_Transitions_, thus made from the right Course, have indeed the
Pretence of being _natural_; but they ought always to lead us
to something _brilliant_ or poignant, in order to justify their
_Deviation_; and not to end only at a ridiculous PUN, void of all
Spirit and Poignancy.
The WIT, in such Instances, results, as in all others, from the quick
_Arrangement_ together of two Subjects; But that, which was first
intended for the _original_ one, is dropped; And a new _original_
Subject is started, through the _double Meaning_ of a Word, and
suddenly _enlighten'd_.
To give a _trite_ Instance of this kind of WIT.
A PEER coming out of the House of Lords, and wanting his Servant,
called out, _Where's my Fellow?_ To which another PEER, who stood by
him, returned, _Faith, my Lord, not in_ England.
A Transition is here unexpededly made from the Sense intended in the
Question to another Point, through the double Meaning of the word
_Fellow_; it being obvious, that his Lordship's _Servant_ is the
Sense of the Word in the Question; and what Person is _like_ to his
Lordship, the Construction put upon it in the Answer: Thus a new
_original_ Subject is started, and being suddenly _arranged_ with all
that appear _similar_ to it, is _enlighten'd_ thereby, being found to
have no _equal_ in _England_.
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