Continued.
O this purpoſe Mr. Spon, in his Recherches d'Antiquite, gives us a curious ſtory of the celebrated phy- ſiognomiſt Campanella; this man, it ſeems, had not only made very accurate *I do not here enter into the -queſtion Jebated | among phyſiologiſts, whether pain be the effect of a contraction, or a tenſion of the nerves. Either will ſerve my purpoſe; for by tenſion, I mean no more than a violent pulling of the fibres, which compoſe any muſcle or membrane, in whatever way this is one.
obſer- 250 On the SUBLIME obſervations on human faces, but was very expert in mimicking ſuch, as were any way remarkable. When he had a mind to penetrate into the inclinati- ons of thoſe he had to deal with, he eompoſed his face, his geſture, and his Whole body, as nearly as he could into the exact ſimilitude of the perſon he in- tended to examine; and then carefully obſerved what turn of mind he ſeemed to acquire by this change. So that, ſays my author, he was able to enter into the diſpoſitions and thoughts of people, as effectually as if he had been changed into the very men. I have often ob- ſerved, that on mimicking the looks and geſtures, of angry, or placid, or frighted, or daring men, I have involuntarily found my mind turned to that paſſion whoſe appearance I endeavoured to imi- tate; nay, I am convinced it is hard to avoid it; though one | ſtrove to ſeparate the paſſion from its correſpondent ge- ſtures. Our minds and bodies are fo _ cloſely and BEAUTIFUL, 251 and BEAUTIFUL, 251 eloſely and intimately connected, that one is incapable of pain or pleaſure without the other. Campanella, of whom we have been ſpeaking; could fo abſtract his attention from any ſufferings of his body, that he was able to endure the rack itſelf without much pain; and in teffer pains, every body muſt Have oh- ſerved, that when we can employ our at- tention on any thing elſe, the pain has heen for a time ſuſpended; on the other hand, if by any means the body is in- diſpoſed to perform ſuch geſtures, or to be ſtimulated into ſuch emotions as any paſſion uſually produces in it, that paſ- ſion itſelf never can ariſe, though its cauſe ſhould be never fo ſtrongly in action; though it ſhould be merely mental, and immediately affecting none of the ſenſes, As an opiate, or ſpirituous liquors ſhall ſuſpend the operation of grief, or fear, or anger, in ſpite of all our efforts to the contrary; and this a inducing. in the body a diſpoſition * 252 On the SUBLIME contrary to that which it receives from theſe * 8 Sele | How the Sublime is rained, A VING Senden terror as producing an unnatural tenſion and * violent emotions of the nerves; it eaſily follows, from what we have juſt ſaid, that whatever is fitted to produce ſuch a tenſion, muſt be productive of à paſſion ſimilar to terror *, and con- ſequently muſt be a ſource of the ſub- lime, though it ſhould have no idea of danger connected with it. So that little remains towards ſhewing the cauſe of the ſublime, but to ſhew that the inſtances we have given of it in the ſecond part, relate to ſuch things, as are fitted by na- ture to produce this ſort of tenſion, ei- ther by the pe operation of the ; » Part 2. ſect. Wo F mind and BEAUTIFUL. 253 mind or the body. With regard to ſuch things as affect by the aſſociated idea of danger, there can be no doubt but that they produce terror, and act by ſome modification of that paſſion; and that terror, when ſufficiently violent, raiſes the emotions of the body juſt mention- ed, can as little be doubted. * But if the ſublime is built on terror, or ſome paſ- ſion like it, which has pain for its ob- ject; it is previouſſy proper to enquire how any ſpecies of delight can be de- rived from a cauſe ſo apparently con- trary to it. I ſay, delight, becauſe, as I have often remarked, it is very evident- ly different in its cauſe, and in its own | nature, from actual and poſitive plea- 2 „ 254 On the SUBLIME ul GRO VI.
