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Philofophical
Enquiry
Ideas
INTO THE
Origin
O
of our
F
TH
SUBLIME
AND
BEAUTIFUL.
The
SECOND EDITION.
riu^
LONDON:
Printed for R. and J.
Dodsley,
in Pall-mall
IvlDCCLIXr
l^U^LtO^'^j
f ICK^,
THE
PREFACE.
endeavoured to make this edition
/Have
than
tnofl care^
\:fo7tiething
thefirji.
and read
my
friends
I have
been better
enabled to difcover the imperfediions of the nvorky the indulgence it has received, im~
perfeB as
tt
new
its
improvement.
fuficient
fcienty
my
theory,
I havefound it
necejfary in
many
it.
places to explain,
illujlraie
and
enforce
I have
concerning Tafle
itfelf',
it is
a matter curious in
and it
principal
Iv
The
PREFACE.
,
frincipal enquiry
i)lanations has
7'bis
larger
and by
I am
hi
afraid added to
faults-,
flanding all
my
attention^ it
may ftand
know that
there are
and even
in
render
it
'a
a matter of no fmall
to
Jhew
is
i?i
face of
7iature,
inte?2t
mind
we
of
being clear.
"The
The
PREFA CE.
v
it is
but they are not plain enough to enWe miijl thofe who runy to read thefn.
ufe
make
we
and
;
fmce
the condition
to
We
woud efcape
greater number of thefe comparifons makey the more general and the more certain
we
our knowledge is like to prove y as built upon a more extcjfve and perfect induBion.
ti
The P
If an
R E F A C E.
df covering
knowingy
it
weaknefs of our
does
own
underjlanding.
If
it
not
make us
If
it
or with hajlcy
deavoured
to obferve in
forming
it.
The
pro^
objeBionSy in
my
opiniony ought to be
But
it is
common
to
as an objeBion,
does not
fcem
eqjily
principles
endeavour to efablipo.
the
impf-oper,
PREFACE.
would he
infriite,
vii
"The tajk
ejlahlijh
if
we could
no principle until
we had
in
image or defcription
to
be
found
poets
and
orators.
And
though
we jhould
offuch
never
effedl
our principles^
this can
it is
found-
ed on certain and
ifidifputable
foBs,
fumed^
plains.
is
is
Our
iitability
to puJJj it indefinitely
no argument at all againft it. 'This ijibe owing to our ignorance of ability may
fome
necejj'ary
mediums ;
to
a want of pro-
per application ; to many other caufes befdes a defect in the principles we employ. In
reality thefubjedi requires
a much
clofer at-
tentiony
ner of treating
If
worky
it
muji caution
imagining that
My
enquiry
went
tiil
The
PREFACE.
qualities
If the
under the head of the Sublime be all found confflent with each other^ and all different
from
thofe
\
which
I place under
thofe
the head of
which compofe the clafs of the Beautiful have thefame corijif-' ency with themfelvesy and thefame oppq/ition
Beauty
to thofe
and if
which are
claffcd
nation of Sublime ^
I am in
pain whe^
ther any body chufes to follow the name I give them or not, provided he allows that
what I
The
ufe
I make of
the words
may
be blamed as too
my meaning cannot
well be mifunderfood.
To
conclude
of truth
in this
I
it.
I have
taken in
The
ufe
be very ccnfderable.
Whatever
tur72s the
its
and to fit
it
The
jlights
PREFACE.
By
ii
of fcience.
looking intophyfical
-^
minds are opened and enlarged caufes our and in this purfuit whether we take or whe*
tber
the chace
is
certainly
Cicero, true as he
was
of phyfical as of every
" noftrorum
**
**
naturale
quoddam
quafi pa-
bulum
naturae."
confideratio
contemplatioque
we invefiigate thefprings and trace the courwe may not only commu-fes of our paffions,
nicate to the tafte afort
lidity,
of philofophicalfo-back on thefeverer
but
we may
refiedl
fciences fame
tafte,
of the graces and elegancies of without which the great eft proficiency
have the ap-
pearance offomcthing
illiberal.
The
THE
CONTENTS.
I
NTRODUCTION.
On
Tafte
I
Page
PART
SECT. SECT. SECT.
fure.
I.
41 Novelty Pain and Pleafure 43 The difference between III. the removal of Pain and politive PleaII.
47
T. IV. Of Delight and
Pleafure,
E C
as
SECT. SECT.
SECT. SECT.
51 oppofed to each other V. Joy and Grief 54 VI. Of the Paffions which
^j
58
Of
the Paffions
belong to fociety
which 60
SECT.
CONTENTS.
The final caufe of the IX. difference between the Paffions belonging to Self-prefervation, and thofe which regard the Society of the Sexes
S
SECT.
EC
T. X.
XI. XII.
Of
SECT. SECT.
and Ambition
SECT. SECT.
SECT.
pathy
69
Sympathy
XIII.
XIV.
in the diftrefles
XV.
XVI.
The
70 Sym-
Imitation
75 79
83
XIX.
The
Conclufion
II.
84 87
PART
S
EC
T.
I.
Of
the Sublime
II.
Terror
III.
qe 96 99
the Paffions
[IV.]
The fame
fubjecft
i o i conI
oi
SECT.
CONTENTS.
SECT. SECT. SECT. SECT. SECT.
SECT.
mity V.
Power
iid
125 127 I20 and Unifor132 1 36
IX.
Succeifion
SECT. XI.
SECT. SECT. SECT. SECT. SECT. SECT.
jedls
X. Magnitude in Building
Infinity in
pleafing
Ob-
138 139 140 Magnificence XIV. Light 144 XV. Light in Building 147 XVI. Colour confidered as 149 produdtive of the Sublime XVII. Sound and Loudnefs
XII. XIII.
Difficulty
SECT.
152 153 XX. The cries of Animals 155 XXI. Smell and Tafte. Bitand Stenches 156 XXIL Feeling. Pain 159
XVin.
Suddennefs
XIX.
Intermitting
PART
6
III.
EC
T.
L
II.
Of
SECT.
SECT.
Beauty
of Beauty in Vegetables
III.
163
SECT.
CONTENTS,
SECT. SECT.
Beauty
nefs
IV.
1 of Beauty in the human fpecies 74 S E C T. V. Proportion further confix 186 dered VI. Fitnefs not the caufe of
SECT.
^:E C T.
S
S
VII.
VIII.
The
real eiFefts
191 of Fit-
197
EC
T. IX.
X.
of Beauty
E C T.
may Mind
203
SECT.
SECT.
of be applied to Virtue 208 Beauty may XII. The real caufe of Beauty
XI.
far
How
205
the ideas
SECT.
209
XIII. Beautiful objeds fmall
210
SECT. SECT. SECT. XVI. Delicacy SECT. XVII. Beauty in Colour SECT. XVIII. Recapitulation SECT. XIX. The Phyfiognomy SECT. XX. The Eye SECT. XXI. Uglinefs SECT. XXII. Grace
XIV. Smoothnefs XV. Gradual Variation
SECT.
CONTENTS.
SECT.
oufnefs
SECT.
ing
227
inPeell
SECT. XXV.
229
SECT. SECT.
XXVI.
XXVII.
Beautiful compared
PART
SECT.
S
EC
T.
II.
AlTociation
SECT.
SECT. SECT.
duced
244
246 249
is
III.
pro
SECT.
;
252
be a caufe
SECT.
of Delight
finer organs
254
256
SECT.
.r O
S
TEN T
why
S.
EC
T. X. Unity
.
requifite
to
Vaftnefs
261
SECT. SECT.
fimikr
in
vifiial
267
SECT.
5
objedls explained
268
EC
ble
own
SECT.
^E C f
nefs
.
275
Xyi.
Why
Darknefs
effecfts
is
terri-
vlfjrrfi:
278
of Black281 effeds of Black-
XVII. The
-
SECT.
nefs
XVIII. moderated
The
SECT.
Love
285
phyfical caufe of
XIX. The
286
SECT.
tiful
XX.
Why
Smoothnefs is beau-
SECT.
290
XXI.
Sweetnefs,
Its
nature
SECT. XXII. Sweetnefs relaxing 296 SECT. XXIII. Variation, why beautiful
291
SECT.
,S
299
XXIV. Concerning
Smallnefs
EC
T-
XXV. Of
Colour
302 308
PART
CONTENTS, PARTY.
SECT, SECT.
SECT.
S S
I.
11.
311
effea of
EC EC
SECT.
317 T. IV. The effeft of Words 319 T. V. Examples that Words may afFed: without raifing images 32a
VI. Poetry not ftridly an imiVII.
tative art
SECT.
How Words
333
influence
the Paflions
334
NTR
O^
INTRODUCTION.
ON
TASTE.
ON
a
fuperficlal
view,
we may
feem
to
differ
each other in our reafonings, and no lefs in our pleafures but notwith:
which
think to
is
real, it
and Tafte
tures.
is
the fame in
if there
all
human
crea-
were not fome principles of judgment as well as of fentiment common to all mankind, no hold
could poiiibly be taken either on their
reafon
or
their
paffions,
fuffiicient
For
to
acknow-
INTRODUCTION.
find people
acknowledged, that with regard to truth and falfhood there is fome thing fixed.
We
tinually
appealing to certain
and
fides,
ilandards
which
are allowed
on
and are fuppofed to be eftabliflied in our common nature. But there is not the
fame obvious concurrence in any uniform
or fettled principles
It
this
is
which
relate to Tafte.
even
commonly fuppofed
and
aerial
that
delicate
faculty,
which
the
to endure even
chains of a definition, cannot be properly tried by any teft, nor regulated by any ftandard. There is fb continual
and
it
is
fo
much
ftrengthen-
The
fcience,
to a fyftem.
happily cultivated,
was not
fubjed
ON TASTE.
fubjedt
Avere
trutJi,
few or negligent;
motives to impel us to fix the one, which urge us to afcertain the other. And after
all,
if
men
differ in their
opinion con-
cerning fuch matters, their difference is not attended with the fame important confequences, elfe I
that
may be
allowed the
much
mediately within the province of mere And indeed it is very neceffary reafbn.
at the entrance into fuch
an enquiry,
as
our prefent, to
as
pollible
;
make
this
point as clear
for if Tafte
has no fixed
is
principles,
if the
imagination
not af-
fedled according to
like to
be
em-
little
under-
INtRODUCTION.
to lay
undertaking,
price,
down
for
and
to fet
up
a legillator of
whims and
rative
fancies.
all
other figu-
underftand by it, is far from a fimple and determinate idea in the minds of moft men, and it is therethe thing w^hich
fore liable to uncertainty
I
we
and confufion.
have no great opinion of a definition, the celebrated remedy for the cure of
this
diforder.
For when we
define,
we
feem in danger of circumfcribing nature within the bounds of our own notions,
which we
mited and
often take
truft,
embrace on
partial confideration
ideas to take in
all
that nature
compre-
hends, according to
bining.
We
ftrid:
by the
laws to which
we have
ixiitted at
Circa
ON TASTE.
Circa vilem patulumque morahlmur orhem
err Vndepudor prof e pedem vetat aut
operis lex.
be very exadl, and yet go but a very little way towards informing us of the nature of the
definition
may
thing
defined
but
let
it
the virtue
will,
of
the
a definition
be
what
it
in
order of things,
It
muft be acknowledged that the methods of difquifition and teaching may be fomeand on very good reafon undoubtedly; but for my part, I am contimes
diflferent,
with ferving up a
truths,
it
;
leads to
it
tends
him
into thofe
owa
INTRODUCTION.
difcoveries,
as to
if
own
happy
he
fhould
be
la
vakiable.
But
ling, I
mean by
the
of
or
mind which
a
are
affedted with,
which form
This
of that word,
connedted with
and what
is
the leaft
theory. to find
any particular
is
And my
whether there
any
principles,
is
on
fo
aifecfted,
common
grounded and certain, as to fupply the means of reafoning fatisfad;orily about them. And fuch
to
all,
fo
are;
however paradoxical it may feem to thofe, who on a fuperficial view imagine, that there
is
fo great a diverfity
of
All
ONTASTE.
All the natural powers in
I
man, which
know,
objedts,
the Imagination
firft
And
with re-
We do and we muft
organs are nearly, or altogether the fame in all men, fo the manner of perceiving external objedts
is
in
all
men
to be
the
fame,
or
with
little
difference.
We
what appears
light to
other
late,
one eye, appears light to anthat what feems fweet to one pafweet to another
;
is
that
is
what
is
likewife
and
we
conclude
fame manner of great and little, hard and foft, hot and cold, rough and finooth i and indeed of all the natural
qualities
fuffer
and
affediions
of bodies.
that
If
we
ourfelves
to imagine,
their
men
different
images of things,
ing will
this fceptical
make
every fort
proceedof reafoning oa
every
B 4
INTRODUCTION.
which had per-
ing the agreement of our perceptions. But as there w^ill be very httle doubt
that bodies prefent fimilar images to the
whole
fpecies, it
muft
neceffarily
be
al-
lowed, that the pleafures and the pains which every objedl excites in one man,
it
muft
raife
in all
mankind, whilft
it
by
its
pro-
for if
we deny
this,
we
muft imagine^ that the fame caufe operating in the lame manner, and on fubjefts
of the fame kind, will produce different effects, which would be highly
abfurd.
Let us
firft
name
from that
call
fenfe.
All
men
all
are agreed to
bitter
ana
as
they are
agreed in find-
ing thefe qualities in thofe objects, they do not in the leaft differ concerning their
effefts
ONTASTE.
They
all
concur in
calling
fweetnefs
bitternefs
diverfity
is
pleafant,
and
fournefs
and
is
unpleafant.
Here there
no
in their fentiments;
not appears fai'y from the confent of all men in the metaphors which are
A four
temper, bitter expreffions, bitter curfes, a bitter fate, are terms well and ftrongly
underftood by all. And gether as well underftood
a fweet difpoiition,
we
are altofay,
when we
It is
a fweet
like.
perfbn, a
con-
that
cuftom,
caufes,
have made
many
from
long to thefe feveral Taftes; but then the power of diftinguifhing between the
natural and the acquired relifh remains to
the very
laft.
milki
!o
INTRODUCTION.
but this makes no confulion In
milk;
Taftes, whilft
he
is
bacco and vinegar are not fweet, and whilft he knows that habit alone has reconciled his palate to thefe alien pleafures.
a perfon
we may
{peak,
fufficient
precifion, concerning
man
be found
has a
who
declares, that to
him tobacco
between milk and vinegar; or that tobacco and vinegar are fweet, milk
ftinguifh
bitter,
and fugar
utterly
We are
with one
that
all
the
parts together
to the whole*.
We do not call
man
mad.
Exnot
ON TASTE.
not at
all
II
impeach our general rule, nor make us conclude that men have various
principles
concerning
or
it
the
relations
of
quantity,
So
that
when
it
faid,
Tafte cannot be
difputed,
can
one can
ftriftly
man may
find
from
the Tafte of fome particular thing. This indeed cannot be dilputed ; but we may
difpute,
and with
concerning the things which are naturally pleafing or difagreeable to the fcnk. But
when we
relifh,
talk of
then
we
not
the
Tafte
folely.
The
fight pleaf-
from
the fame in
all.
Light
is
more
Summer, when
the
earth
jz
earth
INTRODUCTION.
clad in green, when the heaare ferene and bright, is more
is
vens
when
every thing
I
makes a
different
appearance.
never
remember
ther a
whe-
man, a
or a plant,
it
though
were to
an hundred people, that they did not all immediately agree that it was beautiful,
that
fell
fhort
of
their
ex-
pectation,
ftill
or
finer.
goofe
to
be more beautiful
than
fwan, or imagines that what they call a Friezland hen excells a peacock. It muft be obferved too, that the pleafures
of the fight are not near fo complicated^ and confufed, and altered by unnatural
habits and afifociations, as the pleafures of
commonly
acquiefce in
fo often altered
by
ON TASTE.
by
confiderations
fight
13
which
are independent
of the
itfelf.
Ipontaneoufly prefent themfelves to the palate as they (Jo to the fight ; they are
generally applied to
as medicine;
it,
either as
food or
qualities
which
by force of thefe
is
Thus opium
pleafing to Turks,
Dutchmen,
pleafe our
as
it
diffufes
a torpor and
fpirits
pleafing fl:upifad:ion.
Fermented
common
All of thefe
would
had
and
paft
Tafl:e
gone no further than the but all of thefe, together with tea
coffee,
from the apothecary's fhop to our tables, and were taken for health long
V
before
14
INTRODUCTION.
The
it
us ufe
frequently
and frequent
effedt,
ufe,
has
made
But
the Tafte
itfelf at laft
agreeable.
this does
;
not in the
leaft
perplex our
reafoning
laft
becaufe
we
diftinguifh to the
relifli.
unknown
you would fcarcely fay, that it had a fweet and pleafant flavour like tobacco,
garlic,
opium, or
thofe
who
thefe drugs,
them.
remembrance
natural
caufes of pleafure,
enable
them
to
bring all things offered to their fenfes to that ftandard, and to regulate their feelings and
opinions by
it.
Suppofe one
who had
more
opium than
fented
ON TASTE.
fented with a bolus of fquills
;
15
there
is
but that he would prehardly any doubt fer the butter or honey to this naufeous morfel, or to any other bitter drug to which he had not been accuftomed >
which proves
rally like that
was natu-
of other
men
in all things,
that
in
it is ftill
of other
men
and only vitiated in fome particular points. For in judging of any new thing, even of a Tafte fimilar
many
things,
to that
mon
all
principles.
Thus the
pleafure of
the Tafte, that moft ambiguous of the fenfes, is the fame in all, high and low,
learned and unlearned.
Befides the ideas, with their annex-
ed pains and pleaiures, which are prefented by the fenfe ; the mind of man
pofTeffes
a fort
of creative power
of
its
i6
its
INTRODUCTION.
own ;
either in reprefenting at plea-
by the fenfes,
in a
according to a diffeis
rent order.
This power
called Imagi-
nation
and the
this
like.
But
it
power
incapable of producing any thing abfolutely new ; it can only vary the difpofition of thofe ideas
of the imagination
which
it
Now
teniive
as
the imagination
it is
province of pleafure and pain, the region of our fears and our
all
hopes, and of
thefe
commanding
fame
original
the
all
men.
ON TA
T E.
17
only the reprefentative of the fenfes. It can only be pleafed or diiplealed with the
images from the fame principle on which the fenfe is pleafed or difpleafed with the
realities
juft as
men.
little
muft
of neceffity be the
cafe.
But in the imagination, befides the pain or pleafure ariiing from the properties of
the natural objedt, a pleafure is perceived from the refemblance, which the imitation has to the original
;
the imagination,
caufes.
And
uniformly upon
operate by principles
are not derived
from any particular habits or advantages. Mr. Locke very juftly and
finely obferves
of wit, that
it
is
chiefly
converfant in tracing refemblances ; he remarks at the fame time, that the bufi-
nefs
i8
INTRODUCTION,
judgment
It
is
nefs of
ferences.
may
that
fuppofition,
diftincSlion
no material
and
the
between
the
wit
judgment, as they both feem to refult from different operations of the fame faculty of comparing.
But
in-
reality,
whefo
differ
many
refpefts, that
is
and judgment
one
of the
rareft
When
each
two
other,
only what
we
are in their
common way
they
tion
:
a refemblance,
to them,
of
man
becaufe
neinr
we
unite,
we
create,
we
enlarge
our
ON TASTE.
our ftock
;
19
more
fevere
and irkfome,
we
derive
from
it
is
fomething of a negative and indirecft naA piece of news is told me in the ture.
merely as a piece of news, as a fadt added to my ftock, gives me
morning ;
this,
Ibme
there
pleafure.
was nothing
Wh^t do
Hence
it is,
that
men
upon
are
much more
naturally in-
And
moll
this
who have
diftinguifli-
And it is for ing and forting their ideas. a reafon of this kind that Homer and the
oriental
writers,
of
fimilitudes,
ftrike
20
INTRODUCTION.
take care to have
dom
is,
them
exadl j that
refemthey are taken with the general blance, they paint it ftrongly, and they take no notice of the difference which may be
is
which
all
nation,
men
very depends upon experience and obfervation, and not on the ftrength or weaknefs of any natural faculas it
this
ty;
and
it
is
from
this
difference
in
we commonly,
exacftnefs,
call
a
to
A man
whom
he
is
fculpture
is
new,
fees
a barber's
and entirely taken up with this likenefs, he does not at all attend to its
figure
;
defedls.
ON TASTE.
defefts.
firft
21
at
No
perfon,
believe,
the
time of feeing a piece of imitation Some time after, we fuppofe ever did.
that this novice Ughts
cial
begins to look with contempt on what he admired at firft ; not that he admired it
its
qnlikenefs to a
man, but
blance
which
it
human
is
figure.
What he
admired
at difi'erent times
ftridlly
is
in
the
his
knowledge
im-
is
not altered.
Hither-
ledge in
art,
;
from
ftill
his in-
experience
fi*om a
but he
may
be
deficient
want of knowledge
pofllble that the
in
nature.
For
it is
man
tlie
in queftion
may
flop here,
and that
mafler-piece
of a great hand may pleafe him no more than the middling performance of a vulgar
artifl
;
and
want of better
all
men do
not
22
INTRODUCTION.
And that the cri-
not obferve with fufficient accuracy on the human figure to enable them to judge proimitation of it. perly of an
tical
Tafte does not depend upon a fuperior but upon fuperior knowprinciple in men,
from
feveral inftances.
The
and the
fhoemaker
The
ihoemaker
fet
gard :to fome miftakes he had made in the fhoe of one of his figures, and which
the painter,
curate
who had
not
made fuch
ac-
obfervations
on
fhoes,
and was
never
obferved.
But
this
was no im-
peachment to the Tafte of the painter, it only {hewed fome want of knowLet us ledge in the art of making {hoes. imagine, that an anatomift had come into the painter's
is
ftion in a
good
in
his
art,
may
ON TASTE.
may
23
not quite juft in the peculiar adion of Here the anatomift obferves the figure.
had not obferved, and he pafles by what the llioemaker had remarked. But a want of the laft critical
what the
painter
knowledge in anatomy no more reflefted on the natural good Tafte of the painter,
or of any common obferver of his piece, than the want of an exacft knowledge in
the formation of a fhoe.
fine piece
of a decollated head of
tift
was fhewn
to
praifed
many
things, but
he obferved one
defed:
fhrink from
wounded
part of the
neck.
The fultan on
his obfervation
this occafion,
who
or than a thoufand
European connoifleurs who probably never would have made the fame obfervation.
His Turkifh majefty had indeed been well acquainted with that terrible fpedlacle,
C 4
which
24
INTRODUCTION.
is
which the
a difference
between
all
thefe people,
arifing
from
the different kinds and degrees of their knowledge; but there is fomething in
common
the anatomift, and the Turkifh emperor, the pleafure arifing from a natural objedl,
fo far as each perceives
it
juflly imitated
So
far as
Tafle
to
all.
is
nearly
common
In poetry, and other pieces of imagination, the fame parity may be obferved. It
is true,
that one
Bellianis,
and reads Virgil coldly; whilfl another is tranfported with the Eneid,
In both thefe
pieces.
ON TASTE.
pieces,
25
which
tale
full
ments, a
both are
ate,
The
Don
Bellianis perhaps
does not underftand the refined language of the Eneid, who if it was degraded
into the
ftj^le
Don
not fhock-
manners,
the trampling
wreck on the
coaft of
Bohemia , wholly
taken up with fo interefting an event, and only foUicitous for the fate of his
hero, he
is
26
INTRODUCTION.
For
why fliould
he be fliocked
may
?
be an illand in
after all,
and
what
this
Tafte of the perfon here fuppofed ? So far then as Tafte belongs to the imagination,
its
principle
is
is
the fame in
in the
all
men ^
there
no difference
man-
ner of their being affefted, nor in the caufes of the affedtion ; but in the degree
there
is
a difference,
which
;
arifes
from
two
caufes
principally
either
from a
of natural fenfibility, or greater degree from a clofer and longer attention to the
objedt.
To
is
illuftrate this
found,
let
two
they both perceive it to be fmooth, :md they are both pleafed with it, becaufe
they agree. But fuppofe another, and after that another
men ;
of
this quality.
So
far
table.
ON TASTE.
table, the latter
ftill
27
former, to be
fet
before them.
now
who
are fo
is
from thence,
fettle
when
they come to
which
has the
advantage in point of polifh. Here is indeed the great difference between Taftes,
Nor is
it
eafy,
when
the
fuch a. difference
if
arifes,
to fettle
point,
the
excefs
or diminu-
If we differ in not glaring. opinion about two quantities, we can have recourfe to a common meafure,
tion be
and
this I take it is
mathematical knowledge a But iii greater certainty than any other. things whofe excefs is not judged by
gives
what
greater or
Imaller,
as
fmoothnefs and
and
of colours,
all
thefe
28
INTRODUCTION.
when
is it is
the difference
may
have the
In the queftion about the advantage. the marble poliiher v/ill untables,
queftionably determine the moft accurately.
But notwithftanding
meafure for
this
want
of a
common
fettling
many
and their
the imagination, we find that the principles are the fame in all,
reprefentative
we come
brings us
to
nence or difference
of things,
which
of'
the
judgment. So long
we
are converfant
with the
fenfible qualities
ON TASTE.
ccrned
;
29
more
alfo
fions
are
reprefented,
becaufe
by the
force of natural
all
ing,
and
their juftnefs
recognized
in
every breaft.
Love,
grief, fear,
anger,
mind
but upon certain, natural and uniform But as many of the works of principles.
imagination are not confined to the reprefentation of fenfible obj edls, nor to
efforts
upon the
aftions,
pafiions,
but extend
the
their relations,
they
come within
judgment, which is improved by attention and by the habit of reafoning. All thefe
make
what
;
and
^d
INTRODUCTION.
and the world
them.
for our inis
Whatever certainty
of life
juft the
to
them
it
in
for
works of
imitation.
Indeed
fkill
is
in
manners,
and
in the obfervances
general,
in
which
is
thofe fchools
us, that
to
what
fifts;
On
the
is
whole
it
appears to me,
its
that
what
called Tafte, in
tion,
is
made
clufions
ON TASTE.
to form Tafte, and the
all tliefe is
31
concerning the human paflions, manAll this is requifite ners and actions.
ground-work of
human mind ;
of
our ideas, and confequently of all our are not uncertain and pleafures, if they
arbitrary,
Tafte
there
is is
the whole
clulive reafoning
on
thefe matters.
