  WIT. WIt is a quality of certain thoughts and expressions. The term is never applied to an action or a passion, and as little to an external object. However difficult it may be in every particular instance to distinguish a witty thought or expression from one that is not so, yet in general it may be laid down, that the term wit is appropriated to such thoughts and expressions as are ludicrous, and also occasion some degree of surprise by their singularity. Wit also in a figurative sense expresses that talent which some men have of inventing ludicrous thoughts or expressions. We say commonly, a witty man, or a man of wit. Wit in its proper sense, as suggested above, is distinguishable into two kinds; wit in the thought, and wit in the words or expression. Again, wit in the thought is of Ludicrous images that occasion surprise by their singularity, as having little or no foundation in nature, are fabricated by the imagination. And the imagination is well qualified for the office; being of all our faculties the most active, and the least under restraint. Take the following example. Shylock. You knew (none so well, none so well as you) of my daughter’s flight. Salino. That’s certain; I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings she flew withal. Merchant of Venice, act 3. sc. 1. The image here is undoubtedly witty. It is ludicrous: and it must occasion surprise; for having no natural foundation, it is altogether unexpected. The other branch of wit in the thought, is that only which is taken notice of by Addison, following Locke, who defines it “to lie in the assemblage of ideas; and putting those together with quickness and variety, wherein can be found any resem We grant although he had much wit, H’ was very shie of using it, As being loth to wear it out; And therefore bore it not about, Unless on holidays, or so, As men their best apparel do. Hudibras, canto 1. Wit is of all the most elegant recreation. The image enters the mind with gaiety, and gives a sudden flash which is extremely pleasant. Wit thereby gently elevates without straining, raises mirth without dissoluteness, and relaxes while it entertains. Wit in the expression, commonly called a play of words, being a bastard sort of wit, Falstaff, speaking of his taking Sir John Colevile of the Dale: Here he is, and here I yield him; and I beseech your Grace, let it be book’d with the rest of this day’s deeds; or, by the Lord, I will have it in a particular ballad else, with mine own picture on the top of it, Colevile kissing my foot: to the which course if I be inforc’d, if you do not all shew like gilt twopences to me; and I, in the clear sky of fame, o’er-shine you as much as the full moon doth the cinders of the element, which shew like pins’ heads to her; believe not the word of the Noble. Therefore let me have right, and let desert mount. Second part, Henry IV. act 4. sc. 6. I knew, when seven justices could not take up a quarrel, but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an if; as, if you said so, then I said so; and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your if is the only peacemaker; much virtue is in if. Shakespear. For there is not through all nature, another so callous and insensible a member as the world’s posteriors, whether you apply to it the toe or the birch. Preface to a Tale of a tub. The war hath introduced abundance of polysyllables, which will never be able to live many more campaigns. Speculations, operations, preliminaries, ambassadors, palisadoes, communication, circumvallation, battalions, as numerous as they are, if they attack us too frequently in our coffeehouses, we shall certainly put them to flight, and cut off the rear. Tatler, Nº 230. Speaking of Discord, “She never went abroad, but she brought home such a bundle of monstrous lies, as would have amazed any mortal, but such as knew her; of a whale that had swallowed a fleet of ships; of the lions being let out of the tower to destroy the Protestant religion; of the Pope’s being seen in a brandy-shop at Wapping,” &c. History of John Bull, part. 1. ch. 16. The other branch of wit in the thought, viz. ludicrous combinations and oppositions, may be traced through various ramifica Lancaster. Fare you well, Falstaff; I, in my condition, Shall better speak of you than you deserve. [Exit. Falstaff. I would you had but the wit; ’twere better than your dukedom. Good faith, this same young sober-blooded boy doth not love me; nor a man cannot make him laugh; but that’s no marvel, he