"Bayes. Why, ay, Sir. He's so dull."
Bayes, at the opening of the Fifth Act, says, "Now, gentlemen, I will be bold to say, I'll show you the greatest scene that England ever saw; I mean not for words, for those I don't value, but for state, show, and magnificence." Puff announces his grand scene in much the same manner:— "Now then for my magnificence! my battle! my noise! and my procession!"
In Fielding, too, we find numerous hints or germs, that have come to their full growth of wit in The Critic. For instance, in Trapwit (a character in "Pasquin") there are the rudiments of Sir Fretful as well as of Puff:—
"Sneerwell. Yes, faith, I think I would cut that last speech.
"Trapwit. Sir, I'll sooner cut off an ear or two; Sir, that's the very best thing in the whole play….
"Trapwit. Now, Mr. Sneerwell, we shall begin my third and last act; and I believe I may defy all the poets who have ever writ, or ever will write, to produce its equal: it is, Sir, so crammed with drums and trumpets, thunder and lightning, battles and ghosts, that I believe the audience will want no entertainment after it."
The manager, Marplay, in "The Author's Farce," like him of Drury Lane in the Critic, "does the town the honor of writing himself;" and the following incident in "The Historical Register" suggested possibly the humorous scene of Lord Burleigh:—
"Enter Four Patriots from different Doors, who meet in the centre and shake Hands.
"Sour-wit. These patriots seem to equal your greatest politicians in their silence.
"Medley. Sir, what they think now cannot well be spoke, but you may conjecture a good deal from their shaking their heads."