Whilft
cording to
find
its
we
its
we
;
fhall
but
the degree in which thefe principles prevail in the feveral individuals of mankind,
is
altogether as
different
as
the
principles
fenfibility
For
qualities
compofe what
we com-
monly
call
former of thefe
qualities,
arifes
want
of
^t
INTRODUCTION.
;
of Tafte
ftitutes
wrong
or a bad one.
There
are
feelings fo
and phleg-
courfe of their
fuch perfons, the moft ftriking objects make but a faint and ob-
Upon
fcure impreffion.
There
are
others fo
been ufed continually to the ilorms of thefe violent and tempeftuous paflions,
can hardly be put in motion by the delicate and refined play of the imagination.
Thefe
caufe,
the former
happen
to be
ON
lities
T A STE.
33
any work of art, they are moved upon the fame principle. The caufe of a wrong Tafte Is a dein
may
confifl)
or,
which
is
much
more commonly the cafe, it may arife from a want of a proper and well-direcfled
exercife,
it
ftrong
and ready.
nacy, in
fliort,
all
all
thofe vices
in
this its
more
refined
Thefe cau fes produce different opinions upon every thing which is an objedl: of
the underftanding, without inducing us to fuppofe, that there are no fettled principles
of reafon.
And
indeed on the
there
is
obferve, that
difference
upon matters of
cioft
Tafte
of
34
INTRODUCTION.
of thofe which depend upon the naked reafon ; and that men are far better
agreed on the excellence of a defcription in Virgil, than on the truth or falfc-
reftitude of
judgment
in the arts
which may be
;
called a
in a great meafure
lity
will
never apply
itfelf
fufficiently to
works of
know-
ledge in them.
fenfibility
is
requifite to
ment, yet a good judgment does not nefrom a quick fenfibility of ceflarily arife
pleafure
;
it
greater complexional fenfibility, is more affefted by a very poor piece, than the beft
as
every thing
new, extraordinary, grand, or paffionate is well calculated to affeft fuch a perfon, and
that the faults do not affeft him, his pleafure
ON TASTE,
fure
is
is is
35
as it
merely a pleafure of the imagination, it much higher than any which is derivthe
judgment
in
is
for
greater part
throwing Humbling blocks in the way of the imagination, in difof its enchantment, fipating the fcenes
employed
and
in tying us
down
that
to
the difagree:
able yoke
of our reafon
pleafure
for
almofl
in
the
only
men have
judging better than others, confiils in a fort of confcious pride and fuperiority, which arifcs from thinking rightly ; but
then, this
is
under contem-
are
every part, and the glofs of novelty frefh upon all the objedts that furround us,
how lively at that time are ourfenfatlons, but how falie and inaccurate the judg-
msnts
36
INTRODUCTION.
we form
of things
?
ments
defpair of
ances of genius
which
from
pieces
ment
tible.
apt to
prefent judgand contemptrifling regards trivial caufe of Every pleafure is affedl the man of too fanguine a
as
.
which
my
complexion
fuffer his
his appetite
is
too keen to
;
Tafte to be delicate
and he
is
in
all
refpc6ls
what Ovid
fays
of himfelf
in love,
MoIIe
meum
tel'is^
Et femper
caufa
One of this
fined judge
calls elegans
never
what
excellence
muft always
from
cept
its
be imperfedlly eftimated effed on the minds of any, exthe temper and charadler
we know
of^thofe niinds.
The moft
powerful effedls
ON TASTE.
-^y
fedls
of poetry and mulic have been difare ftill difplayed, played, and perhaps where thefe arts are but in a very low
and imperfed:
affedled
ftate.
The
rude hearer
is
by the principles which operate in thefe arts even in their rudeft condition
;
and he
is
not
flcilful
enough to
But
vance towards their perfed:ion, the fcience of criticifni advances with equal
pace, and the pleafure of judges
is
fre-
quently interrupted by the faults which are difcovered in the moft finifhed compofitions.
Before
I leave this
taking notice of an opinion which many perfons entertain, as if the Tafte were a
leparate faculty of the
mind, and
diftindl
;
naturally,
and
at
out any previous reafoning with the excellencies, or the defedls of a compofi-
tion.
38
tion.
INTRODUCTION.
So
far as the imagination
and the
it
pafTions
true,
Httle confultedj
but
wheix
difpofition,
congruity are ever the beft Tafte differs from the worft,
I
am
and
its
opera-
in reality far
fudden, or
when
right.
it is
fudden,
often far
from being
thefe
confideration,
early
come
and
averfion to
judgments neu-
fpot.
known
ever
it is) is
improved exacSly
we im-
always
is
owe-
mg
ON TASTE.
and not
a
to
39
in
moment
minds.
But they
who
have cultivated
which makes
ha-
At
firfl
fpell,
but at laft
they read with eafe and with celerity : but this celerity of its operation is no proof, that the Tafte is a diftindt faculty.
Nobody
of a
ters
I believe
fon, but
readinefs with
procefs of
the argument is carried on, the grounds difcovered, the objedlions raifed and an-
great
as the Tafte
40
with
INTRODUCTION.
;
and yet where nothing but plain reafon either is or can be fufpeded
to operate.
To
This matter might be purfued much further ; but it is not the extent of the
fubjefl:
which muft
for
what
?
the nature of our particular fcheme, and the fingle point of view
infinity
in
which we
confider
it,
which ought
to
Philo-
[41
Philofophical Enquiry
INTO THE
Origin
of our
Ideas
OF THE
Sublime
and
Be auti|',ul*
I.
PART
SECT.
I.
NOVELTY.
TH
I
fimpleft
emotion
which we
difcover in the
human
for,
mind,
Curiofity.
defire
By
curiofity,
mean whatever
we
have
or
whatever pleafure
we
take in
novelty^i.
42
On
the
UBLIME
and with very little choice, at whatever comes before them ; their attention is
engaged by every thing, becaufe every thing has, in that ftage of hfe, the charm
of novelty to recommend
things
it.
But
as thofe
their
of time, of
all
the afFedions
-,
jdd: perpetually
is
it
very fharp, but very eafily fatisfied ; and it has always an appearance of gid-
dinefs, reftleflhefs
fity
and anxiety.
is
Curio-
from
;
ciple
it
nature
part
of
its
objedls,
is
;
variety
which
commonly
to be
met
with
in nature
and
lefs
time
we come
to
know
it
little>
would
be incapable of affefting the mind with any other fenfations than thofe of loath-
and
BEAUTIFUL*
43
if many things were ing land wearlnefs, not adapted to afFed: the mind by means
of other powers befides novelty in them, and of other pafiions beiiJes curiofity in
ourfelves.
fhall
Thefe powers
and paflions
But
not be exerted in thofe things which a ufe have daily and vulgar brought into z
unafFeding familiarity. Some degree of novelty muft be one of the materials in every inflrument which works
ftale
our paffions.
SECT.
PAIN
and
II.
PLEASURE.
IT
Jife to
44'
On
the
SUBLIME
be capable of exciting pain or pleafure from other caufes. Pain and pleafure are
fimple
ideas,
incapable
of definition.
People are not liable to be miftaken in their feelings, but they are very frequently
wrong
in
in the
and
their
about
them.
Many
ttire
;
are
ceflarily
of opinion, that pain arifes ne* from the removal of fome plea-
from
For
my
part I
am
and pleafure in their moft gine, that pain fimple and natural manner of affedling,are each of a pofitive nature, and
by no
each
means
necelTarily
dependent
think
on
The human
it
is
mind
moft
is
often,
and
for the
pleafure,
which
I call
I
rence.
ftate
When
.
am
from
this
it
into
jftate
of adbual pleafure,
docs
and
BEAUTIFUL
.45
does not appear neceffary that I fhould the medium of any fort of pals through If in fuch a ftate of indifference,
pain.
pr
cafe, or tranquility,"
or call
it
what
you
fuppofe fome objed: of a fine fliape, and bright lively colours to be prefented be^
fore
fied
without any previous thirft you were to drink of fome pleafant kind of wine ; or
to tafte of fome fweetmeat without being Jiungry ; in all the feveral fenfes, of hearing, fmelling,
and
tailing,
you undoubt-
edly find a pleafure ; yet if I enquire into the ftate of your mind previous to thefe
gratifications,
you
will
hardly
tell
me
;
any pain has fucceeded, though the pleafure is abfolutely over ? Suppofe on the
other hand, a
man
in the
fame
flate
of
indifference,
46
On
the
SUBLIME
bitter potion, or to
to drink of
fome
have
his ears
grating found; here is no removal of pleafure; and yet here is felt, in every
fenfe
which is
It
guifhable.
may
be
faid
perhaps, that
its
had
rife
from
the removal of the pleafure which the man enjoyed before, though that pleafure
was of
fo
low
a degree as to be perceived
But
this
feems to
me
a fubtilty, that
is
not difcoverable in
nature.
For
feel
if,
do not
reafon
exifts
it is
have no
thing
to judge
any fuch
fmce pleafure is only pleafure as ; felt. The fame may be faid of pain,
I
can never perfuade myfelf that pleafure and pain are mere relations, which can only exift as
:
that
depend
and
BEAUTIFUL,
Nothing
I
47
is
more
this.
certain to
my own
feelings than
There
is
nothing which
can di-
ftinguifh in
jiefs
my mind
ftates,
of
pleafure,
thefe I
idea of
relation to
Caius
this
is afflicted
man is
;
actually in pain
ftretch Caius
upon the
er pain
arife
rack,
he will
feel a
much
great-
but does
this pain
of the rack
?
or
is
a pain juft as
fider it?
we
SECT,
The
difference
III,
PAIN
and
pofitive
PLEASURE,
a ftep further.
We
(hall
venture
48
On
the
SUBLIME
on
their
mutual dimi-
nution or removal, hut that, in reality, the diminution or ceafing of pleafure does
not operate like pofitive pain i and that the removal or diminution of pain, in its
efFed:
tive pleafure.
has very *
little
much mor^
;
becaufe
has run
career,
it
fets
us
nearly where
found
us.
;
Pleafure of
fatisiies
and when
over,
rather
which
not
is
own,
it is
view
T
[effay underflanding, k6\. lb.] thinks that the removal or IcTconfidered and operates as a pjeajfening of a pain is furc, and tlie lofs ordiminifhing of pleafure as a pain. It 4^ this opinion which WG cwfider Iiere.
].
* Mr. Locke
on human
2. c. 20.
::.i
moval
and
BEAU
but
T I F U L.
let
49
us recoiled: in
what
we
on being releafed from the feverity of fbme cruel pain. We have on fuch occafions found, if I
am
not
much
mif-
taken,
tenor very remote from that which attends the prefence of pofitive pleafure;
we
ftate
of
much
fobriety, imprelTed
in a fort
horror.
The
is
of the countenance
of mind, that any perfon, a ftranger to the caufe of the appearance, would rather judge us under fome confternation,
Iliad.
24.
.50
On
tJie
SUBLIME
confclous
of
his crime^
his natlue
cUmey
hreathlefs^ pele^
amazed i
Ml gaze^
This
all
wonder /
appearance of the man whom Homer fuppofes to have jufl efcaped an imminent danger, the fort of mixt paffion of terror and furprize, with
ftriking
which he
find
fions
affedts the
fpeftators,
paints
manner
affed:ed
in
which we
mind
like the
fame condition,
which
rate.
firft
The
the ftorm;
and when
this
remain
of
horror has entirely fubfided,. all the paffion, which the accident raifed, fubfides
alon? w^ith
its
it ;
pleafure (I
mean any
iiiward
and
inward
BEAUTIFUL.
51
fenfation, or in the
SECT,
Of DELIGHT
and
IV.
PLEASURE,
as
BUT
is
is
(hall
we
removal of pain or
diminution
always (imply painful ? or affirm that the ceflation or the lefTcning of pleafure always attended itfelf with a pleafure ? by no means. What I advance is no
this;
firft,
more than
pleafures
that
there
are
nature, or to entitle
to be
known by
the
S2
On
the
SUBLIME
that
the fame
upon th^
qualification
nature.
This
feel-
ing, in many cafes fo agreeable, but in all fo different from pofitive pleafure, has
no name w^hich
ders not
its
know
all
moil
of
fatisfaftion
its
how
different
is
foever in
manner of
ture in the
afi^edling,
of a pofitive nafeels
it.
The
affeftion
undoubtedly pofitive
be, as in this cafe
-,
may
it it
a fort of Privation,
And
we
fhould diflin-
guifn by fome term two things fo diflindl in nature, as a pleafure that is fuch fimply,
relation,
exifl
from that
without a
relation.
pleafure,
which cannot
and
relation,
BEAUTIFUL.
it
53
Very extraordinary
affeftions,
would
be, if thefe
in
their
fo
diftinguifliable
fame general
tive
title.
Whenever
it
have
Delight-, and I
to ufe that
word
the
in
no other
is
fenfe.
am
fatisfied
word
not
commonly
ufed in this
appropriated fignification % but I thought take up a word it better to already known, and to limit its fignification,
than to introduce a
prefumed the
words,
if
leaft
alteration
our
nature
than thofe of philofophy, and the nature of my fubjedt that leads me out of the
in a
manner
54
On
the
SUBLIME
me
to
it.
manner
necefHtate
ihall
make
all
poffible
caution.
As
make
ufe of the
fure,
ihall
for
it
limply Fkafure.
SECT.
JOY
T
of pleafure
V.
and
GRIEF.
ceflatlon
the
mind
three
ways. If it limply ceafes, after having continued a proper time, the effedl is indiffcrence y if it be abruptly broken off,
there enfues an uneafy fenfe called difappointfnent y if the objed: be fo totally loft
that there
again,
is
called grief.
Now
grief,
there
is
none of
the moft
violent.
thefe. Hot
even
which
is
and
BEAUTIFUL.
The
perfon
55
any refemblance
to pofitive pain.
fufFers
who
it
:
grieves,
;
his paffion to
it,
he indulges
he loves
but this
never happens in the cafe of aftual pain, which no man ever willingly endured for
That
grief fhould
be willingly endured, though far from a limply pleafing fenfation, is not fo difficult to be underftood.
It is
the nature
of grief to keep
its
repeat all the circumftances that attend it, even to the laft
rable vi^ws, to
new
is ftill
moft
and the
afflidlion
we
upperfuifer has no
The
fo
56
fo
On
many
the
SUBLIME
images, has none more ftriking than thofe which Menelaus raifes of the calamitous fate of
his friends,
and
his
ing
it.
He
owns
melancholy
pleafure.
as
they
are,
they
give
him
AAA. //TMf
'TTAvJeti
oJ'V^lllVO^ 1^
A')(iVti>Vy
TldLvoyicu'
cu'\>eic^i
cTg
xo^f K^vt^to
yotoo.
of pleafing woe,
to the glorious
HoM. Od.
4.
On
when we
efcape
recover our
health,
when we
is it
an imminent
danger,
we
are afltd:-
ed?
and
cd
?
BEAUTIFUL.
on thefe occafions
is
S7
far
The
that
fenfe
from
flire
The
delight
which
arifes
from the modifications of pain, confefles the ftock from whence it fprung, in its
folid,
ftrong,
SECT.
Of
the pafiions
which belong
to
SELF-
PRESERVATION.
MO
and
Pain or Pleafure,
tions
or of the modifica-
of thofe,
may be
two
;
reduced
very
nearly to thefe
tion
fociety
The
which
'
5?
On
and
the
SUBLIME
The
fill
;
fain or danger.
hefsy
deaths
the
mind with
life
flrong
emotions of horror
but
and healthy
though they put us in a capacity of bewith pleafure, they make no ing affefted fuch impreffion by the fimple enjoyment. The paffions therefore which are converfant about the prefervation of the indivi-
on pain and dajtger, and they are the mofl powerful of all the
dual, turn chiefly
paffions,
SECT.
Of
the
VII.
SUBLIME.
is fitted
in
any
fort to
ex-
to fay,
whatever
in
any
about tera
rible objefts,
or
operates
is
in
manner
of the
analogous to terror,
Jublime
;
a fource of the
that
is,
it
is
productive
ftrongeft
and
ftrongeft
BEAUTIFUL.
is
59
ca-
I fay die ftrongeft emo-pable of feeling. tion, becaufe I am fatisfied the ideas of
pain are much more powerful than thofe which enter on the part of pleafure.
Without
all
we may
be made to
are
much
on the body and mind, than any pleafures which the moft
learned voluptuary could fuggeft, or than the liveliefl imagination, and the moft
Nay I am in great doubt, whether any man could be found who would earn
a
which
But
juftice inflidted in a
few hours on
ftronger in
is
its
operation
in general
;
than pain
be-
ever
ferred
exquifite,
to
death
nay,
what
generally
makes
'
6o
On
the
itfelf,
U B L I ?vl E
may
fay fo,
makes pain
painful,
is,
if I
it
is
more
that
this
confidered as an
terrors.
emiffary of
king of
When
danger or pain prefs too nearly, they are incapable of giving any delight, and are fimply terrible but at certain diftances,
-,
and with certain modifications, they may be, and they are delightful, as we every
day experience. The caufe of this endeavour to inveftigate hereafter.
I fhall
SECT.
Of
,::
VIII.
belong to
SOCIETY.
E
other
TH
cietyy
forts.
The
next, that
more general
fociety,
which
we
have with
mals,
and
be
faid to
BEAUTIFUL.
6r
world.
The
-,
thofe
which belong
their
;
origin in grati-
aud pleafures
of a
character, rapturous
and
violent,
and confefledly the higheft pleafure of fenfe ; yet the abfence of this fb great an
enjoyment, fcarce amounts to an uneafinefs
;
and except
it
at particular times, I
do not think
defcribe in
afFedls at all.
When men
are affed:ed
by pain and danger ; they do not dwell on the pleafure of health and the comfort
offecurity, and then lament tht
thefe fatisfadions
:
/ojs
of
the whole turns upon the aftual pains and horrors which they endure. But if you liften to the complaints
of a forfaken
lover,
you obferve,
that he infills
on the pleafures which he enjoyed, or hoped to enjoy, and on the perfeftion of the objedt of his delargely
fires
;
2
fires
;
On
it is
the
the
/ojs
SUBLIME
which
is
always
up
ef-
permoft in his
fedts
mind.
The. violent
no objection
to the rule
which we feek
to eftablifh.
imaginations
any
as
idea,
it
to fhut out
down
every partition
Any
is
fufficient for
the purpofe, as
which
love
is
give
rife to
madnefs
but this at
extraordinary^^^
SECT.
and
BEAUTIFUL.
6j
SECT.
The
final
IX.
SELF-PRE-
TH
of the
gine,
its
final caufe
of the difference
pafllonar
in character
between the
which regard felf-prefervation, and thofe which are diredled to the multiplication
illuftrate the foregofpecies, will
;
and
it is, I
ima-
own
As
the performance
of our duties of every kind depends upon life, and the performing them with
vigour
health,
and
efficacy
depends
upon
we
but as
in life
we were
not
made
to ac-
and health, the fimple enjoyment of them is not attended with any
quiefce
real
64.
On
the
SUBLIME
with
that,
we
On
and
it
is
requifite that
men
it
fhould be
by fome
It is therefore attended great incentive. with a very high pleafure ; but as it is by no means deligned to be our conftant
bufmefs,
it is
not
fit
confiderable
pain.
The
difference
this
be-
point,
all
Men
are at
times pretty equally difpofed to the pleafures of love, becaufe they are to be
guided by reafon in the time and manHad any great ner of indulging them. pain arifen from the want of this fatisfaction,
reafon,
am
afraid,
would
find
great difficulties in the performance of its office. But brutes who obey laws,
in the execution of
which
their
own
rea-
little
fhare,
and
BEAUTIFUL.
it is
65
then anfwered,
perhaps for ever
turns only with
its
feafon.
SECT.
Of B E A U
X.
to geis
TH
only
;
paffion
which belongs
fuch,
brutes,
neration, merely as
is
luft
this
evident
in
whofe
paffions
are
purfue their
ours.
The
to their
others.
own
But
does not
arife
from any
fenfe
of beauty
which they
Mr.
other
66
On
this
the
SUBLIME
^
and
we may
fairly
conclude, from
their apparent
thofe objefts
But
man,,
who
is
a CfeMure adapted to a
connefts w^ith
which
di-
and heighten- the appetite which hehas in common with all other animals ;
not defigned like them to live at large, it is fit that he fhould have
and
as
he
is
fomething to create a preference, and fix his choice ; and this in general fhould be
fbme
duce
this
fenlible quality
as
no other can fa
The
objedl therefore of
call love, is
mixed
pafiion
which we
Men
are carried
to the fex in general, as it is the fex, and by the common law of nature ; but they
are
teauty,
beauty a
focial quality ^
for
and
for
BEAUTIF
U L.
67
they, but
fenfe
when
of joy and pleafure in beholding them, (and there are many tliat do fo)
they inipire us with fentiments of tendernefs and affeftion towards their per-^
fbns
;
we
like to
us,
and
we
we
But to what
end, in
I
many
cafes, this
am
unable to difcover
man and
in fo
feveral animals
who
engaging a manner, than between him and fome others who entirely want
this
attraction,
or
pofTefs
it is
it
in
a far
weaker degree.
But
probable, that
providence did not make even this diftinftion, but with a view to fome great
end, though
what
it is,
we
SECT,
68
On
the
SUBLIME
XL
SECT.
SOCIETY
and
SOLITUDE.
THE
this,.
paffions,
that
which adminifters
to fociety in general.
With
regard
Xs>
gives us
no
enjoyment y but abiblute and entire foli" tudey that is, the total and perpetual exclufion
fitive
from
all
pain
as
fociety, is as great a
of abfolute
derably the uneafinefs caufed by the want of that particular enjoyment ; fo that the
ftrongeft fenfations relative to the habi-
of pleafure.
Good company,
lively
con-
verfationsj^
and
verfations,
BEAUTIFUL.
mind with
great pleafure
69
(hip,
fill
the
on the other hand, is temporary folitude itfelf agreeable. This may perhaps prove, that we are creatures defigned for contemplation as well as adtion ; fince folitude as well as fociety has its pleafures ;
as
we may
being,
difcern, that
of folitude
contradifts the
fince
purpofes of our
death
terror.
itfelf is fcarcely
an idea of
more
SECT.
XII.
SYMPATHY, IMITATION,
and
AMBITION.
UNDER
fociety.
this
cated kind, and branch out into a variety of forms agreeable to that variety of ends
The
70
On
the
SUBLIME
XIII.
SECT,
SYMPATHY.
is
IT we
that
by the
are
we
moved
as
can do or
cojifidered
fuffer.
as
a fort of fubftitution,
by
re-
which we
as
other man,
jtpefts
and
is
a,ffe(3:ed
;
in
many
he
afFedled
fion
may
of
thofe
which regard
and
turning upon pain may be a fource of thefublime; or it may turii upon ideas
'
of pleafure; and then, whatever has been faid of the focial affeftions, whether they
regard fociety in general, or only fome
particular
applicable
here.
It is
poetry.
and
BEAUTIFUL.
71
poetry, painting,
transfufe their
and are often capable of grafting a delight on wretchednefs, miIt is a common fery, and death itfelf.
to
another,
the
and
the fource of a
very high fpecies of pleafure. This taken as a fa(fi:, has been the caufe of much
reafoning.
The
fatisfaftion
firfl,
has
been'
commonly
fort
attributed,
in
to the
com-
confidering that fo melancholy a ftory is no more than a fiction ; and next, to the contemplation of
receive
we
our
wc
of
fee reprefented,
tice
am
prac;-
much
too
common
arife
inquiries
of feel-
ings
which merely
natural
frame and
conftitution of our
minds, to certain conclufions of the reata foning faculty on the objefts prefented
F 4
113a
72
us
;
On
the
SUBLIME
it is
com-
monly
SECT.
The
effeds of
jftreffes
XIY.
in the
SYMPATHY
of others.
di-
TO
examine
this
manner,
we muft
are aifedled
previoufly confider,
how we
by the
feelings
of
am
convinced
we
have a
degree of delight, and that no fmall one, in the real misfortunes and pains of
others
;
what
it
will in appearance, if
does not
make
makes us dwell upon them, in this cafe I conceive we muft have a delight or
pleafure
and
pleafure
BEAUTIFUL.
73
much
pleafure as
romances or poems, where the incidents are fiftitious ? The prolperity of no emnor the grandeur of no king, can fo agreeably affed: in the reading, as the
pire,
of
its
much
fable.
is
of Troy does in
if
Our
very
greatly
heightened,
the fufFerer be
links
under an
Scipio
we
are
more deeply
by the violent death of the one, and the ruin of the great caufe he adhered to, than with the deaffedled
lerved triumphs and uninterrupted profperity of the other ; for terror is a paffion
74
it
On
the
SUBLIME
is
paffion
caufe
tion.
Whenever we
formed by na-
ture to any active purpofe, the paffion which animates us to it, is attended with
delight, or a pleafure of
fome kind,
it
let
what
will
and
we
fhould be
delight
paffion
fhun with the greatefl care all and places that could excite fuch perfons a paffion ; as^ fome who are fo far gone in indolence as not to endure imany
ftrong
preffion
acftually
we would
do.
But the
cafe is
mankind
there
is
no
ipeftacle
we
fo
uncomfo
calamity;
that
whether
and
BEAUTIFULr.O
is
it
7^^
with
delight.
This
is
not an
unrnixed
delight,
but
The
ddight we have in fuch things, hinders us from fhunning fcenes of mifery ; and
the pain
we
feel,
prompts us to
relieve
fixffeF;^
who
and
all
this antecedent to
inflindt that v/orks
any reafoning,
us to
its
by an
own
SECT.
Of
is
XV.
the effeds of
TRAGEDY.
In imi-
IT
we
it.
tated diftrefles the only difference i^ the pleafure refulting from the effedls o
imitation
;
for
it is it is
can perceive
an imitation, and
on,
fomewhat
pleafed with
And
we
derive
as
76
as
On
the
SUB LI xME
pleafure
much or more
itfelf
much
if
we
attribute
fatisfadtion in
apthe reality, and the further it proaches removes us from all idea of fiftion, the
no
reaUties.
The
nearer
it
more
perfed:
is
its
power.
But be
its
power of what kind it will, it never apChufe a proaches to what it reprefents. day on which to reprefent the moft fublime and afFeding tragedy we have; appoint the moft favourite adors ; ipare
no
coft
'y
upon
the' fcenes
and .decora-
tions
ered with
expedatlon, let it be reported that a ftate criminal of high rank is on the point of
being executed in the adjoining fquare y a moment the emptinefs of the theatre
would
and
BEAUTIFUL.
