[ 8i ] 



Secondly. Slight corporeal blemiflies and defeats are the 

 next fource of the ridiculous, to which we are led by an eafy 

 tranfition from the former ; Cicero himfclf tells us — ejl etiam 

 deformitat'ts & corporis vitiorum fatis bella materies ad jocandum % 

 but this muft be taken with the reftridlion I have already 

 mentioned, that the defeds and blemiflies muft not prevent the 

 perfon from enjoying the plcafures, or performing the fundions 

 of life. They muft not include the fuppofition of caufing pain j 

 they muft not be ghaftly or ofFenfive to the fight ; for in fuch 

 cafes they would caufe in us not mirth, but pity, difguft or aver- 

 fion *. To this clafs we may refer caricatures, and other bur- 

 lefque paintings, and many dramatic charaders where much of 

 the pleafantry is drawn from the corporeal peculiarities of the 

 perfonagc introduced ; as, for inftance, the FalftafF and Bardolph ' 

 of Shakefpear, the Corbacchio of Ben Johnfon. 



Thirdly. Unforefeen difafters or mifchances, which are no 

 way tragical, nor of a ferious nature ; as, for inftance, fhould a 

 beau dreft out for an affembly fall in the dirt, or a blaft of wind 

 hurry away a fine lady's cap and artificial treffes : Here the acci- 

 dent excites our triumph, by a mifchance from which we are 

 exempt ; and there is no collateral affeding circumftance to call 

 in the graver emotions of humanity, and check the rifing con- 

 tempt. Under this head we may include pradical jokes, a never- 



• I know not whether I fliould refer to this or the foregoing head, that mirth 

 which arifes from tracing oiu fome refemblance to the brute creation in the form 

 and Jineaments of man ; and from feeing or hearing human criratures imitate the 

 motions, noifes, and other aftions of brutes. 



( L ) failing 



