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 seeing a Play in the Moon, and probably would have enjoy'd it, had I not been seated where I was; for there was an Animal that sat next to me which gave me great Uneasiness, both by his Looks and Speech. He had a most frightful and meagre Countenance; and the Sight of him made me think, that whensoever a Poet drew the Picture of Envy, he must certainly mean an Animal of this Species. I cannot compare him to any one Brute that I saw in Ireland, for he was a Compound of many Brutes, tho' a Cur seem'd to constitute the greatest Part of him. It were well for Children, and Women with Child, if he were oblig'd to wear a Mask, to prevent Miscarriages, and the frightening of foolish Children out of their Wits. During the whole Time of Action, he was railing at the Poet and the Players, and for the most part found Faults where there were none; and if any Thing was said which he was forc'd to acknowledge to be good, tho' that happen'd but rarely, he would curse himself for not being able to think so well.

When the Play was over, I enquir'd of Tckbrff who that Person I just mention'd was. He told me that he was a Critick, or one that is never pleas'd, if he is pleas'd at all, but when he is finding out real Faults in Writings, or making new ones. He is one that is hated by, and hates all Writers: His Observations are often trifling, and foreign to the Purpose: He would not think a Month ill bestow'd in finding out the Orthography of a proper Name, or upon what Syllable of it the Accent was to be plac'd: But he has this Curse attending him, that he can raise Spirits often, which he cannot lay, and after his greatest Labours, is generally more ignorant of what he enquir'd into, than he was at the Beginning. There are many Causes assign'd for a Person's becoming of this Class: Some will have ill Nature to be the only Cause of it; and alledge, that