7/
and proclaim
the
triumph of the
fimple pain in the reality, yet a delight in the reprefentation, arifes from hence,
that
we do not fufficiently diftinguifh what we would by no means chufe to do, from what we fhould be eager enough to
fee if
it
feeing
We delight in
far
from doing,
of
earthquake, though he fliould be removed himfelf to the greateft diftance from the
But fuppofe fuch a fatal accidanger. dent to have happened, what numbers from all parts would croud to behold the
ruins,
and amongft them many who would have been content never to have (cqh
London
in its
glory
Nor
is it
either in
real
yS
On
the
SUBLIME
I
can difcover nothing apprehend that this miftake is owing to a fort of fophifm, by which we
like
it.
my own mind
I
oixr
do-
general, and
what
If a
is
man
me
with a fword,
alive before the
it is
we fhould
fad;
and yet
it
would be abfurd
to fay, that
our being both living creatures was the caufe of his crime and of my death. So
it is
fhould be out of any imminent hazard before I can take a delight in the
my life
fufi^erings
of others,
real or
a fophifln to
argue from thence, that this immunity is the caufe of my delight either on thefe
or
and
<M"
BEAUTIFUL.
No
one can
79
diftin-
on any
occafions.
of fatisfad:ion in his guifh fuch a caufe own mind I believe ; nay when we do not
any very acute pain, nor are exof our pofed to any imminent danger lives, we can feel for others, whilft we
fuffer
luffer
ourfelves^
when we
fee
are foftened
diftrefles
we which we
;
would accept
in the place
of our own.
SECT.
I
XVI.
IMITATION.
THE
will, a
fociety
defire
imitation,
or,
if
you
of imitating, and confeThis paffion qufently a pleafure in it. arifes from much the fame caufe with
fympathy. For as fympathy makes us take a concern in whatever men feel, fo
this affecflion
8a
On
the
SUBLIME
without any intervention of the reafoning faculty, but folely from our natural
conftitution,
ed in
the objedl, in whatever regards the purIt is by imitation our being. pofes of
far
tliat
we
learn
learn thus
we
but
more
effeftually,
more
pleafantly.
one
men
ftraint to themfelves,
and which
all.
is
exit is
tremely flattering to
that painting and
Herein
many
And
fince
by
its
fipns it is
ind
fhall
BEAUTIFUL.
Si
here venture to lay down a rule, which may inform us with a good degree of certainty when we are to attribute the power of the artSy to imitation,
or to our pleafure in the fkill of the imitator merely, and \Vhen to fympathy, or fome other caufe in conjundtion with it-
When
fire
painting
no de-
of feeing in the
its
then
may be
and
fure that
is
power
in poetry or painting
owing
to the
power
ot imitation,
to no caufe operating in the thing itfelf. So it is with mod of the pieces which the
In thefe a cottage, a dunghill, the meaneft and moft ordinary utenfils of the kitchen, are capable of
painters call
ftill life.
But when the objedt giving us pleafure. of the painting or poem is fuch as we fhould run to fee if real, let it affeft us
fort
of fenfe
it
will,
we
the
may rely upon it, that the power of poem or pidlure is more owing to the
ture of the thing itfelf than to the
na-
mere
effea:
82
efFeft
On
the
SUBLIME
much and
dif-
of imitation, or to a confideratiott of the fkill of the imitator however excelAriftotle has fpoken fo
lent.
fo folidly
upon the
it
force of imitation in
necef-
E C
T.^ XVII.
,A
N.
one of
the great instruments ufed by proin bringing our nature tow^ards vidence
its
ALTHOUGH
imitation
Is
if men gave themfelves perfedion, yet up to imitation entirely, and each followtlie
ed
other,
and
fo
on in an eternal circle,
it is
any improvement amongft them. Men muft remain as brutes do, the fame at the end tliat they are at this day, and that
they were in the beginning of the world. To prevent this, God has planted in man
a fcnfQ
and
ft
BEAUTIFUL,
S^
fenfe
of ambition, and a
fatisfacftion
from the contemplation of his exfellows in fome thing deemed Celling his It is this valuable amongft them. pafarifing
men
to all the
ways
we
man
make
certain
very miferable
that
men
take comfort
;
and
ftinguifh ourfelves
lent,
we
It is
on
;
this
fo prevalent
for
raifes in
man's mind
an idea of a preference
which
on
he has
not.
Now
own
vvhatever either
to raiie
man
fort
a
is
in
his
extremely
to
the
human
mindj
84
On
the
SUBLIME
is
mind; and
this fwelling
never mort
more
force,
than v^hen without danger we are converiant with terrible objedtSj the mind
always claiming to
dignity
itfelf
which
what
glorying and fenfe of inward greatnefs, that always fills the reader of fuch pafas are fublime ; fages in poets and orators
it is
felt
in
SECT,
The
XVIII.
RECAPITULATION.
draw the whole of what has hecn
into
faid
TO
The
few
diftinfl;
points.
which belong to felf-preferpaffions vation, turn on pain and danger; they when their caufes imare
fimply painful mediately affed: us; they are delightflil
when
and
BE
A U T I F U L.
85
when we have an
cumftances
;
have not
call-
on pain, and becaule it is different enough from any Whatever exidea of pofitive pleafure.
ed pleafure, becaufe
turns
cites
tliis
delight,
call
fif./?li?ne.
The-
the ftrongeft of all the paffions. The fecond head to which the paffions
ve
of
referred with
is
relation to
their final
caufe,
fociety.
There
firft
is,
are
two
forts
focieties.
The
and
it
the fociety of
is
fex.
The
called love,
contains a mixture of
is
the beauty of
women.
The
and
other
all
fervient to this
it; has
no mixture of
;
and
its
objed;
i&
beauty
which
is
name
I fliall
apply
refem-.
bjing
86
On
in
the
SUBLIME
love has paffion of
it
is,
bling thefe.
rife
The
its
politive pleafure;
Hke
all
Qbje6l
at the
is
excited in
fame time of having irretrievably This mixed fenfe of pleafure ioft it. I have not called pain^ becaufe it turns
upon
adlual pleafure,
its
and becaufe
it
is
both in
its effedls
of
we have for fociety, to a choice in which we are directed by the pleafure we have in the obNext
to the general paffion
jed:,
the particular
called
paffion
under this
greateft tx-
head
ttvxt.
The
circumftance he
a like
and to
affedl us in
manner ;
may, on
pain or pleafure
tions
As
and
BEAUTIFUL.
faid.
87
As
to imitation
more need be
The
we
are going to
make
I
The paffions
have mentioned are almofl the only ones which it can be neceffary to conlider in
our prefent deiign ; though the variety of the paffions is great, and worthy in every branch of that variety of an attentive inveftigation.
ly
we
fearch into
If a difcourfe
on the
body may
be.confidered as an
hymn
to the Creator;
the ufe of the the paffions, which are organs of the mind, cannot be barren
of
88
of
On
praife
the
SUBLIME
him,
wifdom alone can afford tp a rational mind ; whilft referring to him whatever
find of right, or good, or fair in ourhis and wiffelves, difcovering
we
ftrength
dom
even in our
perfe6tion,
difcover
them
profundity where
we are loft in
we may
may be
admitted, if I
may dare
to fay fo,
Almighty by a
The
eleva-
mind ought
all
to
be the princi-
our ftudies, w^hich if they do not in fome meafure effedl, they are
pal end of
of very
little fervice
to us.
But befides
of the
me very
upoii
who would
affed tliem
and
BEAUTIFU^.
85
upon folid and fare principles. It is jQOt enough to know them in general; to afFedt them after a delicate manner,
or to judge properly of any work deligned to afFel them, we Ihould know
the
exadl
boundaries
;
of their feveral
purfue
juriididions
wc
fhould
them
of operations^ and pierce into the inmoft, and what might appear inacceffibje parts of our
through
all
their variety
nature,
^lod
laiet
Without
all this it
is
pofTible for a
maa
of
his
;
own mind
of the
trutli
his
work
go
by, nor
his
propofitions fuf-
clear
to
others.
Poets,
and
orators,
and
painters,
and thofe
of the
critical
who
liberal
have without
this
knowledge
90
ledge
On
the
SUBLIME
in
their
as
fucceeded well
feveral
among
principles
is,
fo.
Men
often
from
reafon
ple;
their
feelings,
ill
who
right afterwards
ad
but
on them
is
from princito
but as
at
it
impoffible
avoid
an attempt
influence
ly impoffible to prevent
having fome
it
is
on our
pra6lice, furely
worth
juft,
might expedl that the experience. artifts themfelves would have been our
fureft guides
;
We
but the
artifts
have been
occupied in the practice ; the philofophers have done little, and what
too
much
they
have
done,
view to
their
own
ariJBEAUTIFUL.
and
aiB
^p
tliey.
for
thofe
called
critics,
they fought
among poems,
and
pidiures,
engraving^
daft
ftatues
buildings.
But- aft
never give the rules that make an ^ftv This is, I believe, the reafon v/hy aftifts
in general,
have been
circle
;
they^ have
tors
this
and
and
it
i^'
with
fo faithful an uniformity,
tb fo remote
an
antiquity,
that
firft
hard to fay
who
gave the
I
model.
Critics follow
do
can judge but of any thing whilft I meafure poorly it by no other ftandard than itfelf.
little
as
guides.
The
true
ftandard of
the
arts
is
in
every man's
fervation
times of the meaneft things in natuiie,i will give the trueft lights, where the
greateft fagacity
flights
fuch
92
ilich
On
the
SUBLIME
muft leave us
in the
obfervation,
dark, or
what
is
right road.
am
fatisfied
have done
have taken the pains to digeft them, much lefs fhould I have ever ventured
to publifh them, if I v^as not convinced
that nothing tends more to the corruption of fcience than to fuffer it to flagnate.
the furface of
though he may be wrong himfelf, yet he clears the ^yay for others, and
may
In the
following
parts
fhall
what
things they are that caufe in us the affeftions of the fublime and beautiful, as
in this I have confidered the
affedlions
themfelves,
chul
and
that no
BEAUTIFUL.
itfelf
^3
may be
judged of by
the reft;
difpofed
for I
my
The end
S9
[95
A
Philofophical Enquiry
INTO THE
Origin
o
of our
F
Ideas
T HE
Sublime
and
Beautiful,
T
L
SUBLIME.
IL
P A R
SECT.
Of the
paffion caufed
by the
TH
fully,
paffion caufed
by the great
and fublime in nature^ when thofe caufes operate moft powerAftonifliment ; and aftoniifhis
that ftate of the foul, in
ment
all its
is
which
motions are fufpended, with Ibme * In this cafe the degree of horror.
Part I. fed, 3, 4, 7.
mind
96
inind
that
is
On
it
the
SUBLIME
with
its
fo entirely filled
objedty
hj confequence reafon on that objedt Hence arifes the which employs it.
great
far
from
force^
Aftonifhment,
as
have
its
of the fubiime in
higheil degree ; the inferior eflfed:s arc admiration, reverence and refpedl.
^
E C
T.
IL
TERROR.
NO
gard to
paflion fo
mind of
all its
and realbning
as fear.
Whatever
therefore
is
is
terrible,
with re-
fight,
Part 4. Tea. 3, 4, 5, 6.
this
and
this caufe
BEAUTIFOL.
^y
on any thing
as trifling,
or contemptible, that
may
be dangerous.
There
far
are
many
animals,
who though
from being
large,
railing ideas
ferpents
all
menfions, if
we annex an
adventitious
A
is
plain of a vaft
extent on land^
certainly
no mean
idea; the profpeft of fuch a plain may be as extenfive as a prcfped: of the ocean ^
but can
it
ever
This
is
owing
to
is
ov/ing
is*
an objed: of no fmall
ror
is
terror.
Indeed ter-
more
openly
of
tlie
a ftrong
9.8
Ou:
the
SUBLIME
modes of afto-
wondeti
ouSeaj,
tCh:
is
terrible or refpeftable
reverence or to fear.
Ve?yor in latin,
is.
what oAHoiis
ufed
tlie
in
greek.
The Romans
vtthjiupeoy a term which ftrongly marks the ftate of an aftonifhed mind, to exprefs the effect either of limple fear,,
or of aftonifhment
the
word
attonitusy
(thunderftruck) is equally expreffive of the alliance of thefe ideas ; and do not the french
etonnement, and the englifh
aftonifhment
as clearly the
wonder
ral
more gene-
SECT.
and
BEAUTIFUL.
99
SECT.
III.
OBSCURITY.
TO
be
make any
*f-
obfcurity
neceflary.
When
eyes to
when we can
accuf-
tom our
it,
apprchenfion vanifhes.
fenfiblc
of
this,
who
how
how much
the no-*
of ghofts and goblins, of which none can form clear ideas, afFedl minds^
which
concerning fuch
of beings.
Thofe
which are founded defpotic governments, on the paflions of men, and principally their chief upon the pafTion of fear,
keep
as
much as may be from the public eye. The policy has been the fame iri many
t Part
4. fa.
ii a
cafes
too
cafes
Oh' the
SUBLIME
of rehgion. Almoft all the heathen Even in the barbatemples were dark.
rous temples of the Americans at this day, they keep their idol in a dark part of the hut, which is confecrated to his
worfhip. For this purpofe too the druids performed all their ceremonies in the
boforrLof the darkeft woods, and in the
and moft Ipreading oaks. No perfon feems better to have underftood the fecret of heightening, or
fhade,:,
V
of the
oldeft
of fetting
terrible things, if I
may
ufe-
the
by the force of a judicious bbfcurity, than Milton. His defcriptioii of Death in the feexpreffion> in their ftrongeft light
cond book
is
admirably ftudied;
it is
aftonifhing with
and expreffive uncertainty of ftrokes and colouring he has finiihed the portrait of the king of
ligniiicant
terrors.
with what a
nt
other fiape,
If Jhapeit^ Wght he
had none
Umh ;
Or
and
BEAUTIFUL.
be called, that
j
loi
Or fuhjlance migU
Fierce as ten furies
Jhadow feemedy
;
terrible as hell i
And Jhook a
The
deadly dart*
IVhat feemed
his
head
Ukenefs of
kingly
crown had
on.
In this defcrlption
conflifed, terrible,
all is
dark,
uncertain,
laft
degree.
SECT.
Of the difference
and
paffions.
IV.
between
CLEARNESS
to the^
OBSCURITY
with regard
is
ITand another
clear,
the imagination. of a palace, or a temple, or a landfcape, I prefent a very clear idea of thofe objefts
;
jmitation
which
is
fomething)
my
pic-
temple.
102
On
the
SUBLIME
Ipirxted verbal defcription
temple, or landfcape would have affe<3:ed On the other hand, the in the reality.
moft
lively
and
I can give, raifes a very obfcure and imiilea of fuch but then it obje(lts
perfeft
in
';
is
my
tion
by the
by the
conftantly evinces.
The
proper manner
of conveying the affecfions of the mind from one to another, is by words ; there
is
a great infufficiency in
all
other methods
may
be confiderably ope-
rated
at
all,
purpofe
of which
we have
a fufficient
proof in the acknowledged and power-* ful effefts of inftrumental mulic. In reaa great clearnefs helps but little to.wards affeding tlie as it is ia paffions,
lity
foine
and
BEAUTIFUL.
all
103
feme
fort
an enemy to
entliufmfms
^hatfoever.
SECT.
The fame
[IV],
iubjedt continued.
THERE of
art
<li6t
opinion, for which reafon I fhall take a little more pains in clearing
this
it
up.
The
verfes are,
aura
tculis
fuhje^a
fidelibus.
On this
ference
criti-
poetry in
paffions
;
the
article
of
moving
ideas
it
the
principally
on
lent judge was led into this miflake (if his fyflem, to which it be a miftake) by
he found
it
imagine
104
.On
it
the
SUBLIME
found
to experience.
imagine
I
will be
know
feveral
painting,
of their
admiration
are animated
of poetry or rhetoric. ^by afFed-ing pieces Arnong the common fort of people, I never could perceive that painting had
much
'true
influence
on
their paffions.
It is
that the bell forts of painting, as well as the beft forts of poetry, are not
much
is
But
it
mofl
are
popular
in that rank
of
""
life.
do not know of
any paintings, bad or good, that produce the fame efjed:. So that poetry
with
all its
obfcurity, h^s a
more geneother
art.
ral as well as a
And
and
BEAUTIFUL.
when
105
And
why
properly (hould be more affefting than conveyed, It is our ignorance of the clear. things
that caufcs
all
Knowledge and
ac-
quaintance make the moft ftriking caufes afFed but little. It is thus with the vulgar,
the vulgar in what they do not underftand. The ideas of eternity, and infinity, are among the
all
and
men
are as
moft afFeding
there
is
we
derftand fo
nity.
as
of infinity and
eter-^
meet a more
fublime defcription than this juftly celebrated one of Milton, wherein he gives
the portrait of Satan with a dignity fo fuitable to the fubjed.
He
his
not
loji
io6
On
the
SUBLIME
and ih'
excefs
Of glory
Shorn of
new
ris'n
beams
er
from behind
the
moon
In dim
Jheds
On
Perplexes monarchs.
Here
is
and in
what
fun rifmg through mifts, or in an eclipfe, the ruin of monarchs, and the revolutions of kingdoms. ried out of
itfelf,
The mind
is
hur-
by a croud of great and confufed images 5 which affe<ft becaufc they are crouded and confufed. For feparate them, and you lofe
greatnefs,
libly
lofe
much of
the
infal-
The images
raifed
by poetry are always of this obfcure kind y though in general the effefts of
poetry,
are
by no means
it raifes ^
to be attributed
to the images
which point we
iliaU
and
Ihall
BEAUTIFUL.
we have
107
examine more
at large hereafter.
allowed for
fimply even in painting a judicious obfcurity in fome things contributes to the effedl of
the pleaiure of imitation, can only affeft by the images it prefents ; and
the pidure
to thofe in naing are exactly fimilar ture ; and in nature dark, confufed, un-
power oa
the fancy to form thegranderpaffionstlianrthofe have which are more clear and determinate.
fervation
this
ob*
may be
how
ter
jedb,
far it fliall
and from the occafion, than from any rules that can be given. I am fenfible that this idea has met with
oppofition,
and
is
likely
it
ftill
to be rejefted
by
feveral.
But let
be confidered that
hardly any thing can ftrike the mind with its greatnefs, which does not make fomc
ibrt
which
nothing
loS
On
the
SUBLIME
we
but
to
are able to
bounds;
and
to
fee
an
Its
diftindtly,
is
perceive
bounds,
A
for
clear idea
therefore another
name
little
idea.
There
is
a pafTage in the
book of Job amazingly fublime, and this fublimity is principally due to the terrible
uncertainty of the thing defcribed.
In
thoughts from the vifions of the nightj *when deep Jleep faileth upon men, far
my
bones
to Jhake.
paffed before
my
face.
food filly but I could fejh food up. not difcern the form thereof; an image was before mine eyes there was flence ;
It
and I heard a
voice,
-,
Shall mo?^tal
man
he
are iirft premore juft than God? for the pared with the utmoft folemnity
vifion
;
We
we
;
are
firft
terrified,
before
we
emotion
terror
is it
but
when
this
grand caufe of
is it ?
makes
its
appearance, wiiat
not, wrapt
and
BEAUTIFUL.
109
more aweful, incomprehenfible darknefs, more ftriking, more terrible, than the
liveUeft
defcription,
than
the
cleareft
it ?
painting
could
poflibly
reprefent
When
ciful
and
terrible ideas,
they have
think
almoft always failed ; infomuch that J have been at a lofs, in all the pictures I
have fctn of
hell,
as
many
all
the defigns I
have chanced to meet of the temptation^ of St. Anthony, were rather a fort of odd
wild grotefques, than any thing capable of producing a ferious paffion. In all
thefe fubjecfts poetry
apparitions,
its
is
very happy.
its
Its
its
chimeras,
harpies,
allegorical figures,
are grand
and
affedt-
and though Virgil's Fame, and Homer's Difcord, are obfcure, they are
ing
;
magni-
no
On
the
SUBLIME
Thefe
clear
figures
magnificent figures.
painting
fear they
in
would be
enough, but I
might become
ridiculous*
SECT.
V.
POWER.
BESIDES
thefe things which di^ the idea of danger, reclly fiiggeft and thofe which produce a fimilar effedt
caufe, I
is
from a mechanical
of power.
as
know of nobranch
rifes
And
as naturally
the other
two branches,
from
terror, the
is
thing that
at
firft
of thefe
indifferent ones,
long to pain or to pleafure. But in reathe affedlion arifing from the ideality,
of vaft power,
that
is
* Part
fe<a.
7.
in
and
in
its
BEAUTIFUL.
is
iit
ftronger
higheft degree,
much
than the higheft degree of pleafure ; and that it preferves the fame fuperiority
through all the fubordinate gradations. From hence it is, that where the chances
for equal degrees
of fuffering or enjoy-
ment
of
the fuffering muft always be prevalent* And indeed the ideas of pain, and above
all
of death, are
whilft
we
ever
is
be per-
fe<fUy free
from
terror.
Again,
we know
by experience, that for the enjoyment of no great efforts of power are at pleafure,
all
neceflary
nay
we know,
:
that fuch
efforts
ftroying
for
pleafure
ftolen, and not forced upon us; pleafure follows the will ; and therefore we are generally affedled with it by many
muft be
things of a force greatly inferior to our own. But pain is always inflifted by a
power
112.
On
In
the
SUBLIME
and
terror,
power
fome way
flrength,
violence, pain
are
Look
at a
will be fubfervient to you, to your eafe, to j-our pleafure, to your intereft in any fenfe ?
No; the emotion you feel is, left this enormous ftrength fhould be employed ta the purpofes of :-^ rapine and deftrudlion.
That power
companied,
its efFed:
it
fublimity from
generally ac-
it is
in the
which
ability
Vv^hen you do
this,
it
itof every
Vide Part
3.
k^, 2U
and
aftd
BEAUTIFUL.
all
113
not at
grand.
ftrength
A
is
bull
is
ftrong too
;
but his
of another kind
often very
amongft us) of any ufe in our bufinefs ; the idea of a bull is therefore great, and it has frequently a place in fublime defcriptions, and eleLet us look at anovating comparifons. ther ftrong animal in the tv^o diftindt
lights in
deftruitive,
feldom
(at leaft
for
the plough, the road, the draft, in every focial ufeful light the horfe has nothing of
the fublime
afFe<fted
but
is
it
thus that
is
we
are
cloathed
nojirils
fwallo^d)eth the ground with Jiercenefs and rage^ neither believeth that it is the found of the trumpet F la
terribky
this
defcription
the horfe entirely difappears, and the terrible and fublime blaze out together.
We have
a ftrength
114
On
the
SUBLI ME
is
a ftrength that
pernicious.
confiderable,
thefe
:
but not
never
Amongft
fublime
we
comes
it
on us in the
the
gloomy
foreft,
upand in
howling wildernefs,
lion,
in
the
form
of the
only ufeful, and employed for our benefit or our pleafure, then it is never fublime ;
ftrength
for nothing can a6t agreeably to us, that
rhinoceros.
Whenever
is
does not aft in conformity to our will ; but to ad: agreeably to our will> it muft
be fubjed: to us and therefore can never be the caufe of a grand and commanding conception. The defcription of the
-,
wild
afs, in
Job,
is
worked up
into
no
on
at
and
his fetting
mankind
diL^ellings,
cor He f net h
the multitude
of
the
--i-^
and
BEAUTIFUL.
The
115
the city^ neither regardeth he the voice of the driver, 'The range of the mountains
is his
of the fame heightWill the unicorn ening circumftances. bf willing to ferve thee? canji thou bind
the unicorn with his band in the
furrow I
great f'-CanJi thou draw out /?viathan with an hook ? will he make a
is
for a fervant for ever ? Jhall not one be cajl down even at the fght of hhn ? In
fhort, wherefoever
we find ftrength, and in what light foever we look upon power, we fhall all along obferve the fublime the
and innoxious.
The
degree of ftrength
and fwiftnefs; and and other valuable quagreatly to our Dogs are in-
deed
'ri6
On
the
SUBLIME
foclal,
afFedlionate,
and
much nearer to
we
carefs dogs,
we
borrow from them an appellation of the moft defpicable kind, when we employ
terms of reproach
the.
-,
and
this appellation is
laft
common mark
of the
vilenefs
and contempt in every language. Wolves have not more ftrength than feveral fpecies
of dogs
unmanageable fiercenefs, the idea of a wolf is not defpicable ; it is not excluded from grand defcriptions and
tudes.
fimili-
Thus we
is
are aifefted
by ftrength,
which
which
natu7'al
power.
The power
and
arifes
from
inftitution in kings
commanders, has the fame conned:ion with terror. Sovereigns are frequently
addrefled with
it
title
oi dread
that
majejiy.
And
may
be obferved,
young perfons
little
who
acquainted with the world, and have not been ufed to approach men
in
and
in
BEAUTIFUL.
takes
117
awe which
of their
feat
in
away the
free
ufe
faculties.
When I
prepared my
young men faw me, and hid themfehes. Indeed fo natural is this timidity with re-
gard to power, and fo ftrongly does it inhere in our conftitution, that very few
are able to conquer
it,
but by mixing
much
know fome
people
no awe, no degree
of
can contemplate the idea of God himI felf without any fuch emotion. puravoided when I iirft conlidered this pofely
fubjedt,
to
ample
though
in
it
ter.
ii8
ter.
On^thc
I hope, in
SUBLIME
what
for
I
am
any
going to
mortal
I
fay,
it
fliall
avoid
prefumption, where
is
ahnofl inipoffible
to
fpeak then,
with
that
ftricfl
propriety.
fay
whilft
as
we
he
conlider
is
the
Godhead merely
of
a
the
an
objedl
which
forms
wifdom,
juftice, goodnefs,
ftretched to a de-
bounds of our
comprehenfion, whilft we confider the divinity in this refined and abftradled light,
the imagination and paffions are nothing affeded. But becaufe
afcend
little
ol
we
are
to
pure and intelleftual ideas, through the medium of fenfible images, and to judge of thefe divine
thefe
qualities
tions, it
by their evident acSs and exer-^ becomes extremely hard to difare led to
by which we
and
know
it.
the Deity,
operation
coming
ynited
and
united,
fible
BEAUTIFUL.
irg
-Now, though
of
to
far
his
predominant, yet our imagination, his power is by Some reflethe moft ftriking.
attributes are
<Mon, ibme comparing is neceffary to fahis juftice, and tisfy us of his wifdom,
his
goodnefs
it is
to
power,
fhould open
we we
contemplate fo vaft an objed:, under the arm, as it were, of almighty power, and inverted upon every fide with omnipre-
we our own
fence,
fome meafure our apprehen(ions ; yet no conviction of the juftice with which it is exercifed, nor the
it
is
tempered,
can
wholly
ISO
On
the
SUBLIME
we
wholly remove the terror that naturally arifes from a force which nothing can
withftand.
