...writer of the seventeenth century, he gave two of the most widely quoted critical definitions of wit: 'that which though not obvious, is, upon its first production, acknowledged to be just; a kind of discordia concors . . .'. It is perhaps more important, however, to see the prizing of wit...

...its natural dignity, and reduces it from strength of thought to happiness of language. If by a more noble and more adequate conception, that be considered...how he missed ; to wit of this kind the metaphysical posts have seldom risen. Their thoughts are often new, but seldom natural ; they are not obvious, but...