A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful

than the firſt. I have faught with the utmoſt care, and read with equal attention, every thing which has appeared in publick againſt my opinions; I have taken advantage of the candid liberty of my friends ; and if by theſe means I have been better enabled to diſcover the imperfettions of the work, the indulgence it has received, imperfect as it was, furniſhed me with a new motive to ſpare no reaſonable pains for its _ improvement. Though I have not found | Sufficient reaſon, or what appeared to me ſufficient, for making any material change i in my theory, T have found it neceſſary in many places to explain, illuſtrate and enforce it. J have prefixed an introductory diſcourſe concerning Taſte ; it is a matter Curious it Mets and it leads naturally enough te the A 2 principal ir The PRE HAC principal enquiry. This avith the other exblanations has made the work conſiderably larger; and by increafing its bull bus, Tam afraid added to its faultss: 5 that notwithlanding all my attention, it may fland in need f a yet greater ſhare of indulgence than it required at its firſt appearance. : They who are accuſtomed to fludies of this nature will expect, and they. will \altow tos or mam faults. -'T hey. know; that many of tbe objetts-of our enquiry are in themſelves obſcure. and intricate 3". and that many-others Have been rendered fo by affetted.refinements or falſe learning z. they know that there. Are many impediments in the ſubject, in the prejudlices of others, and even in our own, that render it a matter of uo ſmall diſicuity to ſhew in a clear ligbt the genniue face.of naturr. T End that v the mind "7s intent on the general ſabeme \of \things, - fome' particular part}, mut le neglected; "that" we nuit oftensfubmt"the\ file to -the matter, and frequently" give up the" praiſe of elegance,” ſatisfied with" being clear.…