it cannot be deem'd _Raillery_; It being impossible to suppose the
Lady _really_ chagrin'd by such an imaginary Misfortune, or uneasy
at any Explanation upon this Subject;

_Raillery_ ought soon to be ended; For by long keeping the Person
attack'd, even in a _slight_ Pain, and continuing to dwell upon
his Mis-adventures, you become rude and ill-natur'd;--Or if the
_Raillery_ be only turn'd upon an Embarrassment, arising from the
Excess of Merit or Abilities, Yet if it be long confined upon the same
Subject, the Person it is pointed at, will either suspect that your
Aim is, to leave some _Impression_ against him, or else that you are
designing him a tedious dark _Compliment_; And accordingly he will
either regard you with Hatred or Contempt;--Much less should a
Person, who introduces himself as a Subject of _Raillery_, insist long
upon it; For either he will be offensive in engrossing all Attention
to himself; or if the Company are pleas'd, it must be by his
Buffoonery.

The Difference between _Satire_, and _Ridicule_, has been already
pointed out;--_Satire_ being always concerned with the _Vices_ of
_Persons_;--Whereas _Ridicule_ is justly employ'd, not upon the
_Vices_, but the _Foibles_ or _Meannesses_ of _Persons_, And also upon
the _Improprieties_ of other Subjects; And is directed, not to raise
your _Detestation_, but your _Derision_ and _Contempt_;--It being
evident that _Immoralities_ and _Vice_ are too _detestable_ for
_Ridicule_, and are therefore properly the Subject of _Satire_;
Whereas _Foibles_ and _Meannesses_ are too _harmless_ for _Satire_,
and deserve only to be treated with _Ridicule_.

The usual Artillery of _Ridicule_ is _Wit_; whereby the _Affinity_