This discovers the Secret of carrying COMEDY to the highest Pitch of
Delight; Which lies
  in drawing the Persons exhibited, with such chearful and amiable
  Oddities and Foibles, as you would chuse in your own
  Companions in real Life;
—­otherwise, tho’ you may be diverted at first with the Novelty_ of a
Character, and with a proper Detection and Ridicule of it, yet its
Peevishness, Meanness, or Immorality, will begin to disgust you
after a little Reflection, and become soon tiresome and odious; It
being certain, that
  whoever cannot be endured as an accidental Companion in real
  Life, will never become, for the very same Reasons, a favorite
  comic Character in the Theatre.

This Relish for generous and worthy Characters alone, which we all feel upon the Theatre, where no Biass of Envy, Malice, or personal Resentment draws us aside, seems to be some Evidence of our natural and genuin Disposition to Probity and Virtue; tho’ the Minds of most Persons being early and deeply tinged with vicious Passions, it is no wonder that Stains have been generally mistaken for original Colours.

It may be added, that Humour is the most exquisite and delightful, when the Oddities and Foibles introduc’d are not mischievous or sneaking, but free, jocund, and liberal; and such as result from a generous Flow of Spirits, and a warm universal Benevolence.

It is obviously from hence, that the Character of Sir Roger de Coverly in the Spectators is so extremely agreeable.  His Foibles are all derived from some amiable Cause.—­If he believes that one Englishman can conquer two Frenchmen, you laugh at his Foible, and are fond of a Weakness in the Knight, which proceeds from his high Esteem of his own Country-men.—­If he chuses you should employ a Waterman or Porter with one Leg, you readily excuse the Inconvenience he puts you to, for his worthy regard to the Suffering of a brave Soldier.—­In short, though he is guilty of continual Absurdities, and has little Understanding or real Abilities, you cannot but love and esteem him, for his Honour, Hospitality, and universal Benevolence.

It is indeed true, that his Dignity, Age, and Rank in his Country, are of constant Service in upholding his Character.  These are a perpetual Guard to the Knight, and preserve him from Contempt upon many Occasions.—­All which corresponds entirely with the fore-going Remark.  For you would be fond of Sir Roger’s Acquaintaince and Company in real Life, as he is a Gentleman of Quality and Virtue; You love and admire him in the Spectators for the same Reasons; And for these also he would become, if he was rightly exhibited, a favorite Character in the Theatre.