drinks no wine. There’s never any of these demure boys come to any proof; for thin drink doth so over-cool their blood, and making many fish-meals, that they fall into a kind of male green-sickness; and then, when they marry, they get wenches. They are generally fools and cowards; which some of us should be too, but for inflammation. A good sherris-sack hath a twofold operation in it; it ascends me into the brain; dries me there all the foolish, dull, and crudy vapours which environ it; makes it apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery, and delectable shapes; which deliver’d o’er to the voice, the tongue, which is the birth, becomes excellent wit. The second property of your excellent sherris, is, the warming of the blood; which before cold and settled left the liver white and pale; which is the badge of pu Second part of Henry IV. act. 4. sc. 7. The trenchant blade, toledo trusty, For want of fighting was grown rusty, And ate into itself, for lack Of some body to hew and hack. The rancor of its edge had felt: For of the lower end two handful, It had devoured, ’twas so manful; And so much scorn’d to lurk in case, As if it durst not shew its face. Hudibras, canto 1. Speaking of physicians, Le bon de cette profession est, qu’il y a parmi les morts une honnÊtetÉ, une discretion la plus grande du monde; jamais on n’en voit se plaindre du mÉdicin qui l’a tuÉ. Le medicin malgrÉ lui. Admirez les bontez, admirez les tendresses, De ces vieux esclaves du sort. Ils ne sont jamais las d’aquÉrir des richesses, Pour ceux qui souhaitent leur mort. Belinda. Lard, he has so pester’d me with flames and stuff—I think I shan’t endure the sight of a fire this twelvemonth. Old Bachelor, act 2. sc. 8. To account for effects by such fantastical causes, being highly ludicrous, is quite im He did the utmost bounds of Knowledge find, He found them not so large as was his mind. But, like the brave PellÆan youth, did moan, Because that Art had no more worlds than one. And when he saw that he through all had past, He dy’d, lest he should idle grow at last. Fanciful reasoning, Falstaff. Imbowell’d!—— if thou imbowel me to-day, I’ll give you leave to powder me, and eat me to-morrow! ’Sblood, ’twas time to counterfeit, or that hot termagant Scot had paid me scot and lot too. Counterfeit? I lie, I am no counterfeit; to die is to be a counterfeit; for he is but the counterfeit of a man, who hath not the life of a man: but to counterfeit dying, when a man thereby liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image of life, indeed. First Part Henry IV. act 1. sc. 10. Clown. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their even Christian. Hamlet, Act 5. sc. 1. Pedro. Will you have me, Lady? Beatrice. No, my Lord, unless I might have another for working days. Your Grace is too costly to wear every day. Much ado about nothing, act 2. sc. 5. Jessica. I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian. Launcelot. Truly the more to blame he; we were Christians enough before, e’en as many as could well live by one another: this making of Christians will raise the price of hogs; if we grow all to be pork-eaters, we shall not have a rasher on the coals for money. Merchant of Venice, act 3. sc. 6. In western clime there is a town, To those that dwell therein well known; Therefore there needs no more be said here, We unto them refer our reader: For brevity is very good, When w’ are, or are not understood. Hudibras, canto 1. As quick as lightning, in the breech, Just in the place where honour’s lodg’d, As wise philosophers have judg’d; Because a kick in that part, more Hurts honour, than deep wounds before. Ibid. canto 3. Ludicrous junction of small things with great, as of equal importance. This day black omens threat the brightest fair That e’er deserv’d a watchful spirit’s care; Some dire disaster, or by force, or flight; But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night: Whether the nymph shall break Diana’s law; Or some frail china jar receive a flaw; Or stain her honour, or her new brocade; Forget her pray’rs, or miss a masquerade; Or lose her heart, or necklace, at a ball; Or whether Heav’n has doom’d that Shock must fall. Rape of the Lock, canto ii. 101. One speaks the glory of the British Queen, And one describes a charming Indian screen. Ibid. canto iii. 13. And screams of horror rend th’ affrighted skies. Not louder shrieks to pitying heav’n are cast, When husbands, or when lapdogs breathe their last; Or when rich china vessels