he Criticks, _Polite Language_ for the Boxes,
_Repartee_, _Humor_, and _Double Entendres_ for the Pit; and to the
shame of our Theatres, a mixture of Farce for the Galleries, What Man of
Sense now will venture his Reputation upon these hard Terms.

"The Poet often arrogates to himself the Applause, which we only give
to Mrs. _Barry_ or _Bracegirdle_'s inimitable Performances: But then he
must take as often upon his Account the Hisses, which are only intended
for _Caesonia_, and _Corinna's abominable Acting_. One makes amends for
'tother.

"Many a pert Coxcomb might have past for a _Wit_, if his Vanity had not
brought him to _Will_'s.

"The same thing that makes a Man appear with Assurance at _Court_;
qualifies him also to appear unconcern'd among Men of Sense at _Will_'s:
I mean _Impertinence_.

"As some People _Write_, so others _talk themselves_ out of their
_Reputation_."

* The name of a _Wit_ is little better than a Slander, since it is
generally given by those that have _none_, to those that have _little_.

"How strangely some words lose their Primitive Sense! By a _Critick_,
was originally understood a _good Judge_; with us now-a-days, it
signifies no more than a _Fault-finder_."

* A _Critick_ in the Modern Acceptation, seldom rises, either in
_Merit_, or _Reputation_; for it argues a mean grov'ling Genius, to be
always finding Fault; whereas, a candid Judge of Things, not only
improves his Parts, but gains every Body's Esteem.

* None keep generally worse Company than your Establish'd _Wits_, for
there are a sort of Coxcombs, that stick continually to them like Burrs,
to make the Town think from their Company, that they are Men of Parts.

* _Criticks_ are useful, that's most certain, so are Executioners and
Informers: But what Man did ever envy the condition of _Jack Ketch_, or
_Jack P----r_.

* How can we love the Man, whose Office is to torture and execute other
Men's Reputation.

* After all, a _Critick_ is the last Refuge of a pretender to _Wit_.

"Tis a great piece of Assurance in a profest _Critick_ to write _Plays_,
for if he does, he must expect to have the whole Club of _Wits_,
scanning his Performances with utmost Severity, and magnifying his
_Slips_ into _prodigious Faults_."

* I don't wonder Men of Quality and Estate resort to _Will_'s, for
really they make the best Figure there; an indifferent thing from 'em,
passes for a Witty Jest, and sets presently the whole Company a
Laughing