I5S STUDIES OF NATURE. 



We frequently fee thefe contrary 'efFeds pro- 

 duced by the fame means. For example, if the 

 nurfe wants her child to laugh, flie (hrowds her 

 head in her apron ; upon this the infant becomes 

 ferious ; then, all at once, (he (hews her face, and 

 he burfts into a fit of laughter. If (he means to 

 terrify him, which is but too frequently the cafe, 

 Ihe firfl fmiles upon the child, and he returns it : 

 then, all at once, (he afTumes a ferious air, or con- 

 ceals her face, and the child falls a-crying. 



I (hall not fay a word more refpeding thefe vio- 

 lent oppofitions; but (hall only deduce this con- 

 fequence from them, that it is the mod wretched 

 part of Mankind which has the greateft propen(ity 

 to ridicule. Terrified by political and moral 

 phantoms, they endeavour, firft of all, to drown 

 relpedt for them , and it is no difficult matter to 

 fucceed in this ; for Nature, always at hand, to 

 fuccour opprelfed humanity, has blended, in moft 

 things of human inftitucion, the effulions of ridi- 

 cule with thofe of terror. The only thing requi- 

 fite is to invert the objefts of their comparifon. It 

 was thus that Ariflophmies, by his comedy of The 

 Clouds, fubverted the religion of his country. At- 

 tend to the behaviour of lads at college ; the pre- 

 fence of the mafter at firft fets them a-trembling ; 

 what contrivance do they employ to familiarize 

 themfelves to his idea ? They try to turn him into 



ridicule. 



