Contradictions, or in acute Nonsense; Sometimes a scenical
Representation of Persons or Things, a counterfeit Speech, a
mimical Look or Gesture passeth for it. Sometimes an affected
Simplicity, sometimes a presumptuous Bluntness giveth it Being.
Sometimes it riseth from a lucky Hitting upon what is Strange;
sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious Matter to the Purpose.
Often it' consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth
up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable, and
inexplicable, being answerable to the numberless Rovings of
Fancy, and Windings of Language. It is, in short, a Manner
of Speaking out of the simple and plain Way (such as Reason
teacheth, and proveth Things by) which by a pretty, surprizing
Uncouthness in Conceit or Expression, doth affect and amuse the
Fancy, stirring in it some Wonder, and breeding some Delight
thereto. It raiseth Admiration, as signifying a nimble Sagacity
of Apprehension, a special Felicity of Invention, a Vivacity of
Spirit, and Reach of Wit, more than vulgar; it seeming to argue a
rare Quickness of Parts, that one can fetch in remote Conceits
applicable; a notable Skill that he can dextrously accommodate
them to the Purpose before him; together with a lively Briskness
of Humour, not apt to damp those Sportful Flashes of Imagination.
(Whence in _Aristotle_ such Persons are termed "epidexioi",
dexterous Men, and "eutropoi", Men of facile or versatile
Manners, who can easily turn themselves to all Things, or
turn all Things to themselves.) It also procureth Delight,
by gratifying Curiosity with its Rareness, or Semblance of
Difficulty. (As Monsters, not for their Beauty, but their
Rarity; as juggling Tricks, not for their Use, but their
Abstruseness, are beheld with Pleasure;) by diverting the Mind
from its Road of serious Thoughts, by instilling Gaiety, and