If
we
rejoice,
rejoice
we
of fuch mighty importance. When the prophet David contemplated the wonders
which
are
man, he
of divine
with a
fort
am I made
An
it
fentiment
race looks
of a
fiipilar
Ho-r
upon
as
the
laft effort
of
etJlelUts^
Lucretius
and
Lucretius
is
BEAUTIFUL.
121
ma-
of his philofophy, his tranf^iort on this magnificent view which he has rethe colours of fuch bold prefented in and lively poetry, is overcaft with a fhadc
of
feeret dread
and horror.
His
tibl
mi
rettdfa.
But the
jedl.
is
In
God
up
to heighten
the
of the divine prefence. The pfalms, and the prophetical books, are crouded
^ith inftances of
this kind.
The earth
Jbook
122
On
at
is
the
SUBLIME
alfo
dropped
the
prefence
of the Lord.
And what
remarkable,
fuppofed defcending to take vengeance upon the wicked, but even when he exerts the like plenitude of
is
when he
to
man-
Tremble, thou earth ! at the prefence of the Lord-, at the prefence of the
were
endlefs to enumerate
the palTages both in the facred and prdfane writers, which eftablifh the general fentiment of mankind, concerning
the. infeparable
verential awe,
vinity.
This
it
is,
maxim may
falfe
be,
as
believe
with regard to the origin of reliThe maker of the maxim faw gion.
how
and
BEAUTIFUL.
i2j
how
out confidering that the notion of fomc great power mufl: be always precedent to
our dread of
it.
But
diis
when
It
is
it
is
on
has, and
mufl
of falutary fear ; and that falfe religions have generally nothing elfe but fear to
fupport them.
ligion had, as
re-*
idea
of the
divinity,
and
brought
it
fomewhat nearer
little
faid
The
other writers
whether poets or
all.
philofophers, nothing at
And
they
who
tion,
confider with
what
infinite atten-
it
is,
any
124
Oft
the
SUBLIME
is
any man is able to attain an entire love and devotion to the Deity, will eafily
perceive,
that
it
not
the
firft,
the
tnoft natural,
feft
ftriking ef-
which proceeds
traced
from
that idea.
its
Thus we have
feveral
all,
power through
higheft
of
where our imagination is finally loft; and we find terror quite throughout the progrefs,
far
as as
its
infeparable
comit,
as
we
can poffibly
is
trace
them.
Now
power
undoubtedly a capi-
tal fource
whence
its
clafs
energy of ideas
we ought
SECT.
and
BEAUTIFUL.
125
SECT,
VL
PRIVATION.
ALL
cutty,
general privations
are
great,
;
all terrible
Va--
Darknefsy
Solitude
and
Silence.
With what
with what
a fire
feverity
all
Virgil amaffed
circiimftances
the images of a
unlocks the fecrets of the great deep, he feems to be feized with a religious horror,
and
to
retire
aftonifhed
defign.
at
the
boldnefs of his
own
Et
Sit mihi
fas audita
loqui / Jit
et
numine vejiro
caligine mer/as /
126
On
the
SUBLIME
umbram,
et
inania regnct,
The gliding
ghofis^
and
O Chaos hoar J
.
around;
tell
of
helli
fecrets to difplay^
From
^
-
of darknefs
to the
day.
Pitt.
fliades that
kd
DRYDEbf,
SECT.
i^ BEAUTIFUL.
..&1C
T.
VII.
iajt
VASTNESS.
GREATNESS powerful caufe
This
too
it
is
of dimenfion,
is
of the fublime.
ways
of
ing
effed:.
For
than
fion
it is is
Of thefe
an hun-
dred yards of even ground will nevet work fuch an effed: as a tower an hun-
am
is
apt to imagine
lefs
grand
tliaa
Part 4. fca. 9.
depth;
I2a
depth
;
On
the
SUBLIJVfeE
we
are
and that
more
ftruck at
looking
down from
a precipice, than at
perpendicular has more force in forming the fublime, than an inclined plane } and the effefts of a rugged and brokerr
out of our
way
to enter in this
place into
field
of
ipeculation.
Plowever,
it
may
not be
amifs to add to thefe remarks upon magnitude ; that, as the great extreme of
dimenfion
is
fublime,
is
fo
the
lail
ex-
treme of littlenefs
lime likewife
infinite
;
in
when we
life
divifibility
of matter,
when we
purfue animal
fmall,
and yet organized beings, that efcape the niceft inquifition of the fenle,^* when we pufh our difcoveries yet down-
ward,
many
and
BEAUTIFUL.
129
ftill
many
diminifhing fcale of exiftence, in tracing which the imagination is loft as well as the
fenfe,
confound;
ed
at the
wonders of minutenefs
this
nor can
we
of
diftinguifh in
littlenefs
extreme
from the
vaft itfelf.
For
ad-
divifion
muft be
becaufe
infinite as well as
dition
unity can no
that of
more be
than
to
which
SECT.
VIII.
INFINITY.
ANOTHER
is
infinity
belong to the
laft.
dency to fill the mind with that fort of delightful horror, which is the moft
genuine
lime.
efl^eft,
and
trueft teft
of the fub-
There
which
can
130
On
the
SUBLIMfi
can become the objefts of our fenfes that are really, and in their own nature infi-
But the eye not being able to perceive the bounds of many things, they
nite.
feem to be
infinite,
fame
effefts
as if
We are deceived in
the parts of fome large objed are fo continued to any indefinite number, that the
imagination meets no check which may hinder its extending them at pleafure.
any idea frequently, the mind by a fort of mechanifm repeats it long after the firft caufe
repeat
Whenever we
After whirling has ceafed to operate *. about ; when we fit down, the objects
about us
ftill
feem to whirl.
After a
long fuccefilon of
of
hammers,
in the imagination long after the firfl founds have ceafed to affcd: it ; and they
die
away
at laft
* Part
4. k6t,
12.
fcarcely
and
BEAUTIFUL,
131
fcarcely perceptible.
ftrait
If you hold up a
with your eye to one end, it will feem extended to a length almoft
pole, incredible.
Place
number of
uni-
form and equidiftant marks on this pole, they will caufe the fame deception, and
feem multiplied without end. The fenfes ftrongly affedted in fome one manner,
cannot quickly change their tenor, or adapt themfelves to other things ; but
they continue in their old channel until the ftrength of the firft mover decays.
This
is
frequent in
madmen
nights, fometimes
whole
fome
which
difor-
their fpirits,
reafon, continues
it
to the
E C T,
132
On
S
the
SUBLIME
T.
IX.
E C
SUCCESSION
and
UNIFORMITY.
the
artificial inis
Succejjion
which
requifite
fo long,
fi-e-
may
be continued
quent impulfes on the fenfe to imprefs the imagination with an idea of their
progrefs beyond their actual limits.
2.
Uniformity ; becaufe if the figures of the parts fhould be changed, the imagination at every change finds a check
.
you
termination of one idea, and the beginning of another ; by which means it be-
comes impoffible
terrupted progreffion,
;
ftamp on bounded objects the charadler of infinit)^ J It is in this kind of artifiJ Mr. Addifon, in the Spectators concerning the pleafures of the imagination, thinks it is, becaufe in the rotund at one glance you fee half the building.
This
real caufe.
cxal
and
ficial
BEAUTIFUL.
I
133
infinity,
believe,
why
we
a boundary ; turn which way you will, the fame objedl ftill feems to continue, and the imagination
no where
has no
reft.
But the
parts
muft be uni-
form
well as circularly diipofed, to give this figure its full force ; becaufe any
ras:
difference,
whether
it
highly prejudicial to
commencing
a ne>v
feries.
On
and
the fame
principles of
fuccefilon
temples,
which were
generally oblong forms, with a range of uniform pillars on every, fide, will be
eafily
accounted
for.
From
the fame
cauf^ alfo
fed;
may be
ifles
of the
in
old
cathedrals.
134
On
the
SUBLIME
of a crofs ufed in
to
cathedrals.
The form
me not fo ehgible,
j
of the ancients
at
imagine
butiide.
crofs every
way
equal, if
you ftand
in a
than
it
is,
you
from a confiof
its
a^ual
length ; and to prevent all poffibility of ^rogreffion, the arms of the crofs taking
a new
make
the imagination from the repetition of the former idea. Or fuppofe the fpeftator
placed where he may take a dired: view of fuch a building ; what will be the confe-
the neceflary confequence will be, that a good part of the balls of each
quence
broken
and
broken
BE-AUTIFUI<.
A.
V^
C>
135
unconnefted figure j the lights muft be unequal, here ilrong, and there
;
weak
without
tliat
noble gradation,
which the
on
whate\'er view you take it. I exemplified them in the Greek crofs in which thefe
faults
but they
o|"
appear
croffes.
fprne
degree in
is
all^rlorts
Indeed there
nothing more
yious in
to an
Jft^^
ordinate thirft for variety, which, wheni^ ever it prevails, is fure" to leave very little
jjxue tafte.
JC
E C
Ti
136
On
the
SUBLIME
X.
SECT.
Magnitude
in
BUILDING.
TO
nity.
of dimenfion feems requifite^ for on a few parts, and thofe fmall, the imarife to
gination cannot
any idea of
infi-
No
greatnefs in the
manner can
no danger
caution
effeftually
proper dimenfions.
There
is
of drawing
men
5
by
this rule
it
own
along with
Becaufe too great a length in buildings deftroys the purpofe of greatnefs which it was intended to promote ;
it.
it
in height as
it
at
laft to
a point turning the whole figure into a fort of triangle, the pooreft in its
of almoft any figure, that can be I have ever obprefented to the eye.
cffedt
and avenues of
trees
and
trees
BEAUTIFUL.
^37
of a moderate length, were without comparifon far grander, than when they were fufFered to run to immenfe diftances.
by eafy methods.
Defigns that are vaft only by their di* menfions, are always the fign of a com-
imagination.
it
No work
deceives
;
of
to
be otherwife
only.
good eye
medium
fame objedlion lies againft both), and a fhort or broken quantity ; and per(for the
of any
art.
SECT.
13$
On
the
SUBLIME
XL
OBJECTS.ri
SECT,
.
INFINITY
In pleafing
TNFINITY,
JL. caufes
much of pur
images.
The
feafons
;
fpring
is
the pleafanteft
of the
and the young of moil animals, though far from being compleatly fafliioned, afford
more agree-
grown ; be-
is
entertained with
Ae promife
me
juft
beyond the
beft finifhing
and
I
this I
believe proceeds
have
now
affigned.
SECT.
and
BEAUTIFUL.
139
SECT.
D
**
XIL
F F
C U L^;^^^
any
feenas
to have required immenfe force and lav hour to efFeft it, the idea is grand. Stonenor ornahenge, neither for dilpofition ment, has any thing admirable; but
huge rude maffes of ftone, fet on end, and piled each on other, turn the mind on the immenfe force neceflary for
thofe
fuch a work.
Nay
work
vance;
fort
for
dexterity produces
another
of
effed:
which
is
different
enough
from
this.
Part 4. fea. 4, 5, 6.
SECT.
140
On
the
SUBLIME
XIII.
SECT.
MAGNIFICENCE.
yi/TAgnificence is llkewlfe a fource of -^ '-^ the fublime. great profu^on of things which are Iplendid or
valuable
in
themfelves,
is
magnificent.
it
The
ftarry heaven,
though
occurs fo
very frequently to our vievi^, never fails to excite an idea of grandeur. This cantiot
ftars
themfelves, feparately
The
appearance of care is highly contrary to our ideas of magnificence. Befides, the ftars
lye in fuch apparent confufion, as
makes it
them.
tedi^
and
ted
;
BEAUTIFUL.
141
becaufe,
is
a profufion of excellent
things
much
all ufe,
difficulty
and, becaufe in
many
to in
would deftroy
moft of the works of art with the greats eft care ; belides it is to be confidered,
that unlefs
ance of infinity by your diforder, you will have diforder only without magnificence.
There
are,
however, a
fort
of fireworks,
and fome other things, that in this way fucceed well, and are truly grand. There
are alfo
many
defcriptions
in the poets
their fublimity to
herence and agreement of the allufions, which we fhould require on every other
occafion.
I
do
not
now remember
this,
more
ftriking
example of
is
than the
s
defcription
army
which
142
On
the
SUBLIME
with the wind
bathed
.*
All furhtjhed^
all in arms.,
Baited like
eagles
having
lately
As full of fpirit
And gorgeous
Wanton
as the
fun
in
Midfummery
hulls.
I fawyoung Harry
with
his heaver
on
from
the clouds
fiery Pegafus,
In that
excellent
book
fo
remarkable for
w^ell as
example of the point before us. How was he honoured in the 77iidjl of the
!
He
a
the
was
as the inorning
far
in the midjl
of
cloudy
and
High,
and
BEAUTIFUL.
:
143
light in
and as
theflower of rofes
fummer ; as fire and incenfe in the and as a vejfel of gold fet with
;
precious fiones
When, he put on the robe of honour y and was clothed with the when he went up to perfeBion of glory y
eth up to the clouds. the holy altar y he made the garment of ho^
linefs
honourable.
He
hearth of the altar compafjed with his bre-^ thren round abouty as a young cedar in
him about.
in their gloryy
and the
&c.
oblations
of the
Lord in
their hands y
SECT.
J44
On
the
SUBLIME
XIV.
SECT.
LIGHT.
HAVING
far as
confidered extenfion, fo
it is
of
greatnefs
confideration.
light.
All colours
depend on
Light therefore ought previoufly to be examined, and with it, its opposite,
darknefs.
it
to
make
bare faculty of
fhewing other
objedls.
common
preflion
a thing to
on the mind,
But fuch
im-
mediately exerted on the eye, as it overpowers the fenfe, is a very great idea. Light of an inferior ftrength to this, if
it
celerity,
has the
feme
and
BEAUTIFUL.
for lightning
is
145
certainly
fame powers
darknefs, or
from darknefs
effedl.
to light>
has
is
yet a
greater
But darknefs
more productive of fublime ideas than Our great poet was convinced light.
of
this
;
and indeed
fo
full
was he of
with the
this idea,
fo entirely poffeffed
darknefs, that,
jedl provokes
fide,
him
to
he
is
far
rity
henfible of
cvcu
146
even
On
the
SUBLIME
th^ the
di-^
vine prefence ; a light which by its very excefs is converted into a fpecies of darknefs.
Dark with
Here is an
degree,
juft*
but
and philofophically
Extreme
light,
by overcoming the
all objects,
fo
dark-
fun,
After looking for fome time at the two black Ipots, the impreffion
it
which
eyes.
leaves,
feem
Thus
are
two
ideas as oppofite as
can be imagined reconciled in the extremes of both ; and both in fpite of their
nature brought to concur in And this is producing the fublime.
oppofite
op-*
pofite
and
poCite
BEAUTIFUL.
147
extremes operate equally in favoui' of the fublime, V/hich in all things ab*
hors mediocrity.
SECT.
Light in
the
XV*
BUILDING;
light
is
AS
lure,
management of
it is
worth enquiring,
how
far thi3
remark
is
of the fublime, ought ra-^ ther to be dark and gloomy, and this for
two
itfelf
reafons
the
firft
is,
that darknefs
on other occafions
is
known by exfecond
is,
The
that
to
objedl very
it
ftriking,
we
have
as
different as poflible
objedls
with which
We
148
On
the
SUBLIME
caii-
therefore
not pafs into a greater light than you had in the open air ; to go into one fome few
degrees
trifling
lefs
luminous,
;
change
but to
make
the tranfi-
from the
nefs as
is
greateft light, to as
much
dark-
conliilent
chitefture.
At
fame reafon
is
then
illu-
# S C T.
JUid
BEAUTIFUL.
XVI.
149
SECT.
COLOUR
confidered
as
the S
UBLI
M E.
produdtive of
AMONG
ftrong red
or cheerful,
(except
perhaps
which
is
is
dark and gloomy ; the cloudy Iky is more grand than the blue ; and night more
iJLiblime
in hiftorical painting,
or gaudy
: drapery, can never have a happy effeft and in buildings, when the higheft de-
is
intended, the
ma-
and ornaments ought neither to be white, nor green, nor yellow, nor blue,
nor qf a pale red, nor videt, nor fpotted, but of fad and fufcous colours, as black,
or brpwn, or deep purple, and the like.
Much
150
On
the
SUBLIME
Much
linie.
need not be put in practice, except where an uniform (Jegree of th? moft ftriking fublimity is to be prorule
This
for
ought to be obferved, that this melancholy kind of greatnefs, though it be certainly the higheft,
in
all forts
of
edifices,
;
fublimity muft be drawn from the other fources ; with a ftridt caution however
againft
any
tiling light
and
riant
as
no-
SEC
SOUND
T.
XVIL
and
LOUDNESS.
THE
fioii
eye
is
may be
produced.
Sounds have a
great
and
great
BEAUTIFUL.
in thefe
as
151
power
I
in
moft other
paffions.
words do not afFedt fimply by their founds, but by means altogether different. Exceflive loudnefs alone is fufficient to over-
power the
to
fill it
foul, to
fufpend
its
adtion,
and
with
terror.
The
noife of vaft
awakes a great and aweful fenfation in the mind, though we can obfervQ
tillery,
no nicety or
fie.
of
mu-
The
and
hurry of the mind, the befl eflablifhed tempers can fcarcely forbear being born
in the
common
cry,
common
1.4
SECT.
152
On
the
SUBLIME
XVIII.
SECT.
SUDDENNESS.
A
force,
cef-
has the fame power. The attention is roufed by this ; and the faculties
driven forward, as
it
Whatever
makes the
either
tranfition
the other eafy, caufes no terror, and confequently can be no caufe of greatnefs.
In every thing fadden and unexped:ed, we are apt to ftart ; that is, we have a perception of danger, and our nature roufes
us to guard againft
it.
It
may be
obferved,
of fome ftrength,
if repeated
has a grand effeft. Few things are more aweful than the ftriking of a great clock, when the filence of the
and
too
laid
BEAUTIFUL.
153
much
diffipated.
of a fingle ftroke on a drum, repeated with paufes ; and of the fucceffive firing
of cannon
at
a diftance
this fedtion
all
the effefts
mentioned in
nearly alike.
SECT.
XIX.
INTERMITTING.
AL
is
O W,
tremulous,
it
intermitting
found, though
feems in fome
mentioned,
It is
produftive
of the fublime.
this a little.
worth
fadl
while to examine
itfelf
The
muft
be
determined
by every
I
man's
own
experience, and
refleftion.
thing
elfe
it
is
when
to us,
we do
not
to fear the
Sea.
and
154
On
that
the
UBLIME
and hence
rible,
it is,
we
that
at the
Now
founds,
us in
the
fam^
anxiety
concerning their caufes, that no light, or an uncertain light does concerning tha pbjefts that furround us,
lights
doth fade
away
Or as
the
cloudy night
Dothjbew
S?NSER.
But a light now appearing, and now leaving us, and fo off and on, is even more
terrible
than
total darknefs
and a
fort
of
when
the neceffary
a total filence,
EC
T.
and
BEAUTIFUL.
E C
of
155
T.
XX.
The
cries
ANI
MAL
S.
of men, or any animals in pain or danger, are capable of conveying great ideas ; unlefs it be the well known voice of fome creature, on
inarticulate voices
SUCH
which we
Hinc exaudiri
Fincia recufantuniy
Savlrf
et
forma magnorum
ululare luporum*
might feem that thefe modulations of found carry fome connexion with the naIt
156
ral cries
On
the
SUBLIME
have not been ac-
mals with
whom we
of language.
The
modifications of
found, which
fublime,
may be
produdtive of the
infinite.
are almoft
Thofe
have mentioned, are only a few inftances to fhew, on what principle they are all
built.
SECT.
SxMELL
and
and
xxr.
C'MELLSy
a fmali one,
its
have fome
;
but
it is
weak
in
its
nature,
ihall
and
confined in
operations.
obferve, that
no fmells or
taftes
and
intolerable
flenches.
It is
and
tafte,
BEAUTIFUL.
157
they are in their full force, and lean diredUy upon the fenfory, are
when
fimply painful, and accompanied with no fort of delight ; but when they are moderated, as in a defcription or narrative,
they become fources of the fublime as genuine as any otiier, and upon the very
pain.
"
A
of
"
**
cup
" Sodom."
ideas fuitable
is
to a fublime defcription.
Nor
this
paf-
without fublimity, where fage of Virgil the flench of the vapour in Albunea confo happily with the facred horror fpires
forefl.
fub
alia
Acheron
158
On
is
the
SUBLIME
not forget, nor does it at all difagree with the other images amongft
Acheron
which
it is
introduced.
immanis hiatu
i have
added thefe examples^ bec^ufe fome friends, for whofe judgment I have
great deference, were of opinion, that if the fentiment flood nakedly by itfelf, it
would be
would
fubjeift
at firft
;
view to burI
but this
imagine
mean and contemptible ideas> with which It mufl be owned they are often united;
fuch ah union degrades the fublime in all But other inflances as well as in thofe^
it is
one of the
tefls
is
by which the
fubli-
mity of an image
to be tried, not
whether
^d BEAUTIFUL.
tlier
it
159
affociated
but whether,
when
united with images of an allowed grandeur, the whole compofition is fupported with dignity. Things which are terrible
but when things poffefs dilagreeable qualities, or fuch as have indeed fome degree of danger, but of a
are always great
';
danger
eafily
iodiousy as
SECT.
F E E L
I
XXII.
G.
PAIN.
OF
frefh
Feeling little more can be faid, than that the idea of bodily pain^
in all the
pain>
anguifh,
is
productive of the
fublime
and nothing elfe in this kni^ can produce it. I need not give here any
given in die former fedlions abundantly illuftrate a reinftances, as
thofe
mark, that
in reality
i6o
On
the
SUBLIME
made by
every
tention to nature, to be
body.
caufes of
all
reference to
the
my
lirft
be found very nearly true ; that the fublime is an idea belonging to felf-prefervation.
That
affedling
is
it
is
therefore
one of the
its
moil
we
have.
That
ftrongeft
emotion
that no
-f
belongs to
fides thofe
an emotion of
them.
Sedfugit
Singula
interea^ fugit irrevocabile tempuSy capti
dum
circumve^famur amove.
t Vide
fed. 6. part i.
PART
I^I
A
Philofophical Enquiry
INTO THE
Origin
o
of our Ideas
F
T H E
Sublime
and
Beautiful.
IIL
PART
S
E C
T,
L
Y.
Of B E
is
A U T
my
IT
diftinguifhed
in the courfe
mine how
far
But previous to this, we muft take a fhort review of the opinions already entertained of
this
quality
which
I think are
ciplcs
i62
ciples
;
On
the
SUBLIME
men
are ufed to talk of
is
becaufe
to
manner extremely
uncertain,
I
and
indeterminate.
By beauty
love, or
mean, that
by
fome
paiTion
to
the
merely
of
of preferving the
a
fubjed:
utmoft
fimplicity
in
which
muft always
diftraft us,
whenever
we
not from the dired: force v/hich they have merely on being viewed. I likewife diftinguifh love,
tisfaftion
by which
arifes to
which
may
an
be,
from
which
the mind,
pofleffion
that
of certain
that
do
by
other
animals,
though it caufes love, yet excites nothing at all of defire. Which fhews that beauty,
and the paffion caufed by beauty, which I call love, is diiTerent from dethough defire may fometimes opealong with it ; but it is to this latter
fire,
rate
that
we
and
tempefl:uous pallions, and the confequent emotions of the body which attend what
is
called love in
fome of
its
ordinary
ac-*
ceptations,
effects
of beau**
ty merely as
fuch.
SECT.
in
II.
BEAUTY
been
faid to
VEGETABLES.
ufually
EAUTY hath
confift
in
certain
proportions
of
parts.
i64
parts.
On On
the
SUBLIME
do y and
it
and imagination. It is not by the force of long attention and enquiry that we
find
ing
is
unconcerned ; the
appearance of beauty as effedlually caufes fome degree of love in us, as the application of ice or
fire
heat or cold.
To
were well to examine, what proportion is ;. fince feveral who make ufe of that
word,
to under-
nor
to
diftinft
itfelf.
ideas
con-
Proportion is the
and
BEAUTIFUL;
is
165
Since
.
quantity
divifible, it is
evident that
v^hich any quanevery diftindt part into is divided, muft bear fome relation
tity
to
the
other parts
relations
or
to
the w^hole.
Thefe
give
an origin to the
idea of proportion.
They
are difcover-
ed by menfuration, and they are the obof mathematical enquiry. But whejedls
ther any part of any determinate quanbe a fourth, or a fifth, or a fixth, tity
or whether
it
be of equal length w4th any other part, or double its length, or but one half, is
a matter merely indifferent to the
it
mind ;
it is
and
from
and tran-
quility
fpeculations derive
fome of
;
their
moft
is
confiderable advantages
becaufe there
nothing to intereft the imagination ; becaufe the judgment fits free and unbiaffed to
All pro-
is
j66
is
On
the
SUBLIME
from alh
frorn
fame truths
greater,
irom
inequality.
belonging to menfuration;
any
thing to
If
metry.
had,
we might
then point
put fome
certain
meafures which
we
whofe beauty
we
have
happy and confirm the voice qf our ftandard, the determination of our reapaflions by
fon.
fenfe, to this
But
us fee
lince
we have
let
any
fenfe be confidered
the caufe of
beauty,
frorn
it
power
either
f^me natural
properties inherent in
pertain meafures,
and
nically;
BEAUTIFUL.
