South

   's; but what is still worse, we generally find these Smartnesses to be quite vague and superficial; they don't enter, but only play upon the Surface of the Soul.

   Had a certain polite Author been a Cotemporary of the Doctor's, he'd have told him that

   Humour is the only Test of Gravity; and Gravity of Humour. For a Subject which will not bear Raillery, is suspicious; and a Jest which will not bear a serious Examination, is certainly false Wit.

   These Sports of the Imagination, these Finesses, these Conceits, these glittering Strokes, these Gaieties, these little cut Sentences, these ingenious Prodigalities, which are lavished away in our Times, agree with none but little Works. The Front of St

    Paul

   's Church is simple and majestick. A Cabinet may with Propriety enough contain little Ornaments. Have as much Wit as you will, or you can, in a Madrigal, in little light Verses, in the Scene of a Comedy, which is neither passionate or simple, in a Compliment, in a little Story, in a Letter where you would be merry yourself to make your Friends so.

    Spencer

   was very well acquainted with this Art. In his Fairy Queen, you find hardly any thing but what is sublime and full of Imagery: but in his detached Pieces, such as the Hymn in Honour of Beauty, The Fate of the Butterfly,

    Britain

   's Ida, &c. he gave a Loose to his Wit and Delicacy. The following Verses are Part of the Description of

    Venus

   asleep, in the last mention'd Poem:

    Her full large Eyes, in jetty-black array'd,

    Proud Beauty not confin'd to red and white,

    But oft herself in black more rich display'd;

    Both Contraries did yet themselves unite,

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