Scotchman.—“Especially as Goldsmith has wit enough to bear him up against a thousand such jests.”
Englishman.—“It is curious to observe how nearly wit and absurdity are allied. We may forgive the genius of Ireland if he sometimes
‘Leap his light courser o’er the bounds of taste.’
Even English genius is not always to be restrained within the strict limits of common sense. For instance, Young is witty when he says,
‘How would a miser startle to be told
Of such a wonder as insolvent gold.’
But Johnson is, I am afraid, absurd when he says,
‘Turn from the glittering bribe your scornful eye,
Nor sell for gold what gold can never buy.’”
“One case, to be sure, must be excepted,” said the Irishman; “a patriot may sell his reputation, and the purchaser get nothing by it. But, gentlemen, I have just recollected an example of an Irish bull in which are all the happy requisites, incongruity, confusion, and laughable confusion, both in thought and expression. When Sir Richard Steele was asked, how it happened that his countrymen made so many bulls, he replied, ‘It is the effect of climate, sir; if an Englishman were born in Ireland, he would make as many.’”
Scotchman.—“This is an excellent bull, I allow; but I think I can match it.”
Englishman.—“And if he can, you will allow yourself to be fairly vanquished?”