herto been made to _define_ WIT, have been all involv'd and
overwhelm'd in Perplexity; For the different Mixtures of these foreign
Ingredients with WIT, have discover'd such various and opposite
_Colours_ and _Substances_, as were impossible to be comprehended in
one certain steady _Definition_;--Whereas _pure_ WIT alone, constantly
appears in _one uniform_ Manner; which is, _In the _quick Elucidation_
of one Subject, by _unexpectedly_ exhibiting its _Agreement_ or
_Contrast_ with another Subject_.

It is proper in this Place, to distinguish between WIT, SIMILES,
and METAPHORS. SIMILES, though they _illustrate_ one Subject, by
_arranging_ it with another Subject, are yet different from WIT,
as they want its _sudden_ and _quick Elucidation_.

Again; In WIT, the _Elucidation_ is thrown only upon _one_ Point of a
Subject; or if more Points be _elucidated_, they are so many different
Strokes of WIT;--Whereas every SIMILE touches the Subject it
_illustrates_ in _several Points_.

It is from hence, that the _Elucidation_, as before mention'd, arising
from a SIMILE, is _slower_ than from WIT; But then is is generally
more _accurate_ and _compleat_;--In short, WIT, from its _Quickness_,
exhibits more _Brilliancy_, But SIMILES possess greater _Perfection_.

A METAPHOR, is the _Arrayment_ of one Subject, with the _Dress_,
or _Colour_, or any _Attributes_, of another Subject.

In WIT, the two Subjects are suddenly confronted with each other,
and upon their joint View, the _original_ one is _elucidated_ by the
obvious _Agreement_ or _Contrast_ of the _auxiliary_ Subject.

But METAPHOR goes further, and not content with _arranging_ the two
Subjects together, and exhibiting from thence their _Agreement_ or
_Contrast_, it actually snatches the Properties of the _auxiliary_
one, and fits them at once upon the _original_ Subject.

It is evident from hence, that there may be WIT without any METAPHOR;
But in every just METAPHOR there is WIT; The _Agreement_ of the two
Subjects being in a METAPHOR more strictly and sensibly presented.

There is also this Difference between WIT and METAPHOR, that in WIT
the _original_ Subject is _enlighten'd_, without altering its _Dress_;
whereas in METAPHOR the _original_ Subject is cloathed in a _new
Dress_, and struts forwards at once with a different _Air_, and with
strange _unexpected Ornaments_.

It is from hence, that by METAPHOR a more masculine Air and Vigour is
given to a Subject, t