--Human Nature, as I observ'd before, in
its various Forms and Affections, is the Subject of _Characteristic-
Writings_: And from this Diversity of Manners arises that, which is
properly call'd _Humour_, and which, upon a double Account, seems to
be peculiar to our Nation; not only because there is no Word in any
other Language so expressive, but also because there is no Nation, in
which we can find a greater Variety of original _Humour_, than amongst
the _English_. Sir _William Temple_, speaking of the Dramatic
Performances of the Stage, expresses himself after the following
Manner.--[Z]
[Z: Essay on Poetry, p. 355, _&c_.]
In this the _Italian_, the _Spanish_, and the _French_, have all had
their different Merit, and receiv'd their just Applauses. Yet I am
deceiv'd, if our _English_ has not in some Kind excell'd both the
Modern and the Antient; which has been by Force of a Vein, natural
perhaps to our Country, and which with us is call'd _Humour_, a Word
peculiar to our Language too, and hard to be express'd in any other;
nor is it (that I know of) found in any Foreign Writers, unless it be
_Moliere_, and yet his it self has too much of the Farce, to pass for
the same with ours.
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