_Abilities_; from
being _odious_ by his _harmless Plots_ and _Designs_; and from being
_tiresome_ by his inimitable Wit, and his new and incessant _Sallies_
of highest _Fancy_ and _Frolick_.

This discovers the _Secret_ of carrying COMEDY to the highest Pitch of
Delight; Which lies
in drawing the Persons exhibited, with such chearful and amiable
_Oddities_ and _Foibles_, as you would chuse in your own
_Companions_ in _real Life;
--otherwise, tho' you may be diverted at first with the _Novelty_ of a
Character, and with a proper _Detection_ and _Ridicule_ of it, yet its
_Peevishness_, _Meanness_, or _Immorality_, will begin to disgust you
after a little Reflection, and become soon _tiresome_ and _odious_; It
being certain, that
whoever cannot be endured as an _accidental_ Companion in _real
Life_, will never become, for the very same Reasons, a _favorite
comic Character_ in the Theatre.

This _Relish_ for _generous_ and _worthy_ Characters alone, which
we all feel upon the _Theatre_, where no Biass of Envy, Malice, or
personal Resentment draws us aside, seems to be some Evidence of our
_natural_ and _genuin_ Disposition to _Probity_ and _Virtue_; tho' the
Minds of most Persons being early and deeply _tinged_ with vicious
Passions, it is no wonder that _Stains_ have been generally mistaken
for _original Colours_.

It may be added, that _Humour_ is the most exquisite and delightful,
when the _Oddities_ and _Foibles_ introduc'd are not _mischievous_ or
_sneaking_, but _free_, _jocund_, and _liberal_; and such as result
from a generous Flow of Spirits, and a warm universal _Benevolence_.

It is obviously from hence, that the _Character_ of Sir _Roger_ de
_Coverly_ in the _Spectators_ is so extremely agreeable. His _Foibles_
are all derived from some amiable Cause.--If he believes that _one
Englishman_ can conquer _two Frenchmen_, you laugh at his _Foible_,
and are fond of a _Weakness_ in the Knight, which proceeds from his
high Esteem of his _own Country-men_.--If he chuses you should employ
a _Waterman_ or _Porter_ with _one_ Leg, you readily excuse the
Inconvenience he puts you to, for his worthy regard to the Suffering
of a brave _Soldier_.--In short, though he is guilty of continual
Absurdities, and has little Understanding or real Abilities, you
cannot but _love_ and _esteem_ him, for his _Honour_, _Hospitality_,
and universal _Benevolence_.

It is indeed true, that his _Dignity_, _Age_, and _Rank_ in