167
from the operation of cuftom; or from the fitnefs which fome meafures
have to anfwer fome particular ends of
conveniency.
to enquire,
Our
bufinefs therefore
is
whether the parts of thofe objedts which are found beautiful in the
vegetable or animal kingdoms, are conjftantly
fo
tain meafures, as
may
ferve to fatisfy us
that their beauty refults from thofe meafures, on the principle of a natural me^
chanical caufe
fine,
;
or from cuftom
or in
nate purpofes.
heads in
tlieir
But before
it
proceed further, I
hope
lay
the rules v/hich governed me in this enquiry, and which have mifled
down
in
it
me
effedt
on the mind, and on examination they are found to agree in fome of their the properties, and to differ in others;
common
t6^
On
the
SUBLIME
be attributed to the
common
efFeft is to
and not
Npt
to
account for the effed: of a natural objed from the effed pf an artificial objed.
3.
Not
concerning its ufes, if a natural eaufe may be affigned. 4. Not to admit any determinate quantity, or relation of
reafon
any of a cerr
and yet the effed: may not be produced. Thefe are the rules which
may
exiff,
examin-
them
juft,
carry with
difcuffion
^
him throughout
whilft
the following
firft
we
enquire in the
place,
lity
in
what
things
we
of beauty; next,
to fee
whether in
thefe.
and
jhefe,
BEAUTIFUL.
169
can find any affignable proportions, in fuch a manner as ought to convince us, that our idea of beauty refults
we
from them.
We
it
ihall
confider
this
pleaiing power, as
appears in vegeta-
and
in
man.
we
as flowers
they are turned and fafliioned into an infinite varietj^ of forms ; and
;
from
thefe forms,
their names,
botanifts
have given
them
which
are almoft as
various.
What
proportion do
we
difco-
between the
does the
leaves
and the
of
How
it
fljsnder flalk
which
that
bends
;
is
a beauti-
ful flower
it
and can
does not
we owe a
the
it
grows upou
a fmall
ijo
On
the
SUBLIME
it
a fmall fhrub ;
is
tlie
yet the rofe and the apple bloifom are both beautiful, and the plants that
tree
bear
them
are
moft engagingly
this
attired
more
beautiful
objed:
than an orange
its
tree, flourifhing at
its
once with
fruit
?
leaves,
it
is
bloflbms, and
its
but
in
fearch here for any proportion between the height, the breadth, or
vain that
we
any thing elfe concerning the dimenfions of the whole, or concerning the relation
of the particular parts to each other.
grant that
I
we may
obferve
in
many
The
and
fuch a difpofition of
oblique view,
petals
but in an
is
when
loft,
it
this figure
in a
good meafure
ty 3 the rofe
leaves confounded,
is
beaube-r
forg
and
fore
it
BEAUTIFUL.
171
is
fore this
is
not the only inftance wherein method and exadnefs, the foul of proportion, are
SECT.
in
Ill,
BEAUTY
ANIMALS.
THAT
Is full
proportion has but a fmall fhare in the formation of beauty. as evident among animals. Here
the
greatefl: variety
of
fliapes,
fitions
fitted,
this idea.
tifiil
The
allow that
But then
longer than
the
172
tlie
On
?
the
SUBLIME
reft
together
vary infinitely from each of thefe ftandards, and from every other which you
can
fix,
with proportions
diff^erent,
!
and
and
yet
many of thefe birds are extremely beautiful ; when upon confidering them
we
part that
to fay
prioriy
what
dif-
full
of
And
with
Some
lour
others have
rainbow; feme are of the primary colours, others are of the mixt ; in fhort^
an attentive obferver
may
foon conclude,
that
and
that there
BEAUTIFUL.
httle
173
is as
colouring as
jedts.
Turn next
examine the
find
what
have
fet-
to each other
a ftandard of
beauty, then take a dog or cat, or any other animal, and examine how far the
their heads
and
and
fo
between thofe and the body, on, are found to hold ; I think we
they differ in every
may
fpecies,
yet that there are individuals found in a great many Ipecies fo differing, that
Now
ferent,'
and even contrary forms and difpofitions are confiftent with beauty, it
amounts
I
ducc
174
duce
is
it,
On
the
SUBLIME
concerned.
SECT.
IV.
BEAUTY
hu-
THERE man
it
are
fome
parts of the
but before
ficient
whom
they
beautiful.
mean
in the effecS
member
diftindlly
muft be
like-*
wife (hewn, that thefe parts ftand in fuch a relation to each other, that the comparifon between
them may be
the
afFe<ftion
eafily
made,
and that
of the
it.
mind may
naturally
refult
from
For
my
and
BEAUTIFUL,
175
have at fcveral times very carefully examined many of thofe prothem hold very nearportions, and found
my
part, I
ly,
or altogether alike in
many
fubjed:s,
which were not only very different from one another, but where one has been
very beautiful, and the other very re-
mote from beauty. With regard to the parts which are found fo proportioned,
they are often
in fituation,
cannot fee
how
how any
refult
effe(5l
owing
them.
to
proportion
can
from
neck, fay they, in beautiful bodies (hould meafure with the calf
The
of the leg ; it ihould likewife be twice And an the circumference of the wrift.
infinity
be found in the writings, and converfations But what relation has the of many.
calf of the leg to the
neck
?
or either of
fomc
1^6
On
bodies.
the
SUBLIxME
are as certainly
iii
fome
They
any
ugly ones, as
pains to try,
who
may find. Nay, I do not know but they may be leaft perfed: in fome of the moft beautiful. You may
any proportions you pleafe to every part of the human body ; and I
aflign
undertake, that a painter fhall religioufly obferve them all, and notwithftand-
confider-
ably deviate from thefe proportions, and produce a very beautiful one. And in-
deed
it
may be
modern
differ
ftatu-
that
feveral
of them
very
widely from the proportions of others, in parts very confpicuous, and of great
confideration
lefs
;
differ
no
from the proportions we find in living men, of forms extremely ftriking and agreeable. And after all, how are
the
partizans
of proportional
tliemfelves
agreed amongfl
0f^^
and
BEAUTIFUL;
177
fome
make
fmall
eight
;
it
even to
ten
number of
methods of eilimating the proportionsj and ail with equal fuccefs. But are thefe
proportions exaQly the fame in
all
hand-
fome men
or are they at
all
the pro-
women ?
no-
greateft
which
Let us
reft
this
point;
and confider
is
difference there
between
in
meafures
that
prevail
many
If
you
affign any determinate proportions to the limbs of a man, and if you limit human
when you
find
ryS
find a
On
the
SUBLIME
differs in
woman who
the
make
and meafures of almoft every part, you muft conclude her not to be beautiful in
of the fuggeftions of your imagination i or in obedience to your imagination
Ipite
you muft renounce your rules ; you muft lay by the fcale and cornpafs, and look out
for
For
if
principle in nature^
why
fpecies
is
But
to
little,
it
all
ani-
mals have parts of very much the fame nature, and deftined nearly to the fame
purpofes;
an head, neck,
body,
;
feet,
and mouth
yet Provi-
dence io provide Sxi the beft manner for their feveral wants, and to difplay the
riches of his
creation,
3nd
Lfrft
fimilar organs,
,
Vi
and
verfity
BEAUTIFUL.
fliort
179
hardly
of
infinite in their,
difpofition, meafures,
as
and
relation.
But,
we
infinite
one particular
5
is
com-
mon
pable
to
many
fpecies
feveral
of the
are ca-
individuals
of affecting
;
with a fenfe of
lovelinefs
ducing this effedt, they differ extremely in the relative meafures of thofe parts
will agree
with
me with
regard tp a par-
in
favour
of one
more
inde-
They
imagine,
that although
beauty of
i8d
On
the
SUl?
LIME
of
parts,
is
what
diftinguiflies
it
would
and
deviate
from
in
its
become
fome
is
however, no fpecies
fo ftridtly confined
not a confiderable variation amongft the individuals ; and as it has been ihewn
of the human,
fo
it
may be fhewn of
the brute kinds, that beauty is found indiff'erently in all the proportions which
this idea
of
the propor-
tion of parts at
indeed a
and
it Is
BEAUTIFUL.
i8i
all
What
boafted
proportions,
when
It
if
we
ftudy
ornamental
:5ing
defign
that
feems
ama-
to
me,
that
artiils,
they were
as
well
be,
convinced
as
they
is
pretend
principal
at all
forts
to
them
all
of beautiful animals
proper proportions
to
help
them
to
when
they
would
they frequently aflert, that it is from an obfervation of the beautiful in nature they
dire(5l their
praftice.
know
that
it
has
long fince, and ecchoed backward and forward from one writer to
been
faid
another a thoufand times, that the proportions of building have been taken
To
and
make
this forced
repr^fent a
man with
full
arms
raifed
extended
at
length,
fcribe a fort
of fquare,
as it is
formed by
paffing
i82
Ofi
the
SUBLIME
But
it
ftrange
clearly
figure.
appears
very
figure
to
never fupplled the archited with any of For in the firft place, men his ideas.
are very rarely feen in
flure
is
;
this ftrained
pothe
it is
not natural to
them
fo
neither
it
at
all
becoming.
Secondly,
difpofed,
of a crofs
-,
as that
large ipace
ground, muft be filled witli fomething before it can make any body think of a
fjuare.
Thirdly, feveral
buildings
are
produce an
effedl
two
leis
refemblance or
temple
and
temple
;
BEAUTIFUL.
we need
183
do
? What purpofes are entirely different 1 ana ,^apt to fuipedt is this : tliat thefe
analogies
to the
were devifed
art,
to give a credit
by {hewing a conformity between them and the nobleft works in nature, not that the latter ferved
to fupply hint5 for the perfeffion of the former. And I the more fully
at all
works of
am
artificial
ideas to
the proportions they ufe in works of art ; becaufe in any difcufTion of this fubjedl,
they always quit as foon as pofTible the open field of natural beauties, the ani-
fortify
artificial lines
and
in to
For there
is
make
com-
i84
On
the
SUBLIME
they trans;
commodious and firm when they were thrown into regular figures, with parts
anfwerable to each other
;
they
and obeUfks
into fo
many
the walks into fquares, triangles, and other mathematical figures, with exadl-
and fymmetry ; and they thought if *hey were not imitating, they were at leaft
nefs
improving nature, and teaching her to know her bufinefs. But nature has at
laft
efcaped
;
from
their
difcipline
if
and
their fetters
nothing
elfe, declare,
begin to feel that mathematical ideas are not the true mcafures of
we
beauty.
And
For
is it
innumerable
are
pdes and
elegies,
all
which
in
the
mouths of
many of
_
and
BEAUTIFUL.
which
185.
defcribc
objed in fuch an infinite one word is faid of variety of lights, not if it be what fome infift it is,
reprefent
its
proportion,
the principal component of beauty ;whilft at the fame time, feveral other qualities
are very frequently and
warmly mention-
ed? But
it
may
proportion has not this power, appear odd hov/ men came oriif
its
ginally to be fo prepoffefTed in
fa-
vour.
It
arofe,
imagine,
from the
which
men
bear fo remarkably
;
to their
own
falfe
it
arofe
from
on the
effefts
;
of the cuftoit
mary
figure
of animals
arofe
from
the Platonic theory of fitnefs and aptiFor which reafon in the next tude.
feftion, I
fliall
confider the
effedls
of
cuftom
and
after-
fince if
propor-
by a natural powei;
it
foine
meafures,
muft be
cither
286
either
On
the
SUBLIME
utility ;
SECT.
V.
IF
am
much from
the obfer-
vation of any certain meafures found in beautiful bodies, as from a wrong idea
of the relation which deformity bears to beauty, to which it has been coniidered
as the oppofite
;
on
this principle
it
was
concluded, that where the caufes of deformity were removed, beauty muft naturally and neceffarily be introduced.
This
I
is
believe
is
a miftake.
For
Jefor-
oppofed, not to beauty, but to mity the compleaty common form. If one of
the
legs
of a
man
is
be
found
is
fhorter
;
man
deformed
fomething wanting to
com-
and
BEAUTIFUL^
187
complete the. whole idea we form of a man ; and this has the fame cffed: in natural faults, as
produce from accidents. So if the back be humped, the man is deformed ; becaufc his back has an unufual figure, and
what
carries
with
it
;
difeafe or misfortune
man*s neck
becaufe
in that
men
are not
commonly
furely every
made
manner.
But
hour 6 experience may convince us, that a man may have his legs of an equal
length, and refembhng each other in
refpedts,
all
jufl:
fize,
and
his
back quite ftrait, without having at the fame time the leaft perceivable beauty.
Indeed beauty is fo far from belonging to the idea of cuftom, that in reality what
affeSs. us
in
that
manner
is
extremely
beautiful
rare
and
uncommon.
The
;
ftrikes
us as
much
i^y
Us fiayGlty as the
deformed
itfelf
It Is.
i88
On thV
and
SUBLIME
one of a
if
were prefented, we fhould by no means wait until cuftom had fettled an idea of
proportion
before
we
decided concern^
Which beauty or uglinefs. fhews that the general idea of beauty, can be no mere owing to cuftomary than
ing
its
to natural proportion.
Deformity
refult
is
arifes
of their
beauty.
exiftence
any objedt
not
If
we fuppofe
to be relative to cuftom and ufe, the nature of ufe and cuftom will lliew, that
beauty,
which
is
a /g/f/zW and
refult
power-
ful quality,
cannot
from
it.
We
we
are
creatures
vehemently defirous
of novelty, we are* as ftrongly attached But it is the nat habit and cuftom.
ture of things which hold us by cuftom to affeft us very little whilft we
arc; in
'
poffeffion
of them,
but ftrongly
'-V
when
afid
BEAUTIFUL.
I
189
when
remembef tb
have frequented a certain place, every day for a long time together and I may
-,
was
returned without pleafure ; yet if by any means I palTed by the ufual time of
I
my going
cafy,
was remarkably unand was not quiet till I had got irithither, I
to^my old
take
it
track."
They who^
ufe'fnuft
they
fmell
almbft without being tehiible that take it, and the "acute fenfe of
is
deadened, fo as to
fb
feel
hardly
;
fharp a ftimulus
yet
he
the mofl uneafy mortal in the world. Indeed fo far are ufe and habit from be^
is
to
make
affedling.
For
as uie
at
laft
takes off
it
many
things,
re-
the
:jgo
On
the
SUBLIME
and
the fa'me manner, and brings both to a fort of medioerity and indifference. Very
juftly
is
>ur natural
and
common
ftate is
one of
-out
pain of this
abfolute indifference, equally prepared for or pleafure. But when we are thrown
or deprived of any thing requilite to maintain us in it ; when this chance does not happen by pleafure from
ftate,
fome mechanical
^hurt.
It is fo
all
caufe,
we
are always
things which relate to it. Thus the want of the ufual proportions in men
ftom,in
diiguft,
though
of real pleafure.
portions
in the
laid
down
human
in beautiful ones, becaufe they are generally found in all mankind ; but if it
can be fliewn too that they are found without beauty, and that beauty frequently
exifts
this
beauty, wliere
exifts,
always can be
affigned
and
BEAUTIFUL;
S^i
that proportion and beauty are not ideas of the fame nature. The true oppofite
to beauty
is
and
as
it
proceeds
from
teauty,
we
cannot confider
'
it
until
we
come
and
in
to treat
of
that.
is
Between beauty
proportions arc
this
uglinefs there
a fort of mediocrity^
which the
upon the
S
afligned
has
-
lid
paiffions*
E C
T. ^VI,
-qs mft
1
^noor^.t
faid
part's
IT a of
fwer
its
indeed beauty
If
it
were not
for
for
this opinion, it
192
its
Q^-
the
SUBLIME
ground very long ; the world woiil4 be foon weary of hearing of meafures
related to
nothing, either of a natural principle, or of a fitnefs to anfwer fome end; the idea which man-
which
and where
this is
not the
about the
things.
efFedl
of different meafures of
it
Therefore
infift,
was neceffary
took
for
this theory to
ficial,
but
natural objefits
fitnefs
am
apprehenfive
that
expe-
was not
fufficiently confulted.
Fdr
on
that principle, the wedge -like fnout of a fwine, with its tough cartilage at
little
make of
cd to
its offices
5[nd
BEAUTIFUL.
as beautiful in
193
would
be likewife
our eyes.
The
hedgehog, (o well fecured againft all affaults by his prickly hide, and the porcupine with his miflile
quills,
would be
There
are
monkey ; he
he
is
animals which feem to yet there are few have lefs beauty in the eyes of all mankind.
I
need fay
little
on the trunk
of the elephant, of fuch various ufe-* fulnefs, and which is fo far from contributing to his beauty. fitted is the wolf for running and leap-
How
well
ing
how
admirably
is
for battle?
call
But will any one therefore the elephant, the wolf, and the lion,
nobody will
adapted
194
On
the
SUBLIME
'
adapted to running, as thofe of an horfe, a dog, a deer, and feveral other creatures;
they have not that appearance yet I believe a well-fafhioned human leg will
at leaft
:
be allowed
far
to
exceed
all
thefe in
If the fitnefs of beauty. parts was" what conftituted the lovelinefs of their
it^
though
it
is
fometimes
far
fo
upon
is
perched ; nay, there are feveral of the domeftic fowls which are feldom feen to fly, and
not fo beautiful as
when
it
is
which
are
nothing
the
lefs
beautiful
birds
are fo
ex-
tremely different in their form from the beaft and human kinds, that you cannot
on the
any
of their parts being defigned for quite I never in my life other purpofes.
chanced to
fee a
peacock
fly;
and
fore, very
BEAUTIFUL,
I confidered
195
any
I
long before
aptitude in his
form
life,
was
the
ftruck with
the extreme
which
above
in
beauty many of
beft
flying
fowls
I
the
world;
though
Hving
for
any thing
faw, his
way of
was much like that of the which fed in the farm-yard along fwine,
with him.
be faid of
in their
manner of
different
To leave
thefe
foreign examples; if
own fpecies was annexed to ufe, men would be much more lovely than women and ftrength and agility would
beauty in our
;
be confidered
as
But
tp call ftrength
name of
(o
is
of
'
ideas,
or
abufe of words.
The
from our
fre-
quently
196
On
the
SUBLIME
of the huquently perceiving the parts man and other animal boiies to be at
once very beautiful, and very well adapted to their purpofes ; and we are deceived
by
a fophifm,
which makes
is
us take that
only a concomitant; this is tlie fophifm of the fly 3 who imagined he raifed a great duft, becaufe he
ftood
it.
for a caufe
which
really raifed
The
as well as
yet they
many
it is
which
impofiible to difcern
I
And
appeal to
tural feelings
of mankind, whether on
fitted
for
What
idea of
uk
is it
that
It is true, tliat
the
in-
and
BEAUTIFUL.
197.
of.
infinitely v/ife
his bounty, frequently joined beauty to which he has made ufeful to thofe
things
us
but
of ufe
not prove that an idea and beauty are the fame thing,
this does
way dependent on
SECT.
The
real efFefls
VII.
of
FITNESS.
from any fhare in beauty, I did not by any means intend to fay that they wxre of no value, or that they
fitnefs
WHEN
ought
art.
of their power ; and here it is that they have their full effecl. Whenever the
that
we
fhould be affeded with any thing, he did not confide the execution of his defign to the languid
and precarious
ope-i
ration
j^S
On
the
SUBLIME
;
but he endued
it
with powers and properties that prevent the underftanding, and even the will,
which
feizing
upon the
is
fenfes
and imathe
gination, captivate
underftanding
them
or
Jong dedudlion and much ftudy that we difcov^r the adorable wifdom of God in
his
works
is
when we
difcover
it,
the
pffcQ.
very different, not only in the manner of acquiring it, but in its own
nature,
ftrikes us
with-
the fublime
is
How
different
the
dif-
anatomift,
who
the
excellent contrivance
of the
how
different
is
this
from the
aife-
an ordinary
man
and
at the
fight
BEAUTIFUL.
199
and
all
require
no
the
inveftigation
to be
perceiv-
ed
we
it
look
up
Maker with
objeft
admiration and
caufes
praife, the
which
;
may
be odious and
diftafteful
often fo touches us
contrivance
and
we have need
powerful a machine.
fitnefs,
The
efFed:
of
proportion and
at leaft fo far as
they proceed from a mere confideration of the work itfelf, produce approbation^ the acquiefcence of the underftanding,
but not love, nor any paffion of that When we cx^mxnQ the ftru^ ^ecies.
dure of a watch,
when we
are
conie to
know
of
it,
we
with the
fit-
nefs
200
On
the
SUBLIME
we
are
far
enougij
from perceiving any thing like beauty in the watch-work itfelf ; but let us look
on the
artift
of fome curious
little
in
engraving,
with
or
no
idea of ufe,
lier idea
we
{hall
have a
much
live-
of beauty than
we
ever could
itfelf,
though
the mafter-piece of Graham. In beauty, as I faid, the effed: is previous to any knowledge of -the ufe; but to judge of
proportion,
we muft know
is
defigned.
Accord-
ing to the end the proportion varies^ Thus there is one proportion of a tower,
another of an houfe
a gallery, of a chamber.
To
which
and
Good
{^nCc
We
be done in every work of art. are rational creatures, and in all our
works
and
BEAUTIFUL.
to regard their
gratification
works we ought
purpofe
fion,
;
the
of any paf-
how
to be of fecondary confideration.
in
is
Hereand
fitnefs
proportion
and the imagination which have here very principally raifes them,
paffions,
little
its
The
When
let
room
plain cieling
fo excellent,
it
approbation is the utmoft we can reach ; a much worfe proportioned room, with
elegant
glafles,
furniture, will
make
volt againft
the reafon
it
will pleafe
much more
of the
firft
ing has fo
fitted
much
its
for
purpofes.
What
have
here
202
On
the
SUBLIME
works of
It
is
thefe excellent
things, beauty
and pro-
fame
Ihould either of
them be
difregarded.
SECT.
The
VIIL
RECAPITULATION,
the
bodies as are found proportioned, were likewife conftantly found are not ; or beautiful, as they
certainly
if they
ON
whole
if
fuch parts in
human
were
fo fituated,
as that
a plea-
might flow froni the comparifon, which they feldorn are i or if any aflignfure
able
plants or animals,
the cafe
or
if,
where
parts
were well
they were
adapted to their
purpofes,
and
BEAUTIFUL.
203
conftantly beautiful,
contrary to all experience ; we might conclude, that beauty coniifted in proor utility.
portion
fpedts,
But
fince, in
all
re-
may
what
the cife
is
depend on
thefc, let it
owe
its
origin to
elfe it will.
SECT.
Perfeaim not the
is
IX.
caufe of
BEAUTY.
THERE
beauty.
to extend
objedls.
the former; pretty clofely allied to that Perfeciion is the conftituent caufe of
much
But
in thefe, fo far
perfe-
dtion,
confidered as
;
fuch,
from being
where
we^r
^04
On
the
SUBLIME
weaknefs and imperfeftion. Women are this ; for which reafon, very fenfible of
they learn to Ufp, to totter in their walk, to counterfeit weaknefs, and even fickthey are guided by nature. Beauty in diftrefs is much the moft afFedting beauty. Blufliing has
nefs.
In
all this,
little lefs
ral,
power which is a
-,
and modefly
tacit
in gene-
allowance of im-
perfedtion,
is itfelf
confidered as an amicertainly
fo.
able
quality,
and
is
heightens
it is
know,
to
in
we ought
to
This
it
is
me
a fjffi-
that
is
pbjed:
of love.
Who
we
woman,
or even any
E C Tv
and
BEAUTIFUL,
^65
SECT.
How
far the idea
X.
of
BEAUTY maybe
MIND.
in general lefs
NO
mind.
as
like.
is
this
remark
Thofe
virtues
which
caufe ad-
love.
Such
force
engage our hearts, which imprefs us with a fenfe of lovelinefs, are the fofter
virtues
;
eafinefs
of temper, compaffion,
kindnefs and liberality ; though certainly thofe latter are of lefs immediate and
momentous concern
lefs
to
is
fociety,
and of
dignity.
But
it
for
that reafoa
The
great vir-
^o6
On
the
SUBLIME
than in difpenfing favours^ and are therefore not lovely, though highly venerable.
The
fore
fubordinate turn, on
reliefs, gratifi-
cations,
and indulgences
lovely,
more
though
in
Thofe perfons who creep into moft people, w^ho are cho-
fcn as the
companions of their fofter hours, and their reliefs from care .and anxiety, are never perfons of fhining
tlier
qualities,
we
reft
worth obferving,
affedled
how we
feel ourfelves
in
reading
the characflers
fo
of
finely
In one>
the ignofcendoy largiundo y in the other, ;;// In one, the miferis perlargiundo.
fugium
in the other,
ma/is
perm'dem.
to admire,
In the latter
we
have
much
much
to reverence,
and
thing to fear
reipedl
BE
;
A U T I F U L.
refpedl
207
we
him, but
we
him
at
a diflance.
makes us
familiar
him, and he leads us whither he pleafes. To draw things clofer to our firft and
moft natural
feelings,
I will
reading
friend.
this
The
of a father,
fo ufefiil to
our well-
being, and fo juftly venerable upon all accounts, hinders us from having that
entire love for
him
that
we
mothers, where die parental authority is almoft melted down into the mother's
But we genefondnefs and indulgence. rally have a great love for our grandfathers, in
whom
this authority
is
remov-
ed a degree from us, and where the weaknefs of age mellows it into fomething of a feminine partiality.
SECT,
^68
On
the
SUBLIME
XL
SECT.
How far
the idea of
applied to
BEAUTY may b^
faid in the
VIRTUE.
foregoing fedtion, we may eafily fee, how far the apphcation of beauty
to virtue
FROM
to
may
be
made with
of
a
propriety.
this
The
lity
general
virtue,
application
qua-
to
it
ftrong tendency confound our ideas of things; and has given rife to an infinite deal
has
of whimfical theory ; as the affixing the name of beauty to proportion, congruity and perfedlion, as well
ties
as to quali-
of things yet more remote from our natural ideas of it, and from one ano-
of beauty, and
left
no ftandard or
own
ner
This
locfe
and
BE
A U T I F U L.
209
ner of fpeaking, has therefore mifled us both in the theory of tafte and of morals
;
fci-
ence of our duties from their proper baand our fis, (our reafon, our relations,
necefiities,)
to reft
altogether vifionary
SECT.
The
real caufe
XIL
of
B E AU
T Y.
endeavoured to fhew
HAVING what
we
attention,
beauty is not,
it
remains that
what
it
really
confifts.^
Beauty
to
ties.
is
a thing
much
it
it
depend
upon fome
fince
is
quali-
And,
no creature of
without
our reafon,
fmce
ftrikes us
any reference to ufc, and even where no ufe at all can be difcerned, fmce the
order and
veiy
method of nature
from
is
generally
different
pro-
210
On
the
SUBLIME
mechanically upon the the intervention of the
proportions, we muft conclude that beauty is, for the greater part, fome quality in
bodies,
afting
human mind by
fenfts.
tentively in wh2it
qualities
by
fome
correipondent afFedtion.
