prospect, (Greek:  epischopoyntes) one of the dialogues of Lucian, has likewise given occasion to that agreeable French Satire, entitled, “Le Diable Boiteux,” or “The Lame Devil;” which has highly improved on its original by a greater variety of characters and descriptions, lively remarks, and interesting adventures.  So if a parallel be drawn between Lucian and Cervantes, the ancient will still appear to disadvantage:  the burlesque of Lucian principally consists in making his gods and philosophers speak and act like the meanest of the people; that of Cervantes arises from the solemn and important air with which the most idle and ridiculous actions are related; and is, therefore, much more striking and forcible.  In a word, Don Quixote, and its copy Hudibras, the Splendid Shilling, the Adventures of Gil Blas, the Tale of a Tub, and the Rehearsal, are pieces of humour which antiquity cannot equal, much less excel.

Theophrastus must yield to La Bruyere for his intimate knowledge of human nature; and the Athenians never produced a writer whose humour was so exquisite as that of Addison, or who delineated and supported a character with so much nature and true pleasantry, as that of Sir Roger de Coverly.  It ought, indeed, to be remembered, that every species of wit written in distant times and in dead languages, appears with many disadvantages to present readers, from their ignorance of the manners and customs alluded to and exposed; but the grosness, the rudeness, and indelicacy of the ancients, will, notwithstanding, sufficiently appear, even from the sentiments of such critics as Cicero and Quintilian, who mention corporal defects and deformities as proper objects of raillery.

If it be now asked to what can we ascribe this superiority of the moderns in all the species of ridicule?  I answer, to the improved state of conversation.  The great geniuses of Greece and Rome were formed during the times of a republican government:  and though it be certain, as Longinus asserts, that democracies are the nurseries of true sublimity; yet monarchies and courts are more productive of politeness.  The arts of civility, and the decencies of conversation, as they unite men more closely, and bring them more frequently together, multiply opportunities of observing those incongruities and absurdities of behaviour, on which ridicule is founded.  The ancients had more liberty and seriousness; the moderns have more luxury and laughter.

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THE Gentleman’s Magazine.  OR, MONTHLY INTELLIGENCER,

For the YEAR 1732.

CONTAINING

I. An impartial VIEW of the various Weekly ESSAYS, Controversial,
Humorous, and Satirical; Religious, Moral, and Political.

II.  Debates in PARLIAMENT.

III.  Select Pieces of POETRY.