Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/124

 the Painter, by the Contrat of his Figures, often acquires great Applaue.

A great Genius among us, will illutrate this Matter fully. I cannot, indeed, range him under any general Head of common Artits, as he that a Title to be placed among thoe

Inventas, qui vitam excoluere per Artes.

Who by invented Arts have Life improv’d.

I mean here the Inventor of that mot exquiite Entertainment, called the Englih Pantomime.

This Entertainment conited of two Parts, which the Inventor ditinguihed by the Names of the Serious and the Comic. The Serious exhibited a certain Number of Heathen Gods and Heroes, who were certainly the wort and dullet Company into which an Audience was ever introduced; and (which was a Secret known to few) were actually intended o to be, in order to contrat the Comic Part of the Entertainment, and to diplay the Tricks of Harlequin to the better Advantage.