SECT.
XIII.
TH
in
fents itfelf to
is
examining
any objeft,
And what
its
extent or
may
be
am
told that
moft languages, the objedls of love are fpoken of under diminutive epithets.
It
and
BEAUTIFUL.
211
the languages of which I have any knowledge. In Greek the leov, and other diminutive terms, are dmoll
It is fo in all
always the terms of affection and tendernefs. Thefe diminutives were com-
monly added by the Greeks to the names of perfons with whom they converfed on terms of friendiliip and familiarity.
Though
lefs
the
Romans were
quick and delicate feelings, yet they naturally Aid into the leffening termination upon the fame occapeople of
fions.
Anciently
in
the English
fing
Ian-*
was added
to
of perfons
love.
Some we
little
re-
as darling,
(or
dear) and
a few others.
But
to this
nary converfation, it is endearing name of /itt/e to every thing we love; the French and Italians make
ufe of thefe affeftionate diminutives even
own
tlie
fmall
WC
212
On
the
SUBLIME
little
we
birds,
beafts.
great
beautiful thing,
is
manner of
expreffion fcarcely ever ufed; but that of a great ugly thing, is very
common.
lime,
There
is
a wide difference
love.
The
fub-
which
is
always dwells on great objeds, and terrible ; the latter on fmall ones, and plea-
fmg;
but
we
fubmit to what
we
;
admire,
we love what fubmits to us in one cafe we are forced, in the other we are
flattered into compliance.
In fhort, the
hard> I had almoft faid impoffiblc, to think of reconciling them in the fame
fubjedt,
without
confiderably leffening
the effeft of the one or the other upon the paffions. So that attending to their
quantity, beautiful objefts are comparatively fmall.
:^
SECT.
-ahd
BEAUTIFUD.
-213
SECT.
S
^
*
XIV.
O O T H N ESS.
^HE
hefi.'
quality
fo
eflential to beauty,
that I do not
beautiful
now
is
recoiled:
any thing
In trees
that
not fniooth.
in fine
women, fmooth
poliilied
fkins; and
in feveral
forts
of ornamental furniture,
furfaces.
fmooth and
Avery
owing
to this quality
confiderable.
objedl,
furface,
For
take
may be
* Part
it
pleafes
no
21.
longer.
m4
longer.
On
the
SUBLIME
let
it
Whereas
want ever
if
fo
it
many
wants not
than almofl:
This feems to
me
a good deal
furprifed,
that
none
am who
made any
in the
SECT,
Gradual
XV.
VARIATION.
beautiful bodies
parts,
BUT
fo
as perfeftly
are not
compofed of angular
never
line,
their
parts
continue long in
the fame
<their
right
Part 5.
ka.
23.
change
and
BEAUTIFUL.
215
eye by a deviation continually carrying on, but for whofe beginning or end you will find it diffi-
The view of
head in-
a beautiful
fervation.
Here we
lefTens
;
fee the
from
whence
it
which continues to the middle of the body, when the whole dethe
-,
creafes again to
tail
-,
the
tail
takes
new direction but it foon varies its new courfe; it blends again with the
a
other parts
and the
line
is
perpetually
chapging, above, below, upon every In this defcription I have before fide. me the idea of a dove ; it agrees very
well with moil
beauty.
It
is
of
the
conditions of
its
melted
into
conti-
P 4
nually
2i6
On
the
SUBLIME
Obferve that part of
fhe
is
nually changing.
a beautiful
woman where
brealls;
the foftnefs;
the eafy and infeniible fwell ; the variety of the furface, which is never for the
fmalleft fpace
the fame;
the deceitful
maze, through which the unfteady eye Hides giddily, without knowing where
to
fix,
or whither
it
is
carried.
Is
not
this
a demonftration
of that change of
and yet hardly perceptible at any point which forms one of the great conftituents of beauty } It gives
furface continual
me
no fmall pleafure
to find that I
can
ftrengthen my theory in this point, by the opinion of the very ingenious Mr. Hogarth ; whofe idea of the line of
take in general to be extremeBut the idea of variation, ly juft. without attending fo accurately to the
beauty
manner of the
him
to
yet they
and
BEAUTIFUL,
217
and broken manner ; and vary in a fudden I do not find any natural objeft which is
at the fame time beautiful. angular, and Indeed few natural objects are entirely an-
gular.
But
are the
uglieft.
muft add
ferve of nature,
is
line
tiful in
preference to
all
other lines.
it.
At
leaft I
SECT.
2i8
On
the
SUBLIME
XVI.
SECT.
DELICACY.
AN
is
air
An
alnioft eflential to
it.
Who-
founded in nature.
the afh, or the elm,
beautiful; they
and
they infpire a fort of reverence. It is the delicate myrtle, it is the orange, it is the almond, it is the
majeftic;
jeflamine,
it is
the vine,
which we look
It is
on
as
vegetable
beauties.
the
and momentary duration, that gives us the livelieft idea of beauty, and elenefs
gance.
Among
animals
the greyhound
is
and
is
BEAUTIFUL.
much more
zi^
and
more
or an
Arabian horfe,
is
amiable
than the ftrength and ftability of fome I need here horfes of war or carriage.
the fair fex, where I believe fay little of the point will be eafily allowed me.
The
beauty of
women
is
to their weaknefs,
conliderably or delicacy,
their timidity,
has any fhare in beauty ; but the ill effe<9: of this is not becaufe it is weak*
nefs, but becaufe the
ill
ftate
of health
alters
the
other conditions of beauty ; the parts in *uch a cafe coUapfe ; the bright colour, the /umen purpureufn juventa is gone;
and the
fine variation
is loft
in wrinkles,
lines.
SECT,
220
On
S
the
SUBLIME
T.
E C
XVIL
Beauty in
COLO U R.
A
-^
what
an
them, becaufe
is
in the
feveral parts
of nature, there
infinite
variety.
this variety,
Firft, the thing on which to fettle. colours of beautiful bodies muft not be
dufky or muddy, but clean and fain Set condly, they muft not be of the ftrongr
eft
kind.
every fortj
bluest
violets.
vi?-
.weak whites;
pink reds;
and
and the
are
them
ftrength
and
BEAUTIFUL.
221
not only fome variety in the colourthe colours, neither the red ing, but
nor the white are ftrong and glaring. Befides, they are mixed' in fuch a mariner,
it
is
On the
farri
it is, that die dubious colour principle in the necks and tails of peacocks, and
is
fo
very-
In
of fhape and colouring are as nearly related, as we can well fuppofe it poffible
for
be.
-I
E C
T-
222
On
the
SUBLIME
XVIIL
SECT.
RECAPITULATION.
ON
bk
to
Iky
the whole,
the
qudities
of
be comparatively fmaU.
he fmooth.
Thirdly ^
riety in the direction of the parts ; but fourthly, to have thofe parts not angular,
but melted as
it
Fifthly,
to be of a delicate frame,
to have
its
colours
clear arw$
bright
but not very ftrong and glaring. Seventhly, or if it fhould have any gla'y
it
diverfified
with
Thefe
are,
liable to
and
BEAUTIFUL.
diveriity
223
than
confounded by a
any others.
S
of
taftes,
E C
T.
XIX.
The P
H Y S I O G N O M Y.
TH
tenance,
that of our
own
fpecies.
The manners
which being
obferv^ed to cor*
refpond pretty regularly with them, 13 capable of joining the efFed: of certain
agreeable qualities of the
mind
to thofe
of the body.
human
beauty, and to give it its full in fluence, the face muft be expreflivc of
fuch gentle and amiable qualities, as correfpond with the foftnefs, fmoothnefs,
E C
T,
224
On
S
the
SUBLIME
T.
E C
The
XX.
EYE.
purpofely
HAVE
hitherto
omitted
fo
I
mal
which has
not
fall fo eafily
under the foregoing heads, though in fad: it is reducible to the fame principles.
I think then, that the beauty of the eye
conlifts, firft,
in its
cleanie/s
v/hat co-
loured eye fhall pieafe moft, depends a good deal on particular fancies; but
eye,
whofe
water (to ufe that term) is dull and * are pleafed with the eye in muddy. this view, on the principle upon which
We
we Hke diamonds,
and
fuch like tranfparent fubftances. Secondly, the motion of the eye contributes to
its
its
di-
redlion
and
tedtion
;
BEAUTIFUL.
a^
but a flow and languid motion is more beautiful than a brilk one ; the latter
is
enlivening; the former lovely. Thirdly, with regard to the union of the eye with
it is
to hold the
fame
rule that
;
ful ones
it is
viation
from the
',
line
of the neighbourBefides
all this,
ing parts
geometrical figure.
eye
stffedts,
is
expreffive
its
of fomcj
principal
;
qualities
from
this
fo that
faid
of the phyfiog**
nomy
is
applicable here.
SECT.
/^
'>
XXI.
>'
UGLINESS.
IT
faid,
may
to infift here
-
Uglinefs.
As- 1 imagine
t be in all
re-*
Q^
fpefts
126
On
the
SUBLlMfi
to
thofe
qualities
down
for the
con-
But though uglinefs be the oppofite to beauty, it is ot ihe For' oppafite to proportion and fitnefs.
of beauty.
it is
may be
very
ugly with any proportions, and with a fitnefs to any ufes. Uglinefs 1 perfed:
i-magine likewife to be confijftent enough witli an idea of the fublime. But I would
ugliriefs
of
a fublime
qualities
idea,
as
urilefs
unit^^
ftrong
with fuch
terrO'r.
excite a
SECT.
XXII.
GRACE.
t^RacefuInefs
rent
is
diffe-*
from
confifts
in
much
it is
requi-
and
fite
BEAUTIFUL.
is
;
227
culty
there
of the body
parts,
in fuch a
manner,
as
not to in-
cumber each
In
this roundnefs,
delicacy
all
it is
that
the
is
magic
called
Cfbvious
of grace
its
confifts,
and what
as
je ne fcai quoiy
will
be
to
any obferver
who
confiders
attentively the
SECT.
ELEGANCE
and
XXIIL
SPECIOUSNESS*
any boay Is compofed of parts fmooth and poliihed, without prefling upon each other, without
WHEN
r
;
fhewing any ruggednefs or confufion,^ and at the fame time afFedting fome re'Ci
Q_2
gular
1228
On
the
SUBLIME
It is clofe^
gu/ar JhapCy
I call it elegant.
from
which how-^
ever, as
makes
may Un-
terminate object in
elegant
buildings, and pieces of furniture. When any objedl partakes of the abovemention-
ed
qualities,
is
or of thofe
of beautiful
bodies, and
fions
;
it is full
of mere beauty.
clous.
^ne
or Jpe-'
SECT,
and
BEAUTIFUL,
229
EC
T.
XXIV.
I
The
beautiful in
FEE L
N G.
THE
may
foregoingdefcriptlon of beauty,
is
fo far as
fponds wonderfully with what caufes the fame fpecies of pleafure to the fight.
There
is
a chain in
all
all
our fenfations;
forts
ihey are
but different
to be
of
feel-
ing, calculated
affedled
by
vari-
either to
en one another
if
we
if
the latter.
^30
foft.
Oh
The
is
the
SUBLIME
and
if there
feeling,
thefe qualities
be a combiis
greatly init
is
This
fit
is
fo plain,
illuftrate
that
ra-
ther
more
to
ample.
The
nually prefenting
we
find that
much
the moll
may
experience.
objects
is,
The
diredtion,
it
never varies
it
fud-
The, application of any thing ^enly. fudden, even though the impreffion itfelf
is
have
little
or nothing of violence,
quick application of a finger a little warmer or colder than ufual, without notice, makes us ftart ; a
difagreeable.
flight tap
The
on the
flioulder,
not expedleda
and
BEAUTIFUL.
effed:.
2^1
It
Hence
is
that angular bodies, bodies that fuddendireftion of the outline, afly vary the
ford
fo
little
pleafure
to
the
feeling.
figures, are
Whoever compares
on
gular bodies,
finds bimfelf,
his ftate
of mind,
unan-
with that in
which he
logy in the effcds of both ; and which may go a good way towards difcovering
their
Feeling and fight in this refped:, differ in but a few points. The touch takes in the pleafure of foftcaufe.
nefs,
common
which
;
of fight
C3L4
rate
.?3a
Qn
the
SUBLIME
of warmth; but the eye tri- umphs in the infinite extent and mul-f But there is fuch tiplicity of its objefts.
rate degree
firnilitude
in
fenfes,
that I
am
is
wer^
by fome blind mer^ have done) that the fame colours, and the fame difpofition of colouring, which
poffible
that one
it
might
faid
difcern cqlour
feeUng, (as
would
fpund lil^ewife moft grateful to the But fetting afide conjedlures, let touch.
us pafs to the other fenfe
;
of hearing.
SECT.
The
beautiful
ii>
XXV,
S
OUND
S,
IN t^dp
licate
this fenfe
we
and
to be affected in a foft
;
and de-
manner
how
far
fweet or
our dethe
beautiful
founds
agree
with
experience of every
one rnuft
decide,
Miltou
and
BEAUTIFUL.
this Ipecles
^^^
of mu-
need not fay that Milton was perfe6Uy well verfed in that art ; and that no mart
with a happier mannei? of expreffing the affedtions of one fenfe by metaphors taken from another. The
finer ear,
had a
defcription
is
as follows.
cares^
;
'
Lap me
In
notes
Of
drawn
out
With wanton
The melting
Untwifting
voice through
Let us
parallel
this
with the
foftnefs,
the
winding
furface,
things
and
all
the diverfi-
II
allegro,
ties
^34
tiQS
On
the
SUBLIME
fenfqs^ 3^ith
all
of the fever^l
afFecfliQAS,
thtif
fcveral
will
r^tliot;
h^lp t9
to finiih
throw
lights,
pne clear,,., p^flfterit.idea of the whole, than to obfcureit. by their intricacy an4
variety.
,
To
;
fliall
1o gnfFi:;:.-p-. the abovementioned "^fcription I add one or two remarks. The firft
_
/...i.^/.^, ...
is
bear that loudnefs and ftrength of founds, which may be ufed to raife other paffions;
fhrill,
or harih, or
are
deep 3
clear,
it
T}ie
fecond
that
to another, are contrary to the genius of Such -f* tranfithe beautiful in mufic.
tions often excite mirth, or other fud-'
\vhich
I ne'er
am
merry,
when
beau-^
and
beautiful, as
BEAUTIFU>>
it
235
The
in -faft
and mirth.
fine
^rt in
which
I cariv
f^ I
figti
My
fettle
fole
de-
a confi-r
(lent idea
riety
The
infinite
vawii);
ear,,
of
tlie
bf the foul
fkilful
,
fijggeft
to a
a^^iu-e
fitted. tP
them.
particulars,
^lafs,
from the immenfe crc^^of different, and fometimes contradictory ideas, that
rank
vulgarly
under
the ftandard of
it is
beauty.
to
as
And
of thefe
my
intention,
points
fhew the conformity, x^jf., the feofe of hearings with all the other fenfes in the
^ticlc of their pleafures.
SECT,
tLib
On
the
SUBLIME
XXVI.
_^_
SECT.
TASTE
and S
M E L L.
THIS
nutely
fmell.
general
is
agreement of the
thofe
fenfes
yet
confidering
and
We
they are
fitted to
or pain in thefe fenfes, are not fo obvi-^ ous as they are in the others, we ihall
refer
which
wherein
we come
of beauty as It reI do not think gards all the fenfes. any better fitted to eftablifh a clear and thing
efficient caufe
mon
fettled
way
of other fenfes; for one part is fome-' times clear in one of the fenfes, that is
mor^
and
BEAUTIFUL.
in another;
clear concurrence
2;J7
more obfcure
there
is
and where
of
all,
we
one of them.
may with more certainty fpeak of any By this means, they bear
;
nature
is,
as it
were, fcrutinized;
SECT.
The Sublime and
XXVIL
Beautiful compared.
ON
we
and in
tiful
clofing
it
this
general
view of
beauty,
fhould compare
this
beau-
fliould
be fmooth,
rugged and negligent; beauty fhould fhun the right line, yet deviate
great,
from
it
many
cafes
123S
On
the
StJBLiMEi
and when-ii
make's' a ftrong devia-
beauty fhould not be dbfcure ; the great ought to be dark and gloomy; beauty ihould be light and delicate ; the
tion
3
^reat ought to be folid, and even mafiive. They are indeed ideas of a vdiy
one being founded on and howpain, the other on pleafure ; ever they may vary afterwards from the
different nature,
direfl:
caufes .keep
up an
of natural combinations
to find
we muft
jcxpecft
of things the moft remote imaginable from each other united in the fame objecft.
the
qualities
We
mufl expedt- alfo to find combinations df the fame kind in the v/orics of art. But
^^hen
we
confider the
paflions,
upon our
when anything is
mind
and
iiiind
BEAUTIFUL.
^39
afFedlion produced is like property, the to be the more uniform and perfed, if
all
of the fame nature, and tendobjedt be as the principal > ing to the fame defign
If
blacky
and white
hlend^ fofien^
and
unlti^
If the qualities of the fublime and beautiful are fometimes found united, does
this prove, that they are the fame,
it
does
prove, that they are any way allied, does it prove even that they are not oppofite
and
contradidlory
foften,
Black
and
white
may
may
Nor when
they are fo foftened and blended with each other, or with different colours, is
the power of black as black, or of white as white, fo ftrong as when each ftands
The
241
A
Philofophical Enquiry
INTO THE
Origin
O
of our
F
Ideas
T HE
Sublime
P
and
Beautiful.
IV.
I.
A R T
SECT.
Of the efficient caufe
and
SUBLIME BEAUTIFUL.
cf the
I lay, I
WHEN
certain
would not
be underflood to
fay,
that I can
I
come
to
do not pretend
why
242
On
or
the
SUBLIME
why
little
this to
be imdif-
poffible.
But
conceive, if
we
can
cover
what
affediions
what
body
diftindt feelings
fhall
and
qualities
of
produce certain determinate in the mind, and no others, I paffions fancy a great deal will be done ; fomething not
unufeful
towards a
diftincft
knowledge of our paffions, fo far at leaft as we have them at prefent under our
confideration.
This
is all,
I believe,
we
can do.
ther,
If
we
difficulties
ftill
would
ftill
remain, as
we
firft
fhould be
caufe.
When Newton
difcover-
ed the property of attraftion, and fettled its laws, he found it ferved very well to explain feveral of the moft remarkable phas-
he could
confider
and
BE
A U T I F U L.
effe(ft,
243
whofe
caufe at that time he did not attempt to trace. But when he afterwards began to
account for
this great
it
by a
man
(if in fo great a
man
it
be
feemed
to
have
cautious
manner of philofophifing
all
fince,
periiaps, allowing
vanced on
this
fubjedt to be fufficiently
it
proved, I think
difficulties
leaves us
with
as
many
great
as it
found
us.
That
chain of caufcs, which linking one to another even to the throne of God himfelf,
beyond the immediately fenfible qualities of things, we go out of our depth* All we do after, is but a faint ftruggle,
ftep
that fhews
we
are in an element
which
So that when 1
fpeak of caufe, and efficient caufe, I only mean, certain afFedlions of the mind, that
caufe certain changes in the body; or certain 2
244
certain
On
the
SUBLIME
were to explain the motion of a body it was falHng to the ground, I would fay
I
to
fhew
after
what manner
this
were
to
explain
by the
common
laws
of percuffion,
explain
cated.
how motion
communi-
SECT.
IL
ASSOCIATION.
is
ITenquiry
many of them
are
given, and that their governing motions are communicated at a time when we
relied:
on them ; at
a time
and
a time of
BEAUTIFUL.
all fort
245
is
which
of
memory
befides fuch
made
it
which we
diftinguiili
find
from natural
Not
to
which we
find
fteep
it
find in
many
impoflible to
became more
or w^ater
;
or
fire
clod of earth
though
from expe-
of others
muft be allowed that many things affed: us after a certain manner, not by any napowers they have for that purpofe, but by aflbciation ; fo itwouldbeabfurdon
tural
the other hand, to fay that all things affedl us by aflbciation only; fince fome things
originally
and naturally
agreeable
246
On
the
SUBLIME
which
;
agreeable
powers
be, I fancy, to little pur-^ pofe to look for the caufe of our paffions in aflbciation, until we fail of it in
it
and
would
SECT.
Caufe of
III.
PAIN
and
FEAR.
Have
I
I
is
a foun-
to
which
many
things from which we cannot probably apprehend any danger have a fimilar ef-
fed, hecaufe they operate in a fimilar manner. I obferved too, that -f* whatever produces pleafure, pofitive and original pleafure,
gra^fted
is
fit
to
on
it.
may be
i.
ne-
Part
fe^. 10.
cefTary
and
BE
A U T I F U L.
247
and
on which they depend. A man who fufFers under violent bodily pain ; (I the moft violent, becaufe the fuppofe
efFed:
may be the more obvious.) I man in great pain has his teeth
is
fay
fet,
his
his forehead
dragged inwards, and rolled with great vehemence, his hair ftands an end, the
voice
is
the fame
approaching in violence to thofe juft mentioned in proportion to the nearnefs of the caufe, and the weaknefs of the fubjed:. in the
This
but
is
not only fo
human
fpecies,
have more
than once obferved in dogs, under an apprehenfion of punifhment, that they have writhed their bodies, and yelped,
and howled,
felt
as
if
they
had
I
adtually
the blows.
From hence
conclude
that
248
On
the
SUBLIME
upon the fame of the body, and in the fame manthough fomewhat differing in de^
fear confift in
an
unnatural
this
is
tenfion of the
nerves;
that
weaknefs
come
on
alternately,
convulfive
agitations,
weaker
and
fear.
fubjedts,
which
of pain
The
that things
which
caufe pain operate, on the mind, by the intervention of the body ; whereas things
that
caufe
terror generally
affedt
the
bodily organs by
the operation of the mind fuggcfting the danger ; but both agreeing, either primarily, or fecondarily,
in
producing
Of
violent
tenfion,
contra^
ftiqn^
emotion
of
the
nerves^
and
nerves *,
thing
elfe.
BEAUTIFUL.
in
249
every
For
this,
it
me, from
when
the body
is
by any means whatfoever, to fuch emotions as it would acquire by the means of a certain paffion ; it will
of
itfelf excite
like that
E C
T.
IV,
Continued.
TO
*
I
this
purpofe
Mr. Spon,
in his
Campanella
this
do not here enter into the queftion debated among phyfiologifts, whether pain be the effect of a
contraction, or a tenfion of the nerves.
ferve
Either will
my
purpofe
for
than a violent pulling of the fibres, which compofc any mufcle or membrane, in whatever way this is done.
obfer-
250
On
the
SUBLIME
faces,
obfervations
on human
but was
very expert in mimicking fuch, as were When he had any way remarkable.
a
mind
gefture,
as
and
his
he could into
the exadt fimilitude of the perfon he intended to examine; and then carefully
obferved
to acquire
change.
So
that, fays
my
author,
he was able
to enter into
he had been changed I have often obinto the very men. ferved, that on mimicking the looks and
as effeftually as if
or daring
found
my
whofe
tate
;
men,
have
mind turned
nay, I
it ;
am
convinced
it is
hard to
though one ftrove to feparate the paffion from its correfpondent geOur minda and bodies are fo ftures.
avoid
clofely
and
clofely
BEAUTIFUL.
251
one
is
we
from any fufferings of his body, that he was able to endure the rack itfelf without much pain ; and in
his attention
leffer pains,
every body muft have obferved, that when we can employ our attention
on any thing
elfe,
been for a time fufpended ; on the other hand, if by any means the body is in-*
fuch geftures, or to difpofed to perform be flimulated into fuch emotions as any
pafTion
fion
ufually produces in
it,
that paf-
itfelf
never can
arife,
though
ftrongly
its
caufe fhould
aftion
be
never
fo
in
; though it fhould be merely menand immediately affefting none of tal, the fenfes. As an opiate, or fpirituous
liquors
fufpend the operation of or fear, or anger, in ipite of all grief, our efforts to the contrary; and this
fhall
by inducing
in
the body a
difpofition
contrary
252
On
the
UBLIME
it
contrary to that
thefe paffions.
which
receives
from
E C
T.
V.
is
How
the Sublime
produced.
and
;
follows,
juft
faid,
that whatever
fitted to
produce produdive of
con-
danger connedled with it. So that little remains towards /hewing the caufe of the fublime,but to fhew that the inftances
we
have given of
it
in the fecond
part,,
relate to fuch
by na-
ther
* Part
fea. 2,
mind
and
BEAUTIFUL.
With
253
mind
or the body.
regard to fuch
when
fufficiently
violent, raifes
the emotions of the body juft mentionBut if the ed, can as httle be doubted.
fublime
is
built
on
terror,
or fome paffor
its
fion like
it,
ob-
ject;
it
is
how
I fay, delight y
it is
becaufe, as I
very evidentits
caufe,
and in
own
nature,
fure.
pofitive plea-
E C
T.
:254
On
the
SUBLIME
VL
SECT.
How pain
it,
PROVIDENCE that a of
ftate
reft
and inaftion,
our indolence,
however
fhould
it
may
that
as
flatter
be produdtive of
;
many
force
incon-
veniencies
liich
it
fhould
diforders,
may
generate us to
as a thing
make
us pafs our
;
with tolerable
fatisfaftion
for the
nature of
the parts of
relaxation,
our bodies
to
fall
into
members from
performing their functions, but takes away the vigorous tone of fibre which
is
neceffary fecretions.
At
languid inadtive ftate, the nerves are more liable to the moft horthat in
this
rid convulfions,
than
when
and
ficiently
BEAUTIFUL.
defpair,
255
Me-
lancholy,
and often
felf-murder,
The
beft
remedy
;
exercife or labour
and labour
is
a furmounting of
difficulties^'
an exertion of the contrad:ing power of the mufcles y and as fuch refembles pain,
which
confifts in
tenfion or contraction,
Labour
is
not only requifite to preferve the coarfer organs in a ftate fit for their fundtions,
but
it is
and more
on which,
and by which, the imagination, and perhaps the other mental powers adt. Since
it is
probable, that not only the inferior as the parts of the foul, paffions are
called,
itfelf makes
ufe of
its
fome
operation;
are,
and where they are, may be fomewhat hard to fettle ; but that it does make ufe
of
256
On
the
UBLIME
appears from hence; that a long exercife of the mental powers in-
of fuch,
body
and on the other hand> that great bodily labour, or pain, weakens, and fometimes actually deftroys the mental
;
faculties.
