_Shakespear_ was the first that opened this Vein
upon our Stage, which has run so freely and so pleasantly ever since,
that I have often wonder'd to find it appear so little upon any
others; being a Subject so proper for them, since _Humour_ is but
a Picture of particular Life, as Comedy is of general; and tho' it
represents Dispositions and Customs less common, yet they are not
less natural than those that are more frequent among Men.
_Humour_ is the only genuine Source of all that agreeable Variety of
original Characters, which is so entertaining to a Spectator and
Reader: And Sir _William Temple_ proceeds to observe, that in this
Point the Moderns in general, and the _English_ in particular, have
far excell'd the Antients. This Observation is very just, however
partial it may seem to a Foreigner, and the Reason of it is very
obvious. I shall represent 'em both in Sir _William_'s own Words. The
Passage is somewhat long, but the Goodness of it will amply pay the
Reader for his Trouble in perusing it.
It may seem a Defect (says he) in the antient Stage, that the
Characters introduc'd were so few, and those so common, as a
covetous old Man, an amorous young, a witty Wench, a crafty Slave,
a bragging Soldier.
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