Nowcanweberightinpraisingandadmiringanotherwhoisdoingthatwhichanyoneofuswouldabominateandbeashamedofinhisownperson?

No, hesaid, thatiscertainlynotreasonable.

Nay, Isaid, ?

Ifyouconsider, Isaid, thatwheninmisfortunewefeelanaturalhungeranddesiretorelieveoursorrowbyweepingandlamentation, andthatthisfeelingwhichiskeptundercontrolinourowncalamitiesissatisfiedanddelightedbythepoets;—thebetternatureineachofus, nothavingbeensufficientlytrainedbyreasonorhabit, allowsthesympatheticelementtobreakloosebecausethesorrowisanother’s; andthespectatorfanciesthattherecanbenodisgracetohimselfinpraisingandpityinganyonewhocomestellinghimwhatagoodmanheis, andmakingafussabouthistroubles; hethinksthatthepleasureisagain, andwhyshouldhebesuperciliousandlosethisandthepoemtoo? Fewpersonseverreflect, asIshouldimagine, .

Howverytrue!

Anddoesnotthesameholdalsooftheridiculous? Therearejestswhichyouwouldbeashamedtomakeyourself, andyetonthecomicstage, orindeedinprivate, whenyouhearthem, youaregreatlyamusedbythem, andarenotatalldisgustedattheirunseemliness;—thecaseofpityisrepeated;—thereisaprincipleinhumannaturewhichisdisposedtoraisealaugh, andthiswhichyouoncerestrainedbyreason, becauseyouwereafraidofbeingthoughtabuffoon, isnowletoutagain; andhavingstimulatedtherisiblefacultyatthetheatre, youarebetrayedunconsciouslytoyourselfintoplayingthecomicpoetathome.

Quitetrue, hesaid.