This was, perhaps, no very civil Uſe of ſuch Perſonages; but the Contrivance was nevertheleſs ingenious enough, and had its Effect. And this will now plainly appear, if inſtead of Serious and Comic, we ſupply the Words Duller and Dulleſt; for the Comic was certainly duller than any thing before ſhewn on the Stage, and could only be ſet off by that ſuperlative Degree of Dulneſs, which compoſed the Serious. So intolerably ſerious, indeed, were theſs Gods and Heroes, that Harlequin (tho’ the Engliſh Gentleman of that Name is not at all related to the French Family, for he is of a much more ſerious Diſpoſition) was always welcome on the Stage, as he relieved the Audience from worſe Company.
Judicious Writers have always practiced this Art of Contraſt, with great Succeſs. I have been ſurprized that Horace ſhould cavil at this Art in Homer; but indeed he contradicts himſelf in the very next Line.
Indignore quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus,
Verum Operi longo fas eſt obripere Somnum.
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