ONTHEIDEAOFCOMEDYANDOFTHEUSESOFTHECOMICSPIRIT{1}
GoodComediesaresuchrareproductions，thatnotwithstandingthewealthofourliteratureintheComicelement，itwouldnotoccupyuslongtorunovertheEnglishlist。IftheyarebroughttothetestIshallpropose，veryreputableComedieswillbefoundunworthyoftheirstation，liketheladiesofArthur\'sCourtwhentheywerereducedtotheordealofthemantle。
ThereareplainreasonswhytheComicpoetisnotafrequentapparition;andwhythegreatComicpoetremainswithoutafellow。
Asocietyofcultivatedmenandwomenisrequired，whereinideasarecurrentandtheperceptionsquick，thathemaybesuppliedwithmatterandanaudience。Thesemi—barbarismofmerelygiddycommunities，andfeverishemotionalperiods，repelhim;andalsoastateofmarkedsocialinequalityofthesexes;norcanhewhosebusinessistoaddressthemindbeunderstoodwherethereisnotamoderatedegreeofintellectualactivity。
Moreover，totouchandkindlethemindthroughlaughter，demandsmorethansprightliness，amostsubtledelicacy。ThatmustbeanatalgiftintheComicpoet。Thesubstancehedealswithwillshowhimastartlingexhibitionofthedyer\'shand，ifheiswithoutit。
Peoplearereadytosurrenderthemselvestowittythumpsontheback，breast，andsides;allexceptthehead:anditistherethatheaims。Hemustbesubtletopenetrate。Acorrespondingacutenessmustexisttowelcomehim。Thenecessityforthetwoconditionswillexplainhowitisthatwecounthimduringcenturiesinthesingularnumber。
\'C\'estuneetrangeentreprisequecelledefairerireleshonnetesgens，\'Molieresays;andthedifficultyoftheundertakingcannotbeover—estimated。
Thenagain，heisbesetwithfoestorightandleft，ofacharacterunknowntothetragicandthelyricpoet，oreventophilosophers。
WehaveinthisworldmenwhomRabelaiswouldcallagelasts;thatistosay，non—laughers;menwhoareinthatrespectasdeadbodies，whichifyouprickthemdonotbleed。Theoldgreyboulder—stonethathasfinisheditsperegrinationfromtherocktothevalley，isaseasilytobesetrollingupagainasthesemenlaughing。Nocollisionofcircumstancesinourmortalcareerstrikesalightforthem。Itisbutonestepfrombeingagelastictomisogelastic，andthe[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]，thelaughter—hating，soonlearnstodignifyhisdislikeasanobjectioninmorality。
Wehaveanotherclassofmen，whoarepleasedtoconsiderthemselvesantagonistsoftheforegoing，andwhomwemaytermhypergelasts;theexcessivelaughers，ever—laughing，whoareasclappersofabell，thatmayberungbyabreeze，agrimace;whoaresolooselyputtogetherthatawinkwillshakethem。
\'……C\'estn\'estimerrienqu\'estionertoutlemonde，\'
andtolaughateverythingistohavenoappreciationoftheComicofComedy。
Neitherofthesedistinctdivisionsofnon—laughersandover—
laugherswouldbeentertainedbyreadingTheRapeoftheLock，orseeingaperformanceofLeTartuffe。Inrelationtothestage，theyhavetakeninourlandtheformandtitleofPuritanandBacchanalian。Forthoughthestageisnolongerapublicoffender，andShakespearehasbeenrevivedonit，togiveitnobility，wehavenotyetentirelyraiseditabovethecontentionofthesetwoparties。OurspeakingonthethemeofComedywillappearalmostalibertineproceedingtoone，whiletheotherwillthinkthatthespeakingofitseriouslybringsusintoviolentcontrastwiththesubject。
Comedy，wehavetoadmit，wasneveroneofthemosthonouredoftheMuses。Shewasinherorigin，shortofslaughter，theloudestexpressionofthelittlecivilizationofmen。ThelightofAtheneovertheheadofAchillesilluminatesthebirthofGreekTragedy。
