotknowthattheflyinamberisofanyparticularuse，buttheComicideaenclosedinacomedymakesitmoregenerallyperceptibleandportable，andthatisanadvantage。ThereisabenefittomenintakingthelessonsofComedyincongregations，foritenlivensthewits;andtowritersitisbeneficial，fortheymusthaveaclearscheme，andeveniftheyhavenoideatopresent，theymustprovethattheyhavemadethepublicsittothembeforethesittingtoseethepicture。Andwritingforthestagewouldbeacorrectiveofatoo—incrustedscholarlystyle，intowhichsomegreatonesfallattimes。Itkeepsminorwriterstoadefiniteplan，andtoEnglish。Manyofthemnowswellingaplethoricmarket，inthecompositionofnovels，inpun—manufactoriesandinjournalism;
attachedtothemachineryforcingperishablematteronapublicthatswallowsvoraciouslyandgroans;might，withencouragement，beattendingtothestudyofartinliterature。Ourcriticsappeartobefascinatedbythequaintnessofourpublic，astheworldiswhenourbeast—gardenhasanewimportationofmagnitude，andthecreaturesappetiteisreverentlyconsulted。Theystipulateforawriter\'spopularitybeforetheywilldomuchmorethantakethepositionofumpirestorecordhisfailureorsuccess。Nowthepigsuppliesthemostpopularofdishes，butitisnotaccountedthemosthonouredofanimals，unlessitbebythecottager。Ourpublicmightsurelybeledtotryother，perhapsfiner，meat。Ithasgoodtasteinsong。Itmightbetaughtasjustly，onthewhole，andthesoonerwhenthecottager\'sviewofthefeastshallceasetobethehumbleoneofourliterarycritics，toextendthiscapacityfordelicatechoosinginthedirectionofthematterarousinglaughter。
Footnotes:
{1}AlecturedeliveredattheLondonInstitution，February1st，1877。
{2}RealisminthewritingiscarriedtosuchapitchinTHEOLD
BACHELOR，thathusbandandwifeuseimbecileconnubialepithetstooneanother。
{3}TallemantdesReaux，inhisroughportraitoftheDuke，showsthefoundationofthecharacterofAlceste。
{4}SeeTomJones，bookviii。chapterI，forFielding\'sopinionofourComedy。Butheputsitsimply;notasanexerciseinthequasi—
philosophicalbathetic。
{5}FemmesSavantes:
BELISE:Veux—tutoutelavieoffenserlagrammaire？
MARTINE:Quiparled\'offensergrand\'merenigrand—pere？\'
Thepunisdeliveredinallsincerity，fromthemouthofarustic。
{6}MaskwellseemstohavebeencarvedonthemodelofIago，asbythehandofanenterprisingurchin。Heapostrophizeshis\'invention\'repeatedly。\'Thanks，myinvention。\'Hehitsonaninvention，tosay:\'WasitmybrainorProvidence？nomatterwhich。\'Itisnomatterwhich，butitwasnothisbrain。
{7}ImaginaryConversations:AlfieriandtheJewSalomon。
{8}TerencedidnotpleasetherougholdconservativeRomans;theylikedPlautusbetter，andtherecurringmentionofthevetuspoetainhisprologues，whoplaguedhimwiththecrustycriticalviewofhisproductions，hasintheendacomiceffectonthereader。
{9}TheexclamationofLadyBooby，whenJosephdefendshimself:
\'YOURVIRTUE！Ishallneversurviveit！\'etc。，isanotherinstance。——JosephAndrews。AlsothatofMissMathewsinhernarrativetoBooth:\'Butsucharethefriendshipsofwomen。\'——
Amelia。
