Sometimes
it lieth in pat Allusion to a known Story, or in seasonable
Application of a trivial Saying, or in forging an apposite Tale:
Sometimes it playeth in Words and Phrases, taking Advantage from
the Ambiguity of their Sense, or the Affinity of their Sound:
Sometimes it is wrapp'd in a Dress of humorous Expression:
Sometimes it lurketh under an odd Similitude: Sometimes it
is lodged in a sly Question, in a smart Answer, in a quirkish
Reason, in a shrewd Intimation, in cunningly diverting, or
cleverly retorting an Objection: Sometimes it is couched in a
bold Scheme of Speech, in a tart Irony, in a lusty Hyperbole,
in a startling Metaphor, in a plausible Reconciling of
Contradictions, or in acute Nonsense; Sometimes a scenical
Representation of Persons or Things, a counterfeit Speech, a
mimical Look or Gesture passeth for it. Sometimes an affected
Simplicity, sometimes a presumptuous Bluntness giveth it Being.
Sometimes it riseth from a lucky Hitting upon what is Strange;
sometimes from a crafty wresting obvious Matter to the Purpose.
Often it' consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth
up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable, and
inexplicable, being answerable to the numberless Rovings of
Fancy, and Windings of Language.
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