man of my kidney; think of that, that am as fubject to heat as butter, a man of continual diffolution and thaw; it was a miracle to 'fcape fuffocation. And in the height of this bath, when I was more than half ftew'd in grease, like a Dutch dish, to be thrown into the Thames, and cool'd glowing hot, in that furge, like a horfe fhoe; think of that; hiffing hot; think of that, Mafter Brook.

Merry Wives of Windfor, a&t. 3. fc. 5.

278

CHA P.

VIII.

RESEMBLANCE AND DISSIMILITUDE.

HAVING

AVING difcuffed thofe qualitics and circumftances of fingle objects that feem peculiarly connected with criticifm, we proceed, according to the method propofed in the chapter of beauty, to the relations of objects, beginning with the relations of resemblance and diffimilitude.

The connexion that man hath with the beings around him, requires fome acquaintance with their nature, their powers, and their qualities, for regulating his conduct. For acquiring a branch of knowledge fo effential to our well-being, motives alone of reafon and intereft are not fufficient: nature hath providently fuperadded curiofity, a vigorous propensity, which never is at rest. This propenfity attaches us to every new object'; and incites us to compare objects, in order to discover their differences and resemblances.

Refemblance among objects of the fame kind, and diffimilitude among objects of different kinds, are too obvious and familiar to gratify our curio* See chap. 6.

ed.

fity in any degree: its gratification lies in difcovering differences among things where refemblance prevails, and refemblances where difference prevails. Thus a difference in individuals of the fame kind of plants or animals, is deemed a difcovery; while the many particulars in which they agree, are neglected: and in different kinds, any resemblance is greedily remarked, without attending to the many particulars in which they differ. A comparison however may be too far ftretchWhen differences or refemblances are carried beyond certain bounds, they appear flight and trivial; and for that reafon, will not be relifhed by a man of tafte: yet fuch propenfity is there to gratify paffion, curiofity in particular, that even among good writers, we find many comparifons too flight to afford fatisfaction. Hence the frequent inflances among logicians, of diftinctions without any folid difference and hence the frequent inftances among poets and orators, of fimiles without any just resemblance. With regard to the latter, I fhall confine myself to one inftance, which will probably amufe the reader, being a quotation, not from a poet nor orator, but from a grave author writing an institute of law. " Our

student shall obferve, that the knowledge of the law is like a deep well, out of which each man draweth according to the ftrength of his understanding. He that reacheth deepest, feeth, the amiable and admirable fecrets of the law,

up

wherein I affure you the fages of the law in former times have had the deepest reach. And as the bucket in the depth is eafily drawn to the uppermoft part of the water, (for nullum elementum in fuo proprio loco eft grave), but take it from the water, it cannot be drawn but with a great difficulty; fo, albeit beginnings of this ftudy feem difficult, yet when the profeffor of the law can dive into the depth, it is delightful, cafy, and without any heavy burden, fo long as he keep himfelf in his own pro"per element "." Shakspeare with uncommon humor ridicules fuch difpofition to fimile-making, by putting in the mouth of a weak man, a refemblance much of a piece with that now mentioned :

Fluellen. I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is porn: I tell you, Captain, if you look in the maps of the orld, I warrant that you fall find, in the comparisons between Macedon and Monmouth, that the fituafions, look you, is both alike. There is a river in Macedon, there is alfo moreover a river in Monmouth it is called Wye at Monmouth, but it is out of my prains what is the name of the other river; but it is all one, 'tis as like as my fingers to my fingers, and there is falmons in both. If you mark Alexander's life well, Harry of Monmouth's life is come after it indifferent well; for there is figures in all things. Alexander, God knows, and you know, in his rages,

• Coke upon Lyttleton, p. 71.

and his furies, and his wraths and his cholers, and his moods, and his difpleafures, and his indignations; and alfo being a little intoxicates in his prains, did, in his ales and his angers, look you, kill his peft friend Clytus.

Gower. Our King is not like him in that; he never kill'd any of his friends.

Fluellen. It is not well done, mark you now, to take the tales out of my mouth, ere it is made and finished. I speak but in figures, and comparisons of it: As Alexander kill'd his friend Clytus, being in his ales and his cups; fo alfo Harry Monmouth, being in his right wits and his good judgements, turn'd away the fat knight with the great belly doublet; he was full of jefts, and gypes, and knaveries, and mock: I have forgot his name.

Gower. Sir John Falstaff.

Fluellen. That is he: I tell you there is good men porn at Monmouth.

K. Henry V. a&t 4. Sc. 7.

Inftruction, no doubt, is the chief end of comparison; but that it is not the only end, will be evident from confidering, that a comparison may be employed with fuccefs to put a fubject in a strong point of view. A lively idea is formed of a man's courage, by likening it to that of a lion and eloquence, exalted in our imagination, by comparing it to a river overflowing is banks. and involving all in its impetuous course. The fame effect is produced by contraft: a man in prosperity, becomes more fenfible of his happiness by oppo

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