132 On Disagreeable People. [Au&. 



qualified to judge, who gives way to all our sentiments, and never seems to 

 think but as we do, is indeed an alter idem another self; and we admit 

 without scruple into our entire confidence, " yea, into our heart of 

 heart." 



It is the same in hooks. Those which, under the disguise of plain- 

 speaking, vent paradoxes, and set their faces against the common-sense of 

 mankind, are neither " the volumes 



*' that enrich the shops, 



That pass with approbation through the land j" 



nor, I fear, can it be added, 



" That bring their authors an immortal fame." 



They excite a clamour and opposition at first, and are in general soon con- 

 signed to oblivion. Even if the opinions are in the end adopted, the authors 

 gain little by it, and their names remain in their original obloquy ; for the 

 public will own no obligations to such ungracious benefactors. In like 

 manner, there are many books written in a very delightful vein, though 

 with little in them, and that are accordingly popular. Their principle is 

 to pleaso, and not to offend ; and they succeed in both objects. We are 

 contented with the deference shewn to our feelings for the time, and grant 

 a truce both to wit and wisdom. The " courteous reader" and the good- 

 natured author are well matched in this instance, and find their account in 

 mutual tenderness and forbearance to each other's infirmities. I am not 

 sure that Walton's Angler is not a book of this last description 



" That dallies with the innocence of thought, 

 Like the old age. 1 ' 



Hobbes and Mandeville are in the opposite extreme, and have met with a 

 correspondent fate. The Tatler and Spectator are in the golden mean, 

 carry instruction as far as it can go without shocking, and give the most 

 exquisite pleasure without one particle of pain. " Desire to please, and 

 you will infallibly please" is a maxim equally' applicable to the study or 

 the drawing-room. Thus also we see actors of very small pretensions, and 

 who have scarce any other merit than that of being on good terras with 

 themselves, and in high good humour with their parts (though they hardly 

 understand a word of them), who are universal favourites with the audience. 

 Others, who are masters of their art, and in whom no slip or flaw can be 

 detected, you have no pleasure in seeing, from something dry, repulsive, 

 and unconciliating in their manner ; and you almost hate the very mention 

 of their names, as an unavailing appeal to your candid decision in their 

 favour, and as taxing you with injustice for refusing it. 



We may observe persons who seem to take a peculiar delight in the 

 disagreeable. They catch all sorts of uncouth tones and gestures, the 

 manners and dialect of clowns and hoydens, and aim at vulgarity as despe- 

 rately as others ape gentility. [This is what is often understood by a 

 love of low life."] They say the most unwarrantable things, without 

 meaning or feeling what they say. What startles or shocks other people, 

 is to them a sport an amusing excitement a fillip to their constitutions ; 

 and from the bluntness of their perceptions, and a certain wilfulness of 

 spirit, not being able to enter into the refined and agreeable, they make a 

 merit of despising every thing of the kind. Masculine women, for exam- 

 ple, are those who, not being distinguished by the charms and delicacy of 

 the sex, affect a superiority over it by throwing aside all decorum. We 



