A Drolling merry stile does better hit
Great matters, then a down-right railing Wit.
[tr. A. B.; ed. Brome (1666)]

A waggish sneer
Doth nick the great Ones more then a severe.
[tr. Creech (1684)]

For oft a smile beyond a frown prevails,
And raillery triumphs where invective fails.
[tr. Howes (1845)]

For ridicule often decides matters of importance more effectually and in a better manner, than severity.
[tr. Smart/Buckley (1853)]

The satire's jest will generally solve all matters of great moment with more spirit and success than declamation's gravity.
[tr. The Millington (1870)]

And pleasantry will often cut clean through
Hard knots that gravity would scarce undo.
[tr. Conington (1874)]

Humour very often cuts the knot of serious questions more trenchantly and successfully than severity.
[tr. Wickham (1903)]

Jesting oft cuts hard knots more forcefully and effectively than gravity.
[tr. Fairclough (Loeb) (1926)]

A jest often decides matters of importance more effectively and happily than seriousness.
[tr. Wells, ed. Kraemer (1936)]

A good witticism is often conclusive and forceful
Where a sober remark is not.
[tr. Palmer Bovie (1959)]

Frequently a clever stroke is better,
abler in cutting at big problems than something serious.
[tr. Fuchs (1977)]

Most times, ridicule cuts sharp and clean
when it deals with serious matters
and arouses indignation for the most part.
[tr. Alexander (1999)]

Jokes can slice
knots that blunt earnest attack.
[tr. Matthews (2002)]

Humour is often stronger
and more effective than sharpness in cutting knotty issues.
[tr. Rudd (2005 ed.)]

Ridicule usually
Cuts through things better, more swiftly, than force.
[tr. Kline (2015)]