Now,
as a
due exercife
is
ef-
to the
coarfe
roufing they would become languid, and difeafed, the very fame rule holds with
we
have men-
them
in proper order,
SECT.
VII.
AS
common
labour,
is
which
is
mode of
pain,
the exercife of
the grofler, a mode of terror is the exercife of the finer parts of the iyftem j
and
and
iarid
BEA
U T I F U L.
^<^j
if a certain
approaches more nearly to that which has a mental caufe. In all thefe cales,
if the pain
^nd
not to be adtually noxious ; if the pain is not carried to violence, and the terror
is
not converfant about the prefent deftrudtion of the perfon, as thefe emotions
parts,
clear the
whether
fine, or
grofs,
a
^
fort
of tranquility
as it
which
is
belongs
of
all
fublime *.
ajlonijhment
which by the very etymology of the words fhew from what fource they are derived, and
awe, reverence,
and
refpeft,
Part
2.
feft.
2.
how
258
On
the
SUBLIME
how
tive pleafure.
SEC
Why
*
things
T-
VIIL
paffionlike
TERROR,
terror,
A
-/jL
Mode
terror,
of
For
danger,
the,
fuffi-
foregoing explication
cient.
It
I believe,
more
have given of the fublime in the fecond part, are capable of producing a
mode of
to terror,
pain,
And
firft
of fuch
fea. 7.
Part 2. Tea. 2.
SECT.
and
feEAUtlFUL.
^59
SECT.
Why
vifual
IX.
objedls
of great dimenfions
are Sublime.
VISION a
light
jed:, painted in
performed by having formed by die rays of pidlure which are refledled from the ob-
is
ly,
tiic eye*
is
Or, according to others, there but one point of any objedt painted on-
manner
as to
be
per-*
we
of the objedt, fo as to form one uniform piece. If the former opiveral parts
nion be allowed, it will be cOnlidered, that * though all the light reflefted from' a large body fhould ftrike the eye in one
inftant; yet
Part
i
2.
we muft
fca 7.
82
body
a6Q
body
On
itfelf is
the
SUBLIME
vaft
formed of a
number of
or
diftincft
points,
on the
retina.
the image of one point fhould caufe but a fmall tenfion of this membrane, another,
and
afiother,
and another
ftroke,
parts
muft ap-
proach near to the nature of what caufes pain, and confequently muft produce an idea of the fublime. Again, if we take it,
that one point only of an objedt
guiftiable
at
is
diftin-
once
the
matter
will
amount
ther
it
or ra-
lime from greatnefs of dimenfion yet clearer. For if but one point is obferv-
ed
muft
fine
nerves
and
and
BE A U TIF UL.
to
261
the motion of
and
highly afFedted by this ftraining. Befides, it to the efFed: produclignifies juft nothing
ed,
its
parts connedled
and makes
impreflion at
once; or
a point at
caufes
a fucceffion of the
fame, or others, fb quickly, as to make them feem united ; as is evident from the
common
if
cfFeft
of
whirling
about a
;
wood
which
of
done with
celerity,
feems a
circle
fire.
SECT.
X,
IT that
equal
may be
an
number of
times,
and
that
S 3
^6.2
On
the
SUBLIME
rays,
by the number of
more than
the eye
that variety
of objefts which
muft always difcern whilft it remaias Put to this I anfwer, that admitiDpen.
ting an equal
number of
rays,
or
aa
equal quantity of luminous particles to flrike the eye at all times, yet if thefe
rays frequently vary their to blue,
nature,
now
now
to red,
and
fo on,
or their
manner of
terniination as to a
triangles,
number
of petty fquares,
at every change,
or the like,
whether of colour qt
ihape, the organ has a fort of relaxation or reft ; but this relaxation and labour fo
often interrupted, is by no duftive of eafe ; neither has
means pror
it
the effed:
Whoeffecfts
of fome ftrong
piddling
exercife,
and fome
littl^
aftion,
will
underftand
why
a teazing fretful employment, which at pnce wearies and weakens the body,
fhould
and
BEAUTIFUL.
263
Ihould have nothing great ; thefe forts of impulfes which are rather teazing than
by continually and fuddenly aland diredtion, prevent tering their tenor that full tenfion, that fpecics of uniform
painful,
labour which
is
allied
to ftrong pain,
The fum
total
it
parts
is
upon
the organs
fon
for
the difference.
The mind
in
this thing
be
little,
the eifeft
little
is
little,
objedls
cannot engage the attention; the mind is bounded by the bounds of the objed:;
and what
does
is
not attended
are
to,
and what
not
;
exift,
much
the
fame
irl
the eiFed:
i8i4
in
s64
in
this
On
cafe
the
there
SUBLIME
is
no
difference) in
bounds
it
whilft
is
much
quantity muft
and
entire.
SECT.
The
artificial
Xi.
N F I N IT^E:'^
WE
tificial
fifl:s
of greatnefs arifes from the arinfinite ; and that this infinite con-
famQ uniform
in
had
a like
power
founds.
But becaufe the effedls of many things are clearer in one of the fenfes than in another,
and that
to,
all
logy
and
illuftrate
one another
I jfhall
begin with this power in founds, as the caufe of the fublimity from fucceffioa
is
and
BEAUTIFUL.
I fhall
265
of
all
rather
more obvious
in the fenfe
hearing.
And
jedt,
they are difcovered, a double ftrengtb and luftre to any rules we deliver on fuch matters. When the
it is
ftruck
by a fingle pulfe of the air, which makes the ear-drum and the other membranous
parts vibrate according to the nature
Ipecies
and
of the llroke.
If the ftroke be
of ano-
ther ftroke.
And
it
muft be obferved,
This
is
apparent in
many
animals,
who,
when
roufe themfelves, and prick up their ears; ib that here the effedl of the founds is
jtonfidcrably
266
liary,
On
the
SUBLIME
But though
afftill
the expeftation.
ter a
number of
ftrokes,
we
expedt
more, not being able to afcertain the exadl time of their arrival, when they
arrive,
they produce a
fort
of furprife,
at
which
time
I
when
intervals,
firing
of cannon) though
when
a
fion,
it.
it
;
came,
it
always
made me
ftart
little
The
tenfion
by the united
the expe<3:a^
itfelf,
and the
furprife, it is
worked up
ftruck
in
fimilar
manner,
fome
una
BEAUTIFUL.
;
267
this
is
an additional
tiic efFeft,
SEC
The
T.
Xil.
vibrations
muft be
fimilar.
BU
if
can never
fee carried
pendulum,
in
it
will con-^
known
caufes
but
if after firft
putting
make it it in moit
you pufh
into
firft
another,
direftion
felf,
it
;
it-
and confequently it can have but the effedt of that laft motion ; whereas,
fame diredtion you
it
if in the
acft
upon
it
feveral times,
arch, and
move
a longer time.
SECT.
268
On
the
SUBLIME
XIIL
>
SECT.
The
efFedls
of
SUCCESSION
in vifuaj
objed:s explained.
IF
reft.
can comprehend clearly how things operate upon one of our fenfes;
little
we
difficulty
in con-
affed:
the
To
on the correfponding affeftions of every fenfe, would tend rather to fatigue us by an ufelefs repetition, than to throw any
new
ple
as in this difcourfe
felves
we
to the
fliall
fublime, as
aflfeds
the
eye,
we
confider particularly
why
fucceffive difpofition
difpofition
enabled to
make
a comparatively fmall
quantity
and
BEAUTIFUL.
269
quantity of matter produce a grander efFedt, than a much larger quantity difTo avoid the pofed in another manner.
perplexity of general notions
;
let us fet
planted in a right line; let us take our ftand, in fuch a manner, that
pillars
the eye may fhoot along this colonnade, for it has its heft effedt in this view.
it
Is
plain, that
the rays from the firft round pillar will eaufe in the eye a vibration of that fpeThe cles ; an image of the pillar itfelf.
pillar
it ;
each in
its
order
im-
puLfe,
and ftroke
way
cannot
being
immediately; and
violently
agitation,
it
roufed
by
this
conti-
nued
prefents the
mind with
But in-
^70
On
die
SUBLlMfi
each other, a round and a fquare one al-* Tn diis cafe the vibration ternately^
caufed by the
as fbon as
it is
firft
round
pillar perifhes
place
which however
it
refigns.
as quickly to the
up
one image
whence
obvious,
is
that at
as far
the laft
from eon^
betinning as it w^as at the very firft; caufe in fadt, the fenfory can receive aoi diftindt impreflion but from the laft;. and it can never of itfelf refume a diflir'
milar impreflion:
tion of the objedl tion to
reliefs
refl:
and relaxa;
and thefe
and
BEAUTIFUL.
271
Upon
this
prinit
and uniformity
may
be afked,
why
lonnade
',
is
interrupted;
the
eye
no way meets no
check
fince nothing
?
long bare wall is ceran object as a colontainly not fo grand nade of the fame length and height. It
be conceived
is
not altogether
difference.
difficult
to
account for
this
When we
along
its
look at a
naked
and
wall,
arrives
quickly at
its
the eye meets nothing which may interrupt its progrefs ; but then it meets nothing which
may
detain
it
a proper time
The view
of a bare wall,
is
if it
be
undoubt-
but this
is
and
272
On
the
SUBLIME
of Jimilar ideas
5
and not a
is
repetition
it
much upon
the
principle of infinity y as
nefs.
But we
be
manner
as
to continue it longer
;
befides, all
can
SECT.
Locke's
opinion
XIV.
darknefs>
concerning
confidered.
is
Mr. Locke's
is
IT
and
nefs
that,
though an
exceffive light is
pain-
ahd
B E A'U T
fenfe,
F tJ l;
'
273
piiinfur to the
ekcefs ofdarknefs^'is
n6 ^a^s tfbuMeindeed in
fome.
He
obfervfes
another
pta6e, that a
having -once
ghofts
nefs
)
thd
ideas
bf
and horrible to the imagination. The authority of this great min Is dbubtlefs
as
great, as
it
that of any
ftiah
can
fee,
^
and
Way of our
cbrifidered
'
*
geiiefal principle.
We have
arid
'
have
all
or' terrible
to any,
who
their
it
minds
early tainted
fuperftitions,
can be no fource of
But with
;
all
de-
it
feems to
me, that an
ral nature,
afibciation of a
an affociatioa
kd.
3.
* Part
2.
^74
all
On
the
SUBLIME
terrible;
know
what degree of
fafety
we ftandj
ftrike
;
round us ;
againft
we may
every
moment
we
ftep
njay
fall
down
a precipice the
firft
approach^ to defend
is
acS:
no
fure protection;
giiefs
j
by and he
who would
his defence,
towards
Zii/ *Tctiip,
a\KA
ffu
Ax^^
As
to
and
was chofen
as a
fit
fcene
terrible
reprefentation J,
than
that
tJwt
fuch
rq^refentations
have
made
fbt"*
darknefe terrible^
Very eafily
flides
into an
of the
mer
fort
but
it is
V^ h-ard to im^giiie>
Mea
fo univerfally
and
in all countries,
a^ darknefs,
owing
to
caufe of a nature fo
any and of an
c^ration
fo precarious*
SECT.
BARKNESS terrible
it
.
XV.
'
in
its
own
nature.
may
appeal*
on
n-^'
and darknefs
are in
tural
fociations
muft obferve,
much
the
fame
and
they differ
is
2I
only in
this,
that blacknefs
more
given*
confined idea.
us
276
On
tlic
SUBLIME
blind,
and continued fo
he was thirteen or fourteen years old; he was then couched for a cata-; raft, by which operation he received his
fight.
Among many
remarkable parti-^
firft
perceptions,
and judgments on
felden
tells
vifiial
objedls,
firft
Che-
us, that
the
time the
boy faw a black objedt, it gave him greatuneafinefs; and that fome time after,
upon accidentally feeiilg a negro woman, he was ftruck with great horror at the
fight.
The
horror,
in
this
arife
cafe,
can
fcarcely be fuppofed to
aflbciation.
from any
The boy
count to have been particularly obferving,, and fenfible for one of his age and there:
fore, it
is
if the
firft
great uneafi-:
fight of black
had
from
its
For an
idea,r
-^
and
BEAUTIFUL.
ill
^7^
caufe of its
efFedt
on the
pafllons evi;
dent enough
but
this
at the firft
it is
impreflion
in
jordinary cafes,
is,
indeed frequently
loft;
becaufe the original aflbciation was made very early, and the con-
In fequent impreflion repeated often. our inftance, there was no time for fuch
an habit
that the
-,
and there
effects
is
no reafon
to think,
ill
con-
ideas,
than
that the good effefts of more cheerful colours were derived from their con-
nexion with pleafing ones. They had both probably their effedls from their
natural operation.
sf'cT^
4t,f&
On
the
SUBLIME
XVL
is
SECT-
Why DARKNESS
terrible,
may be worth while to exaniinc, how IT. darknefs can operate in fuch
Planner
vable,
as
thatp
^.
to
caufe pain.
as
It
is
obferi*
flill
the light,
nature
is
eiUarged by the
in proportion
of the
iris,
to
ouf
recefs.
it
Now
little,
inftead of declining
from
fuppofe that we withdraw entirely from the light; it is reafonable to think, that ihe contraftipn of the ra?-
but a
dial fibres
of the
iris \s
propqrtionably
this part
may by
it
great
darknefs
come
to be fo contrafted, as tq
conipofe
beyond
and by
thi^ rrieans to
fenfation.
is,
Such a tenfion
whilft
we
ar^
whUft
and
BEAUTIFUL.
^79
is
ma-
from the
flafhes,
often feeni in thefe cirpearances which cumftances to play before it ; and which
efFedt
produced by
its
its
own
efforts in
of Ipalms, purfuit of
im-f
objeft
feveral
other
ftrong
idea of light in
the eye, befides the fubftance of light itfelf, as we experience on many occa^ons.
Some who
allow darknefs to be
a caufe of the fublime, would infer from the dilatation of the pupil, that a relaxation
may
which may
poflibly
be
dilated
by a fimple
it
one refpeft
fiirnifhed
is
?8q
^re -the
Oil
the
SUBLIME
fibres
radial
of the
iri
nq
than thefe
fibres
wanting
their
drawn back,, and open the pupil to a confiderable widenefs. But though we were not
CQunterpoife, are forcibly
.
apprized of
find if
this, I believe
he opens
his
eyes and
make^ an
heard fome ladies remark, that after having worked a long tirne upon a ground of black, -their eye$ were fo pained and,
fee.
.If
effefts
of darknefs or black-
feem rather rnental than corporeal ; and I owi) it j^ true, tha^ they do fo;. and fo do all thofe that; depend on the Mfecaions of the finer parts of our fyftem.
The
ill
effedls
of bad weather
in
jt
appear often
no
otherwife, than
melan-
and
BEAUTIFUL.
281
melancholy and dejedlionof fpirits, though without doubt, in this cafe, the bodily
prgans fufFer
thefe organs.
iirft,
EC
T.
XVII.
The
effeds of
BLACKNESS.
powers from being mixed and furrounded with coloured bodies. In its own
nature,
lour.
it
Black bodies,
but a few rays, with regard to fight, are but as fo many vacant fpaces difperfed
among
ter
the objeds
we
view.
When
the
having been kept in fome degree of tenfion by the play of the adjacent colours
upon
;
laxation
f/ecovers
it,
it
falls
it
into a re-t
as
fuddenly
by
a convulfive fpring.
To
iU*
luftratc
282
On
;
the
SUBLIME
when we intend to fit on a chair, and find it much lower than was expecfted, thd fhock is very violent ; much more violuftrate this
let us confider, that
fall as
^nd
another
make.
ftairs,
If,
after defcending a
of
we
iattempt inadvertently
ftep in the planner
to
take
another
the fhock
able
;
is
and by no art, can we caufe fuch a fhock by the fame means, when w0 When I fay,expe6t and prepare for it.
that this
is
owing
to having the
*,
contrary to expedtatxon
folely,
changd do not
when
for
likewife,
is
of fenfe
fome time
if it
in
af-^
be fuddenly
convuW
as
isi
a convulfion
caufed
when any
And though
it
and
It
BEAUTIFUL.
283
may
jliately
Jt is
fhe fenl^s.
is
Every one knows that fleep a relaxation ; and that filence, where
on
this relaxation
yet
when
a fort of murr
man
to fleep,
perfon imme4iately awakes; tliat is, the parts are braced up fuddenly, and he
gwakes.
piyfelf,
This
an4
I
pbferving perfons.
perfon
in
In like manner, if a
not fuddenly introduced, are very This I knew only by favourable to it. ^onjedure on the analogy of the fenfc
^d
^vhen
firft
284
but
I
I
On
the
SUBLIME
firft
have fince experienced it. And have often experienced, and fo have a
In-
towards
fleep,
we
have
been
and that
this
preceded by a fort
ling
down
a precipice
whence does
this
ftrange motion arife ; but from the too fudden relaxation of the body, which
by fome mechanifm in nature reftores itfelf by as quick and vigorous an exertion of the
contrafting
power of the
caufed by
mufcles
the dream
;
itfelf is
It is
this relaxation
and
of too unlforni
The
is
parts
relax
too
fuddenly,
;
which
this
in the nature
of
falling
and
this
accident of the
In the
body induces
image
mind.
When we
are in
of health and vigour, as all changes are then lefs fudden, and lefs on the extreme, we can feldohi complain of this difagrecable fenfatioh.
confirmed
ftate
SECT,
and
BEAUTIFUL.
285
SE-'tQT., XVIII.
T^S
HOUGH
^^painfiil-; originally,
we muft
fo.'
not
Guftom
After
we
have be^nufed
of black ob-
fome
nature of the!
continues.
Black
in
it,
becaufe the
find the
change
;
to it
it
too violent
occupy the whole cpmpafs of the fight, it will then be darknefs; and. what was faid of darkor if
nefs, will
be applicable here.
all
do not
purpofe to go into
;..
that
might be
faid
./
*86
On
the
SUBLIME
of the
efTefits
cf
light
examine
of thefe two
caufes.
obfervations have
turc, I conceive
If the
them very
to
account for
atl
would be an
endlefs labour.
only jfbllowed the moft leading roadsj, and we ihall obferve the fame conduit
in
The
phyfical caufe of
L OVE^
fiicfi-
WHEN
placency, the
I
wfc
have before us
objetfts
as excite love
is
and Com-^
body
aiFedied, fo far as
could obferve,
much
in the following
manner*
ted
Inanner,
BEAUtlFUL.
reclines
;
287
The head
fomething
on one
than
fi(}e
more
clofed
ufual,
gently with
an
is
mouth
drawa
:
flowly, with
now and
body
is
the whole
hands
fall idly
to the fides.
beauty in the objed:, and of fenfibility in the obferver. And this gradation from
the higheft pitch of beauty and fenfibility,
which
it
certainly
it
is
is
defcription
conclude, that beauty afts by relaxing the fohds of the whole fyftem. There
are
all
;
tion
the
288
On
all
the
SUBLIMET
me
to be thd^
pofitive pleafure.
Who is
at
'
ftranger to that
manner of
expreffion fo
all
common
in
all
times and in
countries,
mankind,
faithful
to'
their feelings,
uniform and general effedl ; and although fbme odd and particular inftance may perflaps
without
all
we muft not therefore rejeft the conclufion we had drawn from a concurrence of many experiments, but we muft ftill
retain
rriay
it,
'
which
mle
down by
Sir Ifaac
appear confirmed beyond imy reafonable doubt, if we can ihew that fnch things as we have already obferved
to be the genuine conftituents of beauty,
have
and
BEAUTIFUL.
289
have each of them feparately taken a natendency to relax the fibres. And if it mufl be allowed us, that the appearance
tural
when all
thefe confti-
tuents are united together before the fenfory, further favours this opinion,
we may
produced by this re^ laxation. By the fame method of reafoning, which we have ufed in the enquiry
is
we may
^
that as
beautiful
objed: prefented to die fenfe, by cauling a relaxation in the body, produces the
paffion of love in the
mind ,
iliould
(o
firft
if
paffion
by have
origin in the
mind, a relaxation of
SECT,
290
On
the
SUBLIME
XX.
is
SECT.
Why SMOOTHNESS
is
beautiful.
IT
beauty, that I call in the affiIf it appears ftance of the other fenfes.
fual
is
that fmoothnefs
pleafure
principal
caufe
of
and
hearing,
ftituent
will
be
eafily
admitted a conefpecially
as
of vifual beauty;
we
is
this quality
all
that
bodies
which
and
vellicate
a fenfe of pain, which confifts in the violent tenfion or contradtion of the mufcular fibres.
On
the contrar}^
tlie
ap-
relax ; gentle plication of fmooth bodies vioflroking with a fmooth hand allays
lent
and
lent pains
fufFering
fion
;
BEAUTIFUL.
291
and
mean
effeft in
obftru6lions.
A
is,
bed fmoothly
laid,
and
is
foft,
that
every
way
incon-
an univerfal relaxation, and inducing beyond any thing elfe, that fpecies of it
caDed
fleep.
SECT.
XXI.
nature.
SWEETNESS,
its
NOR
fare
tafle,
Is
it
by
In the
and
to
we
find all
things agreeable
them, and which are commonly called fweet, to be of a fmooth nature, and
that
292
On
all
the
SUBLIME
Let us
is
that they
relpedlive fenfories.
confider
the
moft eafy to enof liquids, and quire into the property fince all things feem to want a fluid vetafte.
Since
it
hicle to
make them
tailed
at all, I in-
tend rather to confider the liquid than The vehithe folid parts of our food.
cles
of
all taftes
are water
and
is
oiL
And
fait,
fome
according to
its
nature, or
ed v^ith
limply confidered are capable of giving fome pleafure to the tafte. Water, when
fimple,
is
and fmooth
it is
found
when
not cold to
be a great refolver of fpafms, and lubricator of the fibres 3 this power it probably owes to
its
fmoothnefs.
For
as
and
BEA
U T I F U L.
;
293
water
and
;
as
it
merely
as a fimple fluid
its
follows,
fluidity is
likewife
;
the caufe of
ly,
its
relaxing quality
name-
of
parts.
oil.
taftes is
vehicle of fimple,
is
and fmooth
fmoother
to the touch
It is
many
cafes yet
more
Oil is in fome degree pleafant rekxing. to the eye, the touch and the tafte, infipid as
it is.
Water
is
not fo grateful,
principle
is
which
do not
know on what
not fo
foft
this oil
and fmooth.
quantity of a fpecific fait, which had a power of putting the nervous papillae of
the tongue into a gentle vibratory
tion
;
mo-
The
fuppofe fugar diflblved in it. fmoothnefs of the oil, and the vias
bratory
power of the
fait,
all
wc
call fvveetnefs.
In
3
fweet bodies,
fugar.
294
On
the
SUBLIME
difFerent
;
from
fugar,
is
conftantly found
every
fpecies of
fait
fcope has
its
ov^n
regular, invais
riable form.
That of nitre
oblong ; that of fea fait that of fugar a perfed; globe. If you have tried how fmooth globular bodies,
with which boys amufe themfelves, have affedled the touch when
as the marbles
they are rolled backward and forward and over one another, you will eafily conceive
fait
how
fweetnefs,
which
confifts in a
j
of fuch nature,
for
fomewhat
plea-
by the regularity
its
parts
from a right
line,
as feveral globes,
rifes
to
one and
is
to another
and
this
pleafure
one another
that
and
BE
A U T I F U L.
295
dif-
that wearinefs,
would other-
Thus in fweet liquors, wife produce. the parts of the fluid vehicle though
moft probably round, are yet {o minute as to conceal the figure of their component parts from the niceft inquifition of
the microfcope; and confequently being
fo
have a
fort
of
the eff'eds of plain fmooth bodies to the touch ; for if a body be compofed of
be both to the fight and touch were nearly plain and finooth.
clear
as if it
It
is
from
their
unveiling
their figure
of
of water or
their effedts
oil,
from
roundnefs will
be more
vous
diflind:
of that nice organ the tongue : they will induce that fenfe called fweetpapillae
nefs.
296
nefs,
On
which
oil,
the
in a
SUBLIME
weak manner we
difr,
cover in
ter
oil
;
for
are in
and
it
may be
all
other
tafte.
SECT.
XXII.
SWEETNESS
the other fenfes
relaxing.
we
have remarkrelaxing.
IN
ed, that
are re-
laxing too.
remarkable,
that in
fome languages foft and fweet have but one name. Dghx in French fignifies
foft as
well as fv/eet.
Italian DoIcCy
The
Latin Dulcis^
cafes
and the
have in many
evident
becaufe
and B
becaufe
all
E A U T I F U L.
icj-j
fuch,efpecially thofe
which are
taken frequendy or in a large much enfeeble the tone quantity, very of the ftomach. Sweet fmells, which
moft
oily,
taftes,
re-
very
remarkably.
people
is
The
to
fmell
of
;
flowers difpofes
drowfinefs
and
rent
further appa-
from the prejudice which people of weak nerves receive from their ufe. It
to examine,
whether
taftes
fmooth
oils
and a re-
laxing
taftes.
fait
For many which ufe has rendered fuch, were not at all agreeable at
iirft.
The way
to
examine
this
is,
to
try
originally provided
for us,
which fhe has undoubtedly made originally pleafant: and to analyfe this
provifion.
Milk
is
the
firft
fupport of
parts of
our childhood.
The component
and a
fort
of a very
All
fweet
\lciz{^
fait
a great ffnoothnefs
298
On
the
SUBLIME
and a relaxing quality
next thing children
The
covet
is
cipally
which
by a
fubtle oil
and fuch a
laft
fait
as that
mentioned in the
feffion.
After-
caufes, con-
found, adulterate, and change our palates, fo that we can no longer reafon with any
fatisfaftion
about them.
Before
;
we
quit
this article
we muft
obferve
that as
fmooth things are, as fuch, agreeable to the tafte, and are found of a relaxing
quality; fo on the other hand, things which are found by experience to be of
fit
to brace
and pungent to the tafte, and in many We cafes rough even to the touch.
often
apply the
quality
to vifual
of fweetnefs,
objedts.
metaphorically,
For
on
this
remarkable
analogy
and
BEAUTIFUL.
we may
299
here call
SECT.