ButComedyrolledinshoutingunderthedivineprotectionoftheSonoftheWine—jar，asDionysusismadetoproclaimhimselfbyAristophanes。OursecondCharleswasthepatron，oflikebenignity，ofourComedyofManners，whichbegansimilarlyasacombativeperformance，underalicencetoderideandoutragethePuritan，andwashereandthereBacchanalianbeyondtheAristophanicexample:
worse，inasmuchasacynicallicentiousnessismoreabominablethanfrankfilth。AneminentFrenchmanjudgesfromthequalityofsomeofthestuffdredgedupforthelaughterofmenandwomenwhosatthroughanAthenianComicplay，thattheycouldhavehadsmalldelicacyinotheraffairswhentheyhadsolittleintheirchoiceofentertainment。Perhapshedoesnotmakesufficientallowancefortheregulatedlicenceofplainspeakingpropertothefestivalofthegod，andclaimedbytheComicpoetashisinalienableright，orforthefactthatitwasafestivalinaseasonoflicence，inacityaccustomedtogiveeartotheboldestutteranceofbothsidesofacase。Howeverthatmaybe，therecanbenoquestionthatthemenandwomenwhosatthroughtheactingofWycherley\'sCountryWifewerepastblushing。OurtenacityofnationalimpressionshascausedthewordtheatresincethentoprodthePuritannervoussystemlikeasatanicinstrument;justasonehasknownAnti—Papists，forwhomSmithfieldwasredolentofasinistersmoke，asthoughtheyhadalaterrecollectionoftheplacethanthelowingherds。HereditaryPuritanism，regardingthestage，ismet，tothisday，inmanyfamiliesquiteundistinguishedbyarrogantpiety。Ithassubsidedaltogetherasapowerintheprofessionofmorality;butitisanerrortosupposeitextinct，andunjustalsotoforgetthatithadoncegoodreasontohate，shun，andrebukeourpublicshows。
WeshallfindourselvesaboutwheretheComicspiritwouldplaceus，ifwestandatmiddledistancebetweentheinveterateopponentsandthedrum—and—fifesupportersofComedy:\'Commeunpointfixefaitremarquerl\'emportementdesautres，\'asPascalsays。Andweretheremoreinthisposition，Comicgeniuswouldflourish。
OurEnglishideaofaComedyofMannersmightbeimagedinthepersonofablowsycountrygirl——sayHoyden，thedaughterofSirTunbellyClumsy，who，whenathome，\'neverdisobeyedherfatherexceptintheeatingofgreengooseberries\'——transformingtoavarnishedCitymadam;withaloudlaughandamincingstep;thecrazyancestressofanaccountablyfallendescendant。Shebustlesprodigiouslyandispunctuallysmartinherspeech，alwaysinaflustertoescapefromDulness，astheysaythedogsontheNile—
banksdrinkattheriverrunningtoavoidthecrocodile。Ifthemonstercatchesher，asattimeshedoes，shewhipshimtoafroth，sothatthosewhoknowDulnessonlyasathingofponderousness，shallfailtorecognisehiminthatlightandairyshape。
WhenshehasfrolickedthroughherfiveActstosurpriseyouwiththeinformationthatMr。AimwellisconvertedbyasuddendeathintheworldoutsidethescenesintoLordAimwell，andcanmarrytheladyinthelightofday，itistothecreditofhervivaciousnaturethatshedoesnotanticipateyourcallingherFarce。Fiveisdignitywithatrailingrobe;whereasone，two，orthreeActswouldbeshortskirts，anddegrading。Advicehasbeengiventohouseholders，thattheyshouldfollowuptheshotataburglarinthedarkbyhurlingthepistolafterit，sothatifthebulletmisses，theweaponmaystrikeandassuretherascalhehasit。