fall’n from high, In glitt’ring dust, and painted fragments lie! Ibid. canto iii. 155. Not youthful kings in battle seiz’d alive, Not scornful virgins who their charms survive, Not ardent lovers robb’d of all their bliss, Not ancient ladies when refus’d a kiss, Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, Not Cynthia when her manteau’s pinn’d awry, E’er felt such rage, resentment, and despair, As thou, sad virgin! for thy ravish’d hair. Ibid. canto iv. 3. Joining things that in appearance are opposite. As for example, where Sir Roger de Coverley, in the Spectator, speaking of his widow, “That he would have given her a coal-pit to have kept her in clean linen; and that her finger should have sparkled with one hundred of his richest acres.” Premisses that promise much and perform nothing. Cicero upon this article says, Beatrice.—— With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world, if he could get her good-will. Much ado about nothing, act 2. sc. 1. Beatrice. I have a good eye, uncle, I can see a church by day-light. ibid. Le medecin que l’on m’indique Sait le Latin, le Grec, l’Hebreu, Les belles lettres, la physique, La chimie et la botanique. Chacun lui donne son aveu: Il auroit aussi ma pratique; Mais je veux vivre encore un peu. Again, Vingt fois le jour le bon GrÉgoire A soin de fermer son armoire. Belle demande! Qu’un voleur Trouvant une facile proie, Ne lui ravisse tout son bien. Non; Gregoire a peur qu’on ne voie Que dan son armoire il n’a rien. Again, L’athsmatique Damon a cru que l’air des champs Repareroit en lui le ravage des ans, Il s’est fait, a grands fraix, transporter en Bretagne. Or voiez ce qu’a fait l’air natal qu’il a pris! Damon seroit mort À Paris: Damon est mort À la campagne. Having discussed wit in the thought, we proceed to what is verbal only, commonly called a play of words. This sort of wit depends for the most part upon chusing words that have different significations. By this artifice, hocus-pocus tricks are played in language; and thoughts plain and simple take on a very different appearance. Play is necessary for man, in order to refresh him after labour; and accordingly man loves play. He even relisheth a play of It is remarkable, that this low species of wit, has, at one time or other, made a figure in most civilized nations, and has gradually gone into disrepute. So soon as a language is formed into a system, and the meaning of words are ascertained with tolerable accuracy, opportunity is afforded for expressions, which, by the double meaning of some words, give a familiar thought the appearance of being new. And the penetration of the reader or hearer, is gratified in detecting the true sense disguised under the double meaning. That this sort of wit was in England deemed a reputable amusement, during the reigns of Elisabeth and James I. is vouched by the works of Shakespear, and even by the writings of grave divines. But it cannot have any long endurance: for as language ripens, and the meaning of I proceed to examples, which, as in the former case, shall be distributed into different classes. A seeming resemblance from the double meaning of a word. Beneath this stone my wife doth lie: She’s now at rest, and so am I. A seeming contrast from the same cause, termed a verbal antithesis, which hath no despicable effect in ludicrous subjects. Whilst Iris his cosmetic wash would try To make her bloom revive, and lovers die. Some ask for charms, and others philters chuse, To gain Corinna, and their quartans lose, Dispensary, canto 2. And how frail nymphs, oft by abortion, aim To lose a substance, to preserve a name. Ibid. canto 3. Other seeming connections from the same cause. Will you employ your conqu’ring sword, To break a fiddle and your word. Hudibras, canto 2. To whom the knight with comely grace Put off his hat to put his case. Hudibras, Part 3. canto 3. Here Britain’s statesmen oft the fall foredoom Of foreign tyrants, and of nymphs at home; Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey, Does sometimes counsel take—and sometimes tea. Rape of the Lock, canto 3. l. 5. O’er their quietus where fat judges dose, And lull their cough and conscience to repose. Dispensary, canto 1. Speaking of Prince Eugene. “This General is a great taker of snuff as well as of towns.” Pope, Key to the Lock. Exul mentisque domusque. Metamorphoses, lib. ix. 409. A seeming inconsistency from the same cause. Hic quiescit qui nunquam quievit. Again, Quel Âge a cette Iris, dont on fait tant de bruit? Me demandoit