Ld. _Roscommon_.
[M: Horat. in Art. Poet. _v._ 317, &c.]
The Strokes which compose a Character must be bold, but not
extravagant. Nature must not be distorted, to excite either Ridicule
or Admiration. Reason must hold the Reins of the Imagination: Judgment
must direct the Fancy; otherwise we shall be apt to miscarry, and
connect inconsistent Ideas, at the very Time, when we think we hit the
Point of Humour to the Life.
The only Thing that can be said to excuse Mr. _de la Bruyere_ on this
Head, is what the Abbot _Fleury_ has alledg'd to his Praise; namely,
[N]that his Characters are sometimes loaded, on purpose that they
might not too nearly resemble the Persons design'd.
[N: On trouve dans ses Characteres une severe Critique, des
Expressions vives, des Tours ingenieux, des Peintures quelquefois
chargees expres, pour ne les pas faire trop ressemblantes.
_Discours prononce dans l'Academie Francaise._ 1696.]
'Tis very dangerous, I confess, to make free with the Characters of
particular Persons; for there are some Men in the World, who, tho'
they are not asham'd of the Impropriety of their own
Manners, yet are they easily offended at the public Notice which is
taken of 'em.
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