biting some unusual Strain of _sensible Oddity_,
or by unexpectedly biting a poor _Insipid_; which the other
_Humourist_ shall answer again in the same manner, in order to
display _his_ Talents.
These are the _Foibles_ and _narrow_ Whims of a perfect _Humourist_.
But, on the other hand, he stands upon a very enlarged Basis; Is a
Lover of Reason and Liberty; and scorns to flatter or betray; nor will
he falsify his Principles, to court the Favour of the Great. He is not
credulous, or fond of Religious or Philosophical Creeds or Creed-
makers; But then he never offers himself to forge Articles of Faith
for the rest of the World. Abounding in poignant and just Reflections;
The Guardian of Freedom, and Scourge of such as do wrong. It is _He_
checks the Frauds, and curbs the Usurpations of every Profession. The
venal Biass of the assuming Judge, the cruel Pride of the starch'd
Priest, the empty Froth of the florid Counsellor, the false Importance
of the formal Man of Business, the specious Jargon of the grave
Physician, and the creeping Taste of the trifling Connoisseur, are all
bare to his Eye, and feel the Lash of his Censure; It is _He_ that
watches the daring Strides, and secret Mines of the ambitious Prince,
and desperate Minister: _He_ gives the Alarm, and prevents their
Mischief. Others there are who have Sense and Foresight; but _they_
are brib'd by Hopes or Fears, or bound by softer Ties; It is _He_
only, the _Humourist_, that has the Courage and Honesty to cry out,
unmov'd by personal Resentment: He flourishes only in a Land of
_Freedom_, and when _that_ ceases he dies too, the last and noblest
_Weed_ of the Soil of _Liberty_.
It is a palpable _Absurdity_ to suppose a Person an _Humourist_,
without excellent Sense and Abilities; as much as to suppose a _Smith_
in his full Business, without his _Hammers_ or _Forge_.--But the
_Humourist_, as he advances in Years, is apt to grow intolerable to
himself and the World; becoming at length, uneasy, and fatigued with
the constant View of the same Follies; like a Person who is tir'd
with seeing the same Tragi-Comedy continually acted. This sowres his
Temper; And unless some favorable Incidents happen to mellow him, he
resigns himself wholly to Peevishness.--By which Time he perceives
that the World is quite tir'd of _him_.--After which he drags on the
Remainder of his Life, in a State of _War_ with the rest of Mankind.
The _Humourist_ is constitutionally, and also from
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