Cliton n’aguere. Il faut, dis-je, vous satisfaire, Elle a vingt ans le jour, et cinquante ans la nuit. Again, So like the chances are of love and war, That they alone in this distinguish’d are; In love the victors from the vanguish’d fly, They fly that wound, and they pursue that die. Waller. What new-found witchcraft was in thee, With thine own cold to kindle me? Strange art; like him that should devise To make a burning-glass of ice. Cowley. Wit of this kind is unsuitable in a serious poem; witness the following line in Pop Cold is that breast which warm’d the world before. This sort of writing is finely burlesqued by Swift: Her hands, the softest ever felt, Though cold would burn, though dry would melt. Strephon and Chloe. Taking a word in a different sense from what is meant, comes under wit, because it occasions some slight degree of surprise. Beatrice. I may sit in a corner, and cry Heigh ho! for a husband. Pedro. Lady Beatrice, I will get you one. Beatrice. I would rather have one of your father’s getting: hath your Grace ne’er a brother like you? Your father got excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them. Much ado about nothing, act 2. sc. 5. Falstaff. My honest lads, I will tell you what I am about. Pistol. Two yards and more. Falstaff. No quips now, Pistol: indeed, I am Merry wives of Windsor, act 1. sc. 7. Lo. Sands.—— By your leave, sweet ladies, If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me: I had it from my father. Anne Bullen. Was he mad, Sir? Sands. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too; But he would bite none—— K. Henry VIII. An assertion that bears a double meaning, one right, one wrong; but so connected with other matters as to direct us to the wrong meaning. This species of bastard wit is distinguished from all others by the name pun. For example, Paris.—— Sweet Helen, I must woo you, To help unarm our Hector: his stubborn buckles, With these your white inchanting fingers touch’d, Shall more obey, than to the edge of steel, Or force of Greekish sinews: you shall do more Than all the island kings, disarm great Hector. Troilus and Cressida, act 3. sc. 2. The pun is in the close. The word disarm has a double meaning. It signifies to take off a man’s armour, and also to subdue him in fight. We are directed to the latter sense by the context. But with regard to Helen the word holds only true in the former sense. I go on with other examples. Esse nihil dicis quicquid petis, improbe Cinna: Si nil, Cinna, petis, nil tibi, Cinna, nego. Martial, l. 3. epigr. 61. N. B. Jocondus was a monk. Chief Justice. Well! the truth is, Sir John, you live in great infamy. Falstaff. He that buckles him in my belt, cannot live in less. Chief Justice. Your means are very slender, and your waste is great. Falstaff. I would it were otherwise: I would my means were greater, and my waste slenderer. Second part, Henry IV. act. 1 sc. 5. Celia. I pray you bear with me, I can go no further. Clown. For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear you: yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you; for I think you have no money in your purse. As you like it, act 2. sc. 4. He that imposes an oath makes it, Not he that for convenience takes it; Then how can any man be said, To break an oath he never made? Hudibras, part 2. canto 2. The seventh satire of the first book of Horace, is purposely contrived to introduce at the close a most execrable pun. Talking of some infamous wretch whose name was Rex Rupilius. Persius exclamat, Per magnos, Brute, deos te Oro, qui reges consueris tollere, cur non Hunc regem jugulas? Operum hoc, mihi crede, tuorum est. Though playing with words is a mark of a mind at ease, and disposed for any sort of amusement, we must not thence conclude that playing with words is always ludicrous. Words are so intimately connected with He hath abandoned his physicians, Madam, under whose practices he hath persecuted time with hope: and finds no other advantage in the process, but only the losing of hope by time. All’s well that ends well, act 1. sc. 1. K. Henry. O my poor kingdom, sick with civil blows! When that my care could not with-hold thy riots, What wilt thou do when riot is thy care? Second part, K. Henry IV. A smart repartee may be considered as a species of wit. A certain petulant Greek, objecting to Anacharsis that he was a Scythian: True, says Anacharsis, my country disgraces me, but you disgrace your country. |
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