Thepointofherwitisinthisfashionsupplementedbytherattleofhertongue，andeffectively，accordingtothetestimonyofheradmirers。Herwitisatonce，likesteaminanengine，themotiveforceandthewarningwhistleofherheadlongcourse;anditvanisheslikethetrackofsteamwhenshehasreachedherterminus，nevertroublingthebrainsafterwards;ameritthatitshareswithgoodwine，tothejoyoftheBacchanalians。Astothiswit，itiswarlike。IntheneatesthandsitisliketheswordofthecavalierintheMall，quicktoflashoutuponslightprovocation，andforasimilaroffice——towound。Commonlyitsattitudeisentirelypugilistic;twobluntfistsrallyingandcountering。Whenharmless，aswhentheword\'fool\'occurs，orallusionstothestateofhusband，ithasthesoundofthesmackofharlequin\'swanduponclown，andistothesameextentexhilarating。Believethatidleemptylaughteristhemostdesirableofrecreations，andsignificantComedywillseempaleandshallowincomparison。OurpopularideawouldbehitbythesculpturedgroupofLaughterholdingbothhissides，whileComedypummels，bywayofticklinghim。Astoameaning，sheholdsthatitdoesnotconducetomakingmerry:youmightaswellcarrycannononaracing—yacht。Moralityisaduennatobecircumvented。ThiswastheviewofEnglishComedyofasagaciousessayist，whosaidthattheendofaComedywouldoftenbethecommencementofaTragedy，werethecurtaintoriseagainontheperformers。Inthoseolddaysfemalemodestywasprotectedbyafan，behindwhich，anditwasofaconvenientsemicircularbreadth，theladiespresentinthetheatreretiredatasignalofdecorum，topeep，covertlyaskant，orwiththeoptionofsopeeping，throughaprettilyfringedeyelet—holeintheeclipsingarch。
\'Egolimisspectosicperflabellumclanculum。\'—
TERENCE。
Thatfanistheflagandsymbolofthesocietygivingusourso—
calledComedyofManners，orComedyofthemannersofSouth—seaIslandersundercityveneer;andastoComicidea，vacuousasthemaskwithoutthefacebehindit。
Elia，whosehumourdelightedinfloatingagalleonparadoxandwaftingitasfarasitwouldgo，bewailstheextinctionofourartificialComedy，likeapoetsighingoverthevanishedsplendourofCleopatra\'sNile—barge;andthesedatenessofhispleaforacausecondemnedeveninhistimetothepenitentiary，isanoveleffectoftheludicrous。Whentherealismofthose\'fictitioushalf—believedpersonages，\'ashecallsthem，hadceasedtostrike，theywereobjectionablecompany，uncaressableaspuppets。Theirartificesarestaringlynaked，andhavenowtheeffectofapaintedfaceviewed，afterwarmhoursofdancing，inthemorninglight。HowcouldtheLurewellsandthePlyantseverhavebeenpraisedforingenuityinwickedness？Critics，apparentlysober，andofhighreputation，helduptheirshallowknaveriesfortheworldtoadmire。
TheseLurewells，Plyants，Pinchwifes，Fondlewifes，MissPrue，Peggy，Hoyden，allofthemsavecharmingMilamant，aredeadaslastyear\'sclothesinafashionablefinelady\'swardrobe，anditmustbeanexceptionablyabandonedAbigailofourperiodthatwouldlookonthemwiththewishtoappearintheirlikeness。WhetherthepuppetshowofPunchandJudyinspiresourstreet—urchinstohaveinstantrecoursetotheirfistsinadispute，afterthefashionofeveryoneoftheactorsinthatpublicentertainmentwhogetspossessionofthecudgel，isopentoquestion:ithasbeenhinted;andangrymoralistshavetracedthenationaltastefortalesofcrimetothesmellofbloodinournursery—songs。Itwillatanyratehardlybequestionedthatitisunwholesomeformenandwomentoseethemselvesastheyare，iftheyarenobetterthantheyshouldbe:
andtheywillnot，whentheyhaveimprovedinmanners，caremuchtoseethemselvesastheyoncewere。ThatcomesofrealismintheComicart;anditisnotpubliccaprice，buttheconsequenceofabetteringstate。{2}Thesameofanimmoralmaybesaidofrealisticexhibitionsofavulgarsociety。
TheFrenchmakeacriticaldistinctionincequiremuefromcequiemeut——thatwhichagitatesfromthatwhichtoucheswithemotion。Intherealisticcomedyitisanincessantremuage——nocalm，merelybustlingfigures，andnothought。ExceptingCongreve\'sWayoftheWorld，whichfailedonthestage，therewasnothingtokeepourcomedyaliveonitsmerits;neither，withallitsrealism，trueportraiture，normuchquotablefun，noridea;neithersaltnorsoul。
TheFrenchhaveaschoolofstatelycomedytowhichtheycanflyforrenovationwhenevertheyhavefallenawayfromit;andtheirhavingsuchaschoolismainlythereasonwhy，asJohnStuartMillpointedout，theyknowmenandwomenmoreaccuratelythanwedo。MolierefollowedtheHoratianprecept，toobservethemannersofhisageandgivehischaractersthecolourbefittingthematthetime。Hedidnotpaintinrawrealism。Heseizedhischaractersfirmlyforthecentralpurposeoftheplay，stampedthemintheidea，andbyslightlyraisingandsofteningtheobjectofstudy（asinthecaseoftheex—Huguenot，DukedeMontausier，{3}forthestudyoftheMisanthrope，and，accordingtoSt。Simon，theAbbeRoquetteforTartuffe），generalizeduponitsoastomakeitpermanentlyhuman。
Concedethatitisnaturalforhumancreaturestoliveinsociety，andAlcesteisanimperishablemarkofone，thoughheisdrawninlightoutline，withoutanyforciblehumancolouring。OurEnglishschoolhasnotclearlyimaginedsociety;andofthemindhoveringabovecongregatedmenandwomen，ithasimaginednothing。Thecriticswhopraiseitforitsdownrightness，andforbringingthesituationshometous，astheyadmiringlysay，cannotbutdisapproveofMoliere\'scomedy，whichappealstotheindividualmindtoperceiveandparticipateinthesocial。Wehavesplendidtragedies，wehavethemostbeautifulofpoeticplays，andwehaveliterarycomediespassinglypleasanttoread，andoccasionallytoseeacted。
Byliterarycomedies，Imeancomediesofclassicinspiration，drawnchieflyfromMenanderandtheGreekNewComedythroughTerence;orelsecomediesofthepoet\'spersonalconception，thathavehadnomodelinlife，andarehumorousexaggerations，happyorotherwise。
ThesearethecomediesofBenJonson，Massinger，andFletcher。
Massinger\'sJusticeGreedywecanallofusrefertoatype，\'withfatcaponlined\'thathasbeenandwillbe;andhewouldbecomic，asPanurgeiscomic，butonlyaRabelaiscouldsethimmovingwithrealanimation。ProbablyJusticeGreedywouldbecomictotheaudienceofacountryboothandtosomeofourfriends。Ifwehavelostouryouthfulrelishforthepresentationofcharactersputtogethertofitatype，wefindithardtoputtogetherthemechanismofacivilsmileathisenumerationofhisdishes。
SomethingofthesameistobesaidofBobadil，swearing\'bythefootofPharaoh\';withareservation，forheismadetomovefaster，andtoact。ThecomicofJonsonisascholar\'sexcogitationofthecomic;thatofMassingeramoralist\'s。
Shakespeareisawell—springofcharacterswhicharesaturatedwiththecomicspirit;withmoreofwhatwewillcallblood—lifethanistobefoundanywhereoutofShakespeare;andtheyareofthisworld，buttheyareoftheworldenlargedtoourembracebyimagination，andbygreatpoeticimagination。Theyare，asitwere——Iputittosuitmypresentcomparison——creaturesofthewoodsandwilds，notinwalledtowns，notgroupedandtonedtopursueacomicexhibitionofthenarrowerworldofsociety。Jaques，Falstaffandhisregiment，thevariedtroopofClowns，Malvolio，SirHughEvansandFluellen——