i ben pain can be — delight JRQVIDENCE has l that a ſtate of reſt and inaction, —— it may flatter our indolence, ſhould be productive of many incon- veniencies; that it ſhould generate weh diſorders, as may farce us to baye recourſe to ſome labour, as a thing abolutely requiſite to make us paſs our lives with tolerable ſatisfaction; for the nature of reſt is to ſuffer all the parts of eur bodies to fall into a relaxation, that not only difables the members from performing their functions, but takes away the vigorous tone of fibre which is requiſite for carrying on the natural and neceſſary ſecretions. At the ſame time, that in this languid inactive ſtate, the nerves are more liable to the moſt hor- rid convulſions, than when they are ſuf- FF © ar ks ficiently and BEAUTIFUL. 255 ficiently braced and ſtrengthened. Me- lancholy, dejection, deſpair and often ſell⸗ murder, is the conſequence of the gloomy view we take of things in this relaxed ſtate of body. The beſt remedy for all theſe evils is exerciſe or /abour; and labour is a furmounting of difficulties, an exertion of the contracting power of che muſcles; and as ſuch reſembles pain, which conſiſts in tenſion or contraction, in every thing but degree. Labour is not only requiſite to preſerve the coarſer organs in a ſtate fit for their functions, but it is equally neceſſary to theſe finer and more delicate organs, on which, and by which, the imagination, and perhaps the other mental powers act. Since 5 it is probable, that not only the inferior parts of the ſoul, as the paſſions are called, but the underſtanding itſelf makes uſe of ſome fine corporeal inſtruments in its operation; though what they are, and where they 'are, may be ſomewhat hard to fettle: but that it does make uſe IT of Ono Ae» —— : þ 256 On the SUBLIME of ſuch, appears from hence; that a long exerciſe of the mental powers in- duces a remarkable laſſitude of the whole body; and on the other hand, that great bodily - labour, or pain, weakens, and ſometimes actually deſtroys' the mental faculties. Now, as a due exerciſe is eſ- ſential to the coarſe muſcular parts of the conſtitution, and that without this rouſing they would become languid, and diſeaſed, the very ſame rule holds with regard to thoſe finer parts we have men- tioned; to have them in proper order, they muſt be ſhaken and n. to 2 e ee | s r. VII.
T?
EXERCISE necſiy for the finer weer TY labour, Which is 2 ee is the exerciſe * the groſſer, à mode of terror is the ex- ereiſe of the: finer parts of the ſyſtem; and BEAUTIFUL. 2575 and fta certain mods of pain be of ſuch a nature as to act upon the eye or the ear, as they are the moſt delicate organs, the af- fection approaches. more nearly to that which has amental cauſe. In all theſe caſes, if the pain and terror are ſo modified as not to be actually noxious; if the pain is not carried to violence, and the terror is not eonverſant about the preſent de- ſtruction of the perſon; as theſe emotions clear the parts, Whether fine, or groſs, of a dangerous and troubleſomè incum- brance, they are capable of producing delight; not pleaſure, but a ſort of de- lightful horror, a - fort of tranquility tinged with terror; which as it belongs toi{elf-preſervation is one of the ſtrong eſt of all the paſſions. Its object is the ſublime d Its higheſt degree T call aſtoniſhment; the ſub6tdinate degrees are awe, reverence, -*and reſpect, which by the very etymology of the words hey from hat ſource they are derived, and Part 2. ſet, 2. | TIE +. how [ \ foregoing explication is, I believe, ſuffi- dient. It will require ſomething more Why inn not 8. A re like W 0? 85 — Mae, eee or ee FO always the cauſe of the ſublime; For terror, or aſſociated danger, the I have given of the ſublime in the ſecond part, are capable of producing a mode of pain, and of heing thus allied to terror, and to be -accounted. for on the ſame principles. And firſt of ſuch ir 8 ene pee ra. Part. "oY Hoy arts * wy 333 Gatos fa hoe ns — OI" * CE ww 4 be 401 2544 vo 44 „ * and BEAUTIFUL 259 why viſual | ohjcts of great Pos T5 are Sublime, 7 ISION! is eee "Bs Narr a picture formed by the rays of light which are reflected from the ob- ject, painted in one piece, inſtantaneouſ- ly, on the retina, or laſt nervous part of the eye. Or, according to others, there | is but one point of any object painted on the eye in ſuch a manner as to be per- ceived at once; but by moving the eye, we gather up with great celerity, the ſe- veral parts of the object, ſo as to form one uniform piece. If the former opi- nion