it teaches these two instructive lessons, viz., that human happiness
is exceeding transient; and that death is the certain end of all men:
the former whereof is inculcated by the fatal end of Tom Thumb; the
latter, by that of all the other personages.

The Characters are, I think, sufficiently described in the dramatis
personae; and I believe we shall find few plays where greater care is
taken to maintain them throughout, and to preserve in every speech
that characteristical mark which distinguishes them from each
other. "But (says Mr D----) how well doth the character of Tom Thumb,
whom we must call the hero of this tragedy, if it hath any hero, agree
with the precepts of Aristotle, who defineth 'Tragedy to be the
imitation of a short but perfect action, containing a just greatness
in itself'? &c. What greatness can be in a fellow whom history
relateth to have been no higher than a span?" This gentleman seemeth
to think, with serjeant Kite, that the greatness of a man's soul is in
proportion to that of his body; the contrary of which is affirmed by
our English physiognomical writers. Besides, if I understand Aristotle
right, he speaketh only of the greatness of the action, and not of the
person.

As for the Sentiments and the Diction, which now only remain to be
spoken to; I thought I could afford them no stronger justification
than by producing parallel passages out of the best of our English
writers. Whether this sameness of thought and expression, which I
have quoted from them, proceeded from an agreement in their way of
thinking, or whether they have borrowed from our author, I leave the
reader to determine. I shall adventure to affirm this of the
Sentiments of our author, that they are generally the most familiar
which I have ever met with, and at the same time delivered with the