Inthecaseof\'poorrelatives，\'ontheotherhand，itistherich，whomtheyperplex，thatarereallycomic;andtolaughattheformer，notseeingthecomedyofthelatter，istobetraydulnessofvision。HumouristandSatiristfrequentlyhunttogetherasIroneistsinpursuitofthegrotesque，totheexclusionoftheComic。ThatwasanaffectingmomentinthehistoryofthePrinceRegent，whentheFirstGentlemanofEuropeburstintotearsatasarcasticremarkofBeauBrummell\'sonthecutofhiscoat。Humour，Satire，Irony，pounceonitaltogetherastheircommonprey。TheComicspiriteyesbutdoesnottouchit。Putintoaction，itwouldbefarcical。ItistoogrossforComedy。
Incidentsofakindcastingridiculeonourunfortunatenatureinsteadofourconventionallife，provokederisivelaughter，whichthwartstheComicidea。Butderisionisfoiledbytheplayoftheintellect。MostofdoubtfulcausesincontestareopentoComicinterpretation，andanyintellectualpleadingofadoubtfulcausecontainsgermsofanIdeaofComedy。
Thelaughterofsatireisablowinthebackortheface。ThelaughterofComedyisimpersonalandofunrivalledpoliteness，nearerasmile;oftennomorethanasmile。Itlaughsthroughthemind，fortheminddirectsit;anditmightbecalledthehumourofthemind。
Oneexcellenttestofthecivilizationofacountry，asIhavesaid，ItaketobetheflourishingoftheComicideaandComedy;andthetestoftrueComedyisthatitshallawakenthoughtfullaughter。
Ifyoubelievethatourcivilizationisfoundedincommon—sense（anditisthefirstconditionofsanitytobelieveit），youwill，whencontemplatingmen，discernaSpiritoverhead;notmoreheavenlythanthelightflashedupwardfromglassysurfaces，butluminousandwatchful;nevershootingbeyondthem，norlaggingintherear;socloselyattachedtothemthatitmaybetakenforaslavishreflex，untilitsfeaturesarestudied。Ithasthesage\'sbrows，andthesunnymaliceofafaunlurksatthecornersofthehalf—closedlipsdrawninanidlewarinessofhalftension。Thatslimfeastingsmile，shapedlikethelong—bow，wasonceabigroundsatyr\'slaugh，thatflungupthebrowslikeafortressliftedbygunpowder。Thelaughwillcomeagain，butitwillbeoftheorderofthesmile，finelytempered，showingsunlightofthemind，mentalrichnessratherthannoisyenormity。Itscommonaspectisoneofunsolicitousobservation，asifsurveyingafullfieldandhavingleisuretodartonitschosenmorsels，withoutanyflutteringeagerness。Men\'sfutureuponearthdoesnotattractit;theirhonestyandshapelinessinthepresentdoes;andwhenevertheywaxoutofproportion，overblown，affected，pretentious，bombastical，hypocritical，pedantic，fantasticallydelicate;wheneveritseesthemself—deceivedorhoodwinked，giventorunriotinidolatries，driftingintovanities，congregatinginabsurdities，planningshort—