..VARIATION,
XXIII.
why
beautiful.
ANOTHER
of their parts diredion ; but
is
it
principal property of
is,
beautiful objects
continually varying
varies
it
by a very init
fenfible deviation, it
never varies
fo
any twitching
Nomancan be
which
is
the
It is
thus
the fenfes.
is
motion
in a right
line,
300
On
the
UBL
ME
it is
meet the
that
leafl
reliftance; yet
not
to
defcent,
leaft.
Reft
is
yet there
relaxes
of motion which
more
with children,
favourite
amufement,
evince this
Moft people muft have very fufficiently. obferved the fort of fenfe they have had, on being fwiftly drav/n in an eafy coach, on a fmooth turf, with gradual afcents
and
This will give a better idea of the beautiful, and point out its
declivities.
elfe,
On
broken
road>
and
BEAUTIFUL.
by
301
fhews
why
fimilar
feel-
and with regard to the feeling, it is exactly the fame in its effedb, or very
ty
;
nearly the fame, whether," for inftance, I move my hand along the furface of a
body
of a certain fhape, or whetlier fuch a body is moved along my hand. But to bring this
analogy of the fenfes
a
home
to the eye
if
body prefented
from
it
fenfible deviation
muft be
effed:
operates
indiredily.
And
con-*-
body
which compofe
manner that
may weary or
variation itfelf
diflipate
the attention.
The
mufl be continually
varied.
SECT.
302
On
the
SUBLIME
XXIV,
SECT.
Concerning
SMALLNESS.
which may
TO
tition
avoid a famenefs
from the too frequent repeof the fame reafonings, and of ilarife
luftrations
will
not enter very minutely into every particular that regards beauty, as it is found-
ed on the difpofition of its quantity, or In fpeaking of the its quantity itfelf. magnitude of bodies there is great uncertainty, becaufe the ideas
fiiiall,
to the fpecies of the objcfts, which arc that having once It is true, infinite.
fixed the fpecies of any objedl, and the dimenfions common in the individuals
of that
fpecies,
we may
:
obferve
fall
fome
fhort of
by that
the
and
BEAUTIFUL-
303
the Ipecies itfelf be not very fmall, rather great and terrible than beautiful;
the
qualities
that
conftitute
beauty may poflibly be united to things of greater dimenlions ; when they ar^
they conftitute a ipecies Ibmething different both from the fublimo
fo united
and
beautiful,
which
this
have before
I
call-
ed Fine; but
ther as vaft
kind
imagine has
ei-*
which
are en-*
qualities
of
have when
affeftion
continually relieved
the
nature
to fay
were
how
I find
myfelf af*
I
fefted
fay,
upon fuch
occaiions,
fliould
304
On
the
SUBLIME
There
is
beauty, than beauty does by being join-* ed to greatnefs of quantity, or any othe^
properties of the fublime.
fome-'
thing fo over-ruHng in whatever inipires us with awe, in all things which be-
long ever fo remotely to terror, that nothing elfe can ftand in their prefence? There lie the qualities of beauty either
dead and unoperative ; or at moil exerted to mollify the rigour and flerrinefs of
the terror, which
is
mitant of greatnefs.
ordinary great in every fpecies, the oppofite to this, the dwarfifli and dimiiiu-^
tive
ought to be confidered.
as fuch, has
Littlenefs>
nothing contrary to merely the idea of beauty. The humming bird both In fhape arid colouring yields to
none of the winged fpecies, of which is the leaft ; and perhaps his beauty
enhanced by
are animals,
his fmallnefs.
it
is
But there
are ex-
beautitremely fmall are rarely (if ever) fuL There is a dwarfifh fize of men
and
and
"ind
fo
B E A:U T I FU hP
is
J05
women, which
almoft conftantly
grofs
But ihould a very difagreeable imager be found not above two or three feet man
high, fupf)ofmg fuch a perfcn 'to have all th^ parts of his 'body of^^- delicacy
fuitable to fuch a iize,
be the ohjedt
.cif
love
i^,
th^t fuch
The
large
and
the
of love.
When we
let
our
we
3o6
On
the
SUBLIME
injuftice,
tyranny,
cruelty,
and every
paint thing horrid and abominable. the country, plunderthe giant ravaging ing the innocent traveller, and after-
We
wards
flefh
:
and
gure
others,
who make
fo great a
fi-
The
and death.
I do not
remember
of any man remarkable for his great ftature and ftrength touches us with pity; nor does it appear that the
author, fd well read in ever intended
in the foft
his parents,
it fliould.
human
nature,
It is Simoifius
fo
ill
who
ther hurried by war from the new braces of his bride, young, and
emfair^
and a novice
to the field,
who
melts us
by
and
BEAUTIFUL.
307^
by his untimely fate. Achilles, in fpite of the many qualities of beauty which Hemer has beftowed on his butward
form, and the
many
make us love him. It may b^ obferved^ Homer has given the Trojans, whofe fate he has defigned to excite our com|>affion,
infinitely
focial
virtues
among
his Greeks.
With
and
thefe
/e//er,
and
if I
may fay,
domeftic
virtues, are
certainly the
moft amiable.
far their
Yet we love Priam more than Agamemnon, and Hedlor more than his con-*
queror Achilles.
fion
Admiration
is
the paf-
excite in favour
of
3o8
On
the
SUBLIME
it
by on them the virtues which beftowing have but Uttle to do with love. TMs
;
fhort digreffion perhaps not wholly belide our purpofe, where our bufinefs is to fhew, that objefts of great dimenfiis
more incompatible
whereas the fmall,
beauty, this failure
as
if ever
is
they
fail
of
not to be attribu-
ted to their
fize.
SECT.
Of
XXVI.
COLOUR.
WITH
down
in the
beginning of tliis part are fufficient to account for the effefts of them all, as
well as for the agreeable eiFed of tranlparent bodies, whether fluid or folid. Sup-
muddy
liquor,
of
and
BEAUTIFUL.
:
309
and change
its
it
able in
own
down
in fed:. 24.
But
when
'fition
the ray pafles without fuch oppothrough the glafs or liquor, when
the
the light
palTage,
which makes
more agreeable
all
it
even as light ; and the liquor refledting the rays of its proper colour evenly^
has fuch an efFed: on the eye, as fmooth opaque bodies have on the eye and touch.
So that the pleafure here is compounded of the foftnefs of the tranfmitted, and
the evennefs of the rcfledted light. pleafure may be heightened by the
Thia
comif
mon
principles
in other
things,
the
tranfihape of the glafs which holds the be fo judicioufly varied, a& parent liquor
^
to
3IO
On
the
SUBLIME
changeably weakened and ftrengthened with all that variety which judgment in
affairs
a,
of
this
On
;
review of ^U th^t
well
as-
beea
faid
of the
effedls., .as;
and beau-
are built
on
which,
when
in the
it is
mind, which
;
have called
is
afto*-
nifhment
the beautiful
founded on
mere
pofitive pleafure,
and
excites in the
called love.
which
is
The end
of
t;he
Fourth Part*
PART
[3^1
A
Philofbphical Enquiry
INTO THE
Origin
6
of our Ideas
F
T HE
Sublime
P
and
Beautiful.
V.
I.
A R T
SECT.
"^^
Of
O R D
objeas
S.
affeft us,
by
NATURAL
tween
ings in our minds.
certain motions
and configurations
confequent feel-
aiFefts
312
affefts
On
the
S:UBLIME
by the laws of nature, and the law of reafon ; from which latter refult the
rules
of proportion, which
make
work
whole
or in fome part,
when
is
which
or
is
to
words
they feem to
me to
affed: us in a
from that
in
natural objects, or
by painting or archi*tefture ; yet words have as confiderable a fhare in exciting ideas of beauty and of
the fublime as any of thofe, and fometimes a much greater than any of them;
therefore an enquiry into die
manner by
which they excite fuch emotions is far from being unneceffary in a difcQ^rfe jof
this kind..
-,'
,.:
..y
SECT.
and
BEAUT fFUL.
SECT.
II.
313
The common
by
efFed of
POETRY;-
not
notion of the power of poetry and eloquence, as well as that of words in ordinary converfa-
THE
in
common
the
mind by
for
ideas
of thofe things of
to
To
it
this
may be requiiite to obferve that words may be divided into three forts. The iirft are fuch as reprefent many
fimplie ideas
united by
nature to form
fbme one determinate compofition, as man, horfe, tree, caflle, &c. Thefe I
The fecond, are aggregate words. they that ftand for one fimple idea of
call
fuch compofiti6ns and no more ; as red, blue, round, fquare, and the like. Thefe
J C2[\ Jimple ahfiradl words.
The
third,
arc
314
On
thd
SUBLIME
are
are thofe,
which
formed by an union,
an arbitrary union of both the others, and of the various relations between them,
in greater or leffer degrees of complexity;
as virtue,
and the
like.
Thefe
I call
compounded ab^
firadi words.
Words,
am fenfible,
are
capable of being clafled into more curious diftindions ; but (hefe feem to be
natural,
and enough
and
commonly taught, and the mind gets the ideas they are
they arc
ted for.
fort
in
which which
fubftitu-
I i3aall
;
of words
compound
fucb
as
virtue,
honour, perfuafion,
docility.
Of
thefe I
am
compofiti-
and hard-
ly caufe, I
real i-deas.
No
the
body,
I believe,
immediately on hearing.
and
tjbe
BEAUTIFUL.
315
ceives
lar
gether with the mixt and fimple ideas, and the feveral relations of them for
which
thefe
words are
fubftituted
nei-
compound-
ed of them ; for
if
of thofe particular ones, though indifftindt perhaps, and confufed, might come
foon to be perceived. But this, I take it, is For put yourhardly ever the cafe. felf upon analyfing one of thefe words,
and you muft reduce it from one fet of .general words to another, and then into
the fimple abftrads and aggregates, in a
much
longer feries than may be at firft imagined, before any real idea emerges
to light,
before you come to difcover any thing like the firft principles of fuch
compofitions ; and when you have made fuch a difcovery of the original ideas,
the efFed: of the compofition
Joft.
is
utterly
traiiv
of thinking of
this fort,
3i6
i
On
the
SUBLIME
.much
words are
in reality but
<m
fee
particular occalions,
we
evil,
re-
ceive
or
or
evil
ia^ fuch a -ivariety! ofrncafes :that we .know readily by habit. i:oj:.what things
in the mind, ,thcy belong,, they prodiice whenever they are afterwards mentioned,
;
,effed:s fimilar
,
,to
The
xarrying
ftill
imprefliQns, t^ey
w|th
rife
gave
to
.them
SECT.
ani BEAUTIFUL.
317
SECT.
r
'
IIL
Mia
/;.
'1
r.n 7/
MRv; with
general words, thofe belonging to virtue and vice, good and evil, efpeciaily, are
particular
modes of
ed to
which they belong are prefent-^ the mind ; and with them, the love
a child, by feeming pleafed or difpleafed with any thing, or even any word, may
give the difpofition of the child a fimilar
turn.
When
ciirrences in life
come
to be applied to
is
thefe
pleafant
evil
;
name of
and what
called
is
good
fufion
3i8
On
the
SUBLIME
afFeftions arifes in the
fufion of ideas
and
and their
aftions.
There
are
many,
who
and
tion,
love virtue,
this
and
who
deteft vice,
who
notwithftanding
ill
very
fre-
quently adl
and wickedly
remorfe
;
in particulars
without the
leaft
becaufe thefe
into view,
came
when
were
warmly
affefted
by certain words
hard to repeat
and
it
is
though owned by
if
fome degree
,
ajfTefted,
efpecially
ff^ife, valianf'y
generoiiSy
a>dJ5EAUTIFUL.
words commonly facred to great
ons are ufed,
319
occafi-
we
are
afFeded by them
occafions.
even
without
the
When
words which have been generally fo applied are put together without any rational view, or in fuch a
manner
that they
do not
ftile is
rightly agree
called bombaft.
And
it
requires
in feveral cafes
much good
;
fenfe
and ex^
of fuch language
neglefted,
for
when
propriety
is
greater
number of
thefe
afFeding words
vice,
may be taken
may
be in-
SECT.
The
effed of
IV.
WORDS.
their poffiblc exeffedls
arife in
words have
all
1.F tent
The
firft is,
the
3^0
On
tte
'
SUBLIME
is,
by th<^ of the
foregoing.
of which
we
have been
Ijpeaking, (ho-I
nour, juftice, Uberty, and the Hke,) produce the firft and the laft of thefeefFecSs,
ufed to fignify fome one fimple idea without much adverting to others which may. chance to attend it, as blue, green, hot/
cold,
and the
all
like
afFefting
three of the
purp()fes
of
words j
caftle,
as the aggregate
words,
man^
horfe, &c*
are in
a yet higher
degree.
But
am
moft general
effed:
of the
fent in
Would reprebecaufe on a
the imagination
my own
conjiidec
mind,
ajid .getting
others
to
do not find that once in twenty times any fuch pifture is formed, and
theirs, I
when
2nd
\vhen
it
is,
BEAUTIFUL,
there
is
3.21
moft commonly a
that purpofe.
operate as
ftradts^
not by prefenting any image to the mind, but by having from ufe the
fame
effedt
their
original has
when
it is
feen.
Suppofe
'*
were
river
we The
Danube
foil
riles in
a fnoift and
moun-
tainous
Au-
flria
and leaving the walls of Vienna it paffes into Hungary ; there with a vail
flood
augmented by the Saave and the Drave it quits Chriftendom, and rolling
through the barbarous countries which
border on Tartar}% it enters by many mouths into the Black fea/* In this deicription
many
mountains,
rivers,
But
fee
any body examine himfelf, and whether he has had iniprefled on his
let
irna-
f2i
On
the
SUBLIME
and quick
Imagination any pidlures of a river, motir!*^ tain, watery foil, Germany, &c. Indeed.
it is
and of the thing reprefented; befides, feme words expreffing real eflences, are
fo
nominal import, that it is impradicable to jump from fenfe to thought, from particulars to generals, from things to wordSj<
in fuch a
manner
5
as
pofes of
fliould-
life
nor
is it
we
SECT.
Examples
*
V.
that
WORDS
maiy affefS
without railing
-J
IMAGES.
are
afFefted
>^
Find
it
-very
by words from whence they have no ideas > and yet harder to convince them, that
in
and
BEAUTIFUL.
cx)urfe
3^3
in the ordinary
fire
of converfation
without
we
rai-
fufficiently
underflood
ing which
We
fpeak.
It
feems to be an
odd
fubjedl
whether he has
mind
or not*
But ftrange
as
we
have of things,
any ideas at all upon fome fubje<fts. It ^ven requires a good deal of attention to be
thoroughly fatisfied on this head. Since I wrote thefe papers I found two very
ftriklng inftances of the poffibility there
is,,
that a
man may
having any idea of the things which they be capable reprefent, and yet afterwards
of returning them to others^ (Combined in a new way, and with great propriety, energy and inftrudtion. The iirft in-^
fiance,
is
that of
Mr. Blacklock,
a poet
blefled
Few men
1
with
324
On
the
SUBLIME
which cannot
with the maft perfedl fight can defcrlbe vifual objects with more fpirit and juft*
nefs than this
bhnd man
than
is
common
to the
to other perfons.
Mr. Spence,
in an elegant preface
which
he has written
works of
this poet,
moft part very rightly upon the caufe of this extraordinary phenomenon ;
for the
cannot altogether agree with him, that fome improprieties in language and
I
but
thought which occur in thefe poems have arifen from the blind poet*s imperfec5l conception of vifual objefts, fince
fuch improprieties, and much greater, may be found in writers even of an
higher
clafs
and
who, notwithftanding,
culty of feeing in
is
its full
the fa-
perfeftion.
Here
by
a poet doubtlefs as
much
as
is
afFedled
his
own
defcriptions
;
them can be
and yet he
and
BEAUTIFUL.
325
and
why may
not thofe
in
who
read his
works be
that he
aifefted
the fame
manner
The
fe-
cond inftance
feflbr
Cambridge.
in
What was
the moft to
he g^ve excellent leftures upon light and colours ; and this man taught others the theory of thofe
my purpofe,
which they had, and which he But it is himfelf undoubtedly had not.
ideas
the words red, blue, green, probable, that anfwered to him as well as the ideas of the
colours themfelves
;
or
leffer
applied
maft
526
On
the
SUBLIME
re-,-
man
fpe<5bs
dif-i
agree,
he had been
Indeed
it
fully
of the id^as.
could
muft be
difcove-
owned he
ries in
make no new
experiment.
the
way of
He
di4
common
difcourfe,
laft fentence,
and ufed the words every 4ay and common dlfcourfe, I had no images in my mind of any fucceffion of time;
nor of
other
j
men
nor do
in
I
conference
with each
imagine that the reader will have any fucb ideas on reading it. Neither when I fpoke of red, blue, ^nd
green,
well
pafiing into
a.
different
medium,
and
there diverted frorn their coqrfe, painted of iniages. I know before me in the
way
mind
poffeifes a faculty
of
railing
thisi
and
thlsj
BEAUTIFUL.
327
reading
at all is
fay,
I
I fhall
go
to Italy next
fummer,"
I
am
well underftood.
Yet
believe
no
body has by
this painted
in his imagi-
with
Still
all
journey.
Italy,
lefs
the ripening of the fruits, and the warmth pf the air, with the change to this from
a different feafon,
for
which
are
the ideas
which the word fummer is fubftituted ; but leaft of all has he any image
froni the
word next \
for this
word flanda
furely the
^xclufion of
all
but one
and
man who
of fuch a
fion.
;..
no images
exclu-^
fucceflion,
fliort,
it
and fuch an
In
is
ideg*
328
ideas
On
which
the
are
SUBLIME
abftrad:,
commonly called
at all can
be
formed, but even of particular real beings, that we converfe without having
in the
imagi-
as will certainly
appear on a di-
ligent examination
of our
own
minds.
Indeed
fo little
its effed:
on the power of
images, that I aiTi convinced it would Jofe a very confiderable part of its energy, if this were the neceffary refult of all
defcription.
fecting
ful
words which
all
of
poetical
its
inflruments,
would
its
frequently lofe
propriety
force
along with
and confiftency, if the fenfible images were always excited. There is not perhaps in the whole Eneid a more
grand and laboured pafFage, than the defcription of Vulcan's cavern in Etna, and
the works that are there carried on. Virgil liwells particularly on the formation of
iht thunder which he defcribes unfinifh-
c4
and
BEAUTIFUL,
329
cd under the hammers of the Cyclops, But what are the principles of this extraordinary compofition
Trts imhris
torti ?
JMderanti
Fulgores nunc
fonitumquey metumque
This feems to
yet if
we
me
fenfible
image which a combination of ideas of this fort muft form, the chimeras of
wild
** **
madmen
and
Three rays of
of
watry
clouds,
three of fire,
and
three
"
^f
*^
work
terrific lightnings^
and
"
foundy and fear y and angery with purf^^^S fi^^^^'* This ftrange compoformed into a
grofs
fition is
body ;
it is
it is
hammered by
polifhed,
the Cyclops,
partly
in part
and
continues
rough.
The
330
On
truth
the
is,
SUBLIME
nobla
The
if poetry gives us a
by circumftances of time or
related to each other as caufe
place,
or
and
efFeft,
may
be moulded together in any form, and The pidluperfectly anfwer their end.
refque connexion
is
not demanded
is
bei$
formed
nor
all
is
the
faid
men of
Join
J^'ctfA^t
i'''
Ktva>^
A^AVtik'ntci
^im
m w^a ioimv*
^ey
For
crfd^
What
winning graces
what
majejiic mien !
PoPE,
and
BEAUTIFUL.
one word
faid
;
331
of the
nothing
Here
is
not
particulars
of her
beauty
which can
precife
but yet
we
^e much more
am
fure
it
me much more
;
fiefcriptioji
Belphebe
parts
0II
own
ter,
The
has
drawn of
religion,
in order to difplay
Humana
Jn
ante oculos
fade cum
vita jaceref^
terrisy epprejfa
gravi fub
religioru^
332
On
the
SUBLIME
;
^a caput
e cosli
regiomhm ofiendehat
What
\y
',
from
fo excels
lent a picture
none
at ^11
moft certain*
has the poet faid a fingle vvord which n>ight in the leaft ferve to
neither
mark
in
all
a fingle
Hmb
or feature of the
to reprefent
fucceed in
exadl:
defcription fo well as
of
things
on
the mind of the fpeaker, or of others, than to prefent a clear idea of the things This is their moft extenthemfelves.
live province,
SECT,
and
B:EAUTIFUL,
E C
T.
VI.
^jj
.a
imitative art.
HE
try,
moft general
fenfe,
cannot with
tation fo far as
defcribes the
manners
and pafllons of men which their words can exprefs ; where animi motus effert
interprete
lingua.
-,
There
But
by
it
is
ftridly
imitation
try
is
and
all
of this
fort.
poe;
fubjiitiition
by
is
have the
efFeft
of
realities.
Nothing
it
rcfembles
fome other thing j and words undoubtedto the ly have no fort of refemblance
ideas for
which they
ftand.
E C T^
^'34
On
the
SUBLIMfi
VII.
SECT.
How WORDS
NO
light
find
;
Wy
as
Words
afFe(9:,
not by any
original power,
But by reprefen-*
theif
iation, it
yet
quite otherwife
for
we
much
lively
impreflions than any other arts, and even than nature itfelf in very many cafes. And
this arifes chiefly
Fii-ft,
from
we
pathy by any tokens which are fhewrt 6f them ; ^nd there are no tokens which
can exprefs
all
as paffions fo fully
*
words
fo
that if a
perfon
ali^%^#AtJtlFtJL.
J!)erfon
iliot
335
he
can'
but'
Ipeaksupon
anj^'fiLibjcd:,
'
"fiibritia
to yon,
Mkewife theriiafiner in
felf affe<fted
tv^hitli
he
is
him-^
by it. Certain it is, that the influetice of moft things on our paffions is not fo much from the things
themfelves,
as
;
cerning
and thefe again depend teiy mocii on the opinions of other men, conveyable for the moft part by
them
Words only.
Secondly
there are
many
things of a very affecfting nature, which can feldom occur in the reality, but the
words which reprefent them often do ; and thus they have an opportunity of
making
impreflion
reality
was
tranfient
whom
as
it
is
fedVing,
fides,
wtr, death, famine, &c. Beideas have never been at^ all
many
f>refented
Wft
but
by
336
On
the
SUBLIME
by words, as God, angels, devils, heaven and hell, all of w^hich have however a great influence over the paflions.
Thirdly; by words
we
have
it
in our
power
to
make
fuch combinations as
we
give a
objedl.
new
life
In painting
we may
;
reprefent any
fine figure
we
pl^afe
but
we
never can
give
it
which
it
may
receive
from words.
To
reprefent
an angel in a pifture, you can only draw, a beautiful young man winged; but what
painting can furnifli out any thing fo " the grand as the addition of one word,
angel of ^Sx^LordT' It is true, I have here no clear idea, but thefe words afi^edt
'^
the
did,
fenfible ima2:e
for.
contend
A piccxe--
if it
were well
cuted
and
BEAUTIFUL.
337
cuted would undoubtedly be very moving ; but there are verj^ aggravating
circumftances which
preient.
it
ignes^
As a
further inftance,
let
Tt|$;,coniidcr
where he
defcribcs
A unlverfe of death.
Here
is
lofe
338
On
the
SUBLIME
fens and Jhades^-*
Rocks ^ caves^
of
Death.
This idea or
this
afFeffion caufed
by a
word, which nothing but a word could annex to the others, raifes a very great degree of the fubhme ; and this fublime
a
*'
is
by what follows,
univerfe of
ideas
;
Death"
Here
are again
two
guage
amazing beyond conception; if they may no properly be called ideas which prefent
diftind:
image
to the
mind ; but
ftill it
will be
difficult to
conceive
how words
can move the paffions which belong to real objeds, without reprefenting thefe
objel3 clearly.
This
is difficult
to us,
becaufe
in
we do
tween a
and a ftrong
con-
expreffion.
Thefe
are frequently
knd
feEAUTIFUL.
;
^;^()
^c
The
the
The one
as there is
defcribes a thing as
fcribes it as it
is felt.
Now,
moving tone of
voice, an impafTioned
^ffedl
which they
exerted,
fo there
arc
words, and certain difpofitions of words, which being peculiarly devoted to paTfionate fubjedts,
who
iion
;
move
us
more than
and
dif-
thofe
which
far
more
clearly
We
de-
yield to fympathy,
Icription.
what we
is,
refufe to de-
The
merely
truth
as
all
verbal
scription,
naked
defcription,
though never fo exadt, conveys fo poor and infufficient an idea of the thing deitribed, that
it
finalleft effed:^
ia
340
On
the
SUBLIME
modes of fpeech that mark a ftrong and lively feeling in himfelf. Then, by the contagion of our
paffions,
we
catch a
fire
already kindled
in another,
Words, by
we
have already mentioned, fully compenfate It for their weaknefs in other refpefts.
may be
obferved that very polifhed lanas are praifed for their guages, and fuch
fuperior clearnefs
and
The French
Whereas the
oriental tongues,
and in general the languages of moft unhave a great force and poliflied people,
energy of expreflion ; and this is but natural. Uncultivated people are but ordinary obfervers of things, and not critical
in diftinguifhing
them
but,
for
that
and are
Hiore
and
BEAUTIFUL
with what they
fee,
J41
more
afFedted
and
warmer
and more paflionate manner. If the affcdtion be well conveyed, it will work
its effeft
without any clear idea ; often without any idea at all of the thing which
has originally given rife to it. It might be expedled from the
fertility of
the
as
ful
fubje(fl,
it
that
I fliould
eoniider poetiy
regards
more
and
at
but
it
it
mufl be
has been
It
well
handled
to
already.
enter
into
the
of the
art,
fublime
and beauti-
in
any
fuch
down
a
fort
afccrtain,
to
and
to
;
form
of ftandard
for
them
which
bcft
cf-
purpofes I thought
fedled
might be
by
an
enquiry into
the
pro-
fuch things in nature as raifc perties of love and aftoniflimcnt in us; and by Ihcwing
342
On
the
SUBLIME,
&c.
duce thefe
paffions.
ly fo far to be confidered, as to
upon what
pable
thefe
principle
they were
reprefentatives
of being
natural
the
things,
of
and
affefl:
by
what
us often
they reprefent/
ftrongly.
The
END.