marvellousWelshmen！——BenedictandBeatrice，Dogberry，andtherest，aresubjectsofaspecialstudyinthepoeticallycomic。
HisComedyofincredibleimbrogliobelongstotheliterarysection。
OnemayconceivethattherewasanaturalresemblancebetweenhimandMenander，bothintheschemeandstyleofhislighterplays。
HadShakespearelivedinalaterandlessemotional，lessheroicalperiodofourhistory，hemighthaveturnedtothepaintingofmannersaswellashumanity。Euripideswouldprobably，inthetimeofMenander，whenAthenswasenslavedbutprosperous，havelenthishandtothecompositionofromanticcomedy。Hecertainlyinspiredthatfinegenius。
PoliticallyitisaccountedamisfortuneforFrancethathernoblesthrongedtotheCourtofLouisQuatorze。Itwasaboontothecomicpoet。Hehadthatlivelyquicksilverworldoftheanimalculepassions，thehugepretensions，theplacidabsurdities，underhiseyesinfullactivity;vociferousquacksandsnappingdupes，hypocrites，posturers，extravagants，pedants，rose—pinkladiesandmadgrammarians，sonneteeringmarquises，high—flyingmistresses，plain—mindedmaids，inter—threadingasinaloom，noisyasatafair。Asimplybourgeoiscirclewillnotfurnishit，forthemiddleclassmusthavethebrilliant，flippant，independentupperforaspurandapattern;otherwiseitislikelytobeinwardlydullaswellasoutwardlycorrect。Yet，thoughtheKingwasbenevolenttowardMoliere，itisnottotheFrenchCourtthatweareindebtedforhisunrivalledstudiesofmankindinsociety。FortheamusementoftheCourttheballetsandfarceswerewritten，whicharedearertotherabbleupper，astotherabblelower，classthanintellectualcomedy。TheFrenchbourgeoisieofParisweresufficientlyquick—
wittedandenlightenedbyeducationtowelcomegreatworkslikeLeTartuffe，LesFemmesSavantes，andLeMisanthrope，worksthatwereperilousventuresonthepopularintelligence，bigvesselstolaunchonstreamsrunningtoshallows。TheTartuffehoveintoviewasanenemy\'svessel;itoffended，notDieumaislesdevots，asthePrincedeCondeexplainedthecabalraisedagainstittotheKing。
TheFemmesSavantesisacapitalinstanceoftheusesofcomedyinteachingtheworldtounderstandwhatailsit。ThefarceofthePrecieusesridiculedandputastoptothemonstrousromanticjargonmadepopularbycertainfamousnovels。ThecomedyoftheFemmesSavantesexposedthelaterandlessapparentbutmorefinelycomicabsurdityofanexcessivepurismingrammaranddiction，andthetendencytobeidioticinprecision。TheFrenchhadfelttheburdenofthisnewnonsense;buttheyhadtoseethecomedyseveraltimesbeforetheywereconsoledintheirsufferingbyseeingthecauseofitexposed。
TheMisanthropewasyetmorefrigidlyreceived。Molierethoughtitdead。\'Icannotimproveonit，andassuredlynevershall，\'hesaid。
ItisoneoftheFrenchtitlestohonourthatthisquintessentialcomedyoftheoppositionofAlcesteandCelimenewasultimatelyunderstoodandapplauded。Inallcountriesthemiddleclasspresentsthepublicwhich，fightingtheworld，andwithagoodfootinginthefight，knowstheworldbest。Itmaybethemostselfish，butthatisaquestionleadingusintosophistries。
Cultivatedmenandwomen，whodonotskimthecreamoflife，andareattachedtotheduties，yetescapetheharsherblows，makeacuteandbalancedobservers。Moliereistheirpoet。