Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/125

 This was, perhaps, no very civil Ue of uch Peronages; but the Contrivance was nevertheles ingenious enough, and had its Effect. And this will now plainly appear, if intead of Serious and Comic, we upply the Words Duller and Dullet; for the Comic was certainly duller than any thing before hewn on the Stage, and could only be et off by that uperlative Degree of Dulnes, which compoed the Serious. So intolerably erious, indeed, were thes Gods and Heroes, that Harlequin (tho’ the Englih Gentleman of that Name is not at all related to the French Family, for he is of a much more erious Dipoition) was always welcome on the Stage, as he relieved the Audience from wore Company.

Judicious Writers have always practiced this Art of Contrat, with great Succes. I have been urprized that Horace hould cavil at this Art in Homer; but indeed he contradicts himelf in the very next Line.

Indignore quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus,

Verum Operi longo fas et obripere Somnum.