Elements of the philosophy of the human mind. By Dugald Stewart. Rev. and abridged, with critical and explanatory notes, for the use of colleges and schools. By Francis Bowen ...

170 WIT.
excellent when thrown out extempore in conversation, which
would be deemed execrable in print." In all these cases, the
wit consiclered absolutely is the same. The relations which are
discovered between the compared ideas are equally new; and
yet, as soon as we suspect that the wit was premeditated, the
pleasure we receive from it is infinitely diminished. Instances
indeed may be mentioned, in which we are pleased with contemplating an unexpected relation between ideas, without any reference to the habits of association in the mind of the person who
discovered it. A bon mot produced at the game of cross-purposes, would not fail to create amusement; but in such cases,
our pleasure seems chiefly to arise from the surprise we feel at
so extraordinary a coincidence between a question and an
answer coming from persons who had no direct communication
with each other.
Of the effect added to' vit by the promptitude with which its
combinations are formed, Fuller appears to have had a very
just idea, from what he has recorded of the social hours of our
two great English Dramatists. "Jonson's parts were not so
ready to run of themselves, as able to answer the spur; so that
it may be truly said of him, that he had an elaborate wit, wrought
out by his own industry. Many were the wit combats between
him and Shakspeare, which two I behold like a Spanish great
galleon, and an English man-of-war. Jonson, like the former,
was built far higher in learning; solid, but slow in his performances. Shakspeare, with the English man-of-war, lesser in
bulk, but lighter in sailing, could turn with all tides, tack about
and take advantage of all winds, by the quickness of his wit
and invention."
I before observed, that the pleasure we receive from wit is
increased, when the two ideas between which the relation is discovered, are suggested by different persons. In the case of a
bon mot occurring in conversation, the reason of this is abundantly obvious; because, when the related ideas are suggested
by different persons, we have a proof that the wit was not premeditated. But even in a written composition, we are much
more delighted when the subject was furnished to the author by