e_ proceeds to observe, that in this
Point the Moderns in general, and the _English_ in particular, have
far excell'd the Antients. This Observation is very just, however
partial it may seem to a Foreigner, and the Reason of it is very
obvious. I shall represent 'em both in Sir _William_'s own Words. The
Passage is somewhat long, but the Goodness of it will amply pay the
Reader for his Trouble in perusing it.

It may seem a Defect (says he) in the antient Stage, that the
Characters introduc'd were so few, and those so common, as a
covetous old Man, an amorous young, a witty Wench, a crafty Slave,
a bragging Soldier. The Spectators met nothing upon the Stage, but
what they met in the Streets, and at every Turn. All the Variety is
drawn only from different and uncommon Events; whereas if the
Characters are so too, the Diversity and the Pleasure must needs be
the more. But as of most general Customs in a Country, there is
usually some Ground, from the Nature of the People or Climat, so
there may be amongst us for this Vein of our Stage, and a greater
Variety of _Humour_ in the Picture, because there is a greater
Variety in the Life. This may proceed from the native Plenty of our
Soil, the Unequalness of our Climat, as well as the Ease of our
Government, and the Liberty of professing Opinions and Factions,
which perhaps our Neighbours may have about them, but are forc'd to
disguise, and thereby they may come in Time to be extinguish'd.
Plenty begets Wantonness and Pride, Wantonness is apt to invent,
and Pride scorns to imitate; Liberty begets Stomach or Heart,
and Stomach will not be constrain'd. Thus we come to have more
Originals, and more that appear what they are; we have more
_Humour_, because every Man follows his own, and takes a Pleasure,
perhaps a Pride, to shew it.

--_Shakespear_, _Johnson_, _Shadwell_, _Etherege_, and _Wycherly_ have
shewn the Richness of this Source: They excell'd in the Variety and
_Humour_ of the Characters which they exhibited; and in this they have
receiv'd just Applauses: But yet they did not exhaust the Spring from
whence they drew: The ingenious Mr. _Congreve_ has pursu'd the same
Vein of _Humour_; and he has imitated his Predecessors so well, that
he has by far out-done 'em all. In his Dramatic-Pieces there is the
greatest Variety of _Humour_ and of original Characters, set off by
the greatest Delicacy of Sentiments, and adorn'd with the Bea