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With respect to the first, it is universally allowed that the dramatic form is by far the most perfect. The circumstance of leaving every character to display itself in its own proper language, with all the variations of tone and gesture which distinguish it from others, and which mark every emotion of the mind; and the scenic delusions of dress, painting, and machinery, contribute to stamp such an appearance of reality upon dramatic representations as no other of the imitative arts can attain. Indeed, when in their perfection, they can scarcely be called imitations, but the very things themselves; and real nature would perhaps appear less perfect than her counterfeit.

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The Drama has from early antiquity been distinguished into the two grand divisions of Tragedy and Comedy. It would seem that the general character of

these

these was universally understood and agreed on, by the adoption of the terms tragic and comic, derived from them, into the language of every civilized people. The former of these is, we know, conftantly applied to objects of terror and distress; the latter, to those of mirth and pleasantry. There is, however, a more comprehensive distinction of our feelings, which it is proper first to confider.

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When we examine the emotions produced in our minds by the view of human actions, we shall observe a division into the serious, and the ludicrous. I do not think it necessary to define or analyse feelings with which all are well acquainted. It is enough to observe that serious emotions are produced by the display of all the great passions which agitate the soul, and by all those actions which are under the jurisdiction of the grand rules of reli

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gion and morality; and that ludicrous emotions are excited by the improprieties and inconfiftencies of conduct or judgment in smaller matters; fuch as the effects of false taste, or trifling passions. When we now apply the words tragic and comic, we fhall at once perceive that the former can relate folely to fuch fubjects as occafion ferious, and the latter to fuch as occafion ludicrous emotions.

Now, although the practice of writers has frequently introduced ludicrous parts into the compofition called a Tragedy, and ferious parts into that called a Comedy, yet it has ever been understood that what constitutes the effential and invariable character of each is fomething which is expreffed by the terms tragic and comic, and comes under the head of ferious or ludicrous emotions. Referring therefore to a future confideration, the propriety

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of introducing ferious parts in a Comedy, I fhall now lay down the character of Comedy as a dramatic compofition exhibiting a ludicrous picture of human life and man

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THERE are two fources of ludicrous emotions which it is proper here to diftinguish. One of these arises from character, the other from incident. The firft is attached and appropriated to the perfon, and makes a part, as it were, of his compofition. The other is merely accidental, proceeding from aukward situations, odd and uncommon circumftances, and the I like, which may happen indifferently to every person. If we compare these with regard to their dignity and utility, we fhall find a further difference; since that proceeding from character belongs to a very refpectable part of knowledge, that of human manners; and has for its end the correction of foibles: whereas that proceeding

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ceeding from incident is mean and trivial in its origin, and anfwers no other purpose than present mirth. 'Tis true, it is perfectly natural to be pleafed with rifible objects even of the lowest kind, and a faftidious averfion to their exhibition may be accounted mere affected nicety; yet fince we rank Comedy among the higher and more refined fpecies of compofition, let us affign it the more honourable office of exhibiting and correcting the ludicrous part of characters; and leave to Bartholemew Fair the ingenious contrivances of facetious drollery, and handicraft merri

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THE following fources may be pointed out from whence comic character is derived.

NATIONS, like individuals, have certain leading features which diftinguish them

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