persuaded, that he is free from all _Pride_; But tho' he acts in this
Circumstance without over-bearing, it has already appear'd, not to be
the Effect of his _Humility_, but of a different Motive; a Pleasure
which he takes in observing the Extravagancies of others, rather
than their Discretion. But to demonstrate his _Pride_, besides the
peremptory Manner in which he delivers his Opinion, and conducts
himself upon every Occasion, without any Deference to others, there is
this Circumstance against him; that he is the most stung by a Defeat,
upon any Topic, of all Men living; And although he disregards
Accusations of Roughness and Oddity, and rather esteems them to
be meritorious; yet he will never admit, that he has been fairly
overthrown in a Debate.

It is odd to observe how the _Humourist_ is affected by _contemptuous_
Treatment. An Insult of this Sort, which justly excites the
_Resentment_ of others, _terrifies_ him: It sets him upon _suspecting_
himself, and upon doubting whether he be really that Person of
superior Sense to the rest of the World, which he has long fancied.
The Apprehension, that he actually deserves the Contempt which is put
upon him, and that he is no more than one of the common Herd, almost
distracts him; And instead of violently depreciating, or attacking
again, the Person who has contemn'd him, he will incessantly court his
Favour and good Opinion, as a Cordial he wants, though without seeming
to do so. This is a very extraordinary Weakness, and such as the
_Humourist_ would be infinitely uneasy to find ever observ'd.

The _Humourist_, though he quickly espies, and contemns the
_Contradictions_ of others, is yet wilfully attach'd to several
himself, which he will sometimes persue through a long Course of his
own Mortification.--It may be often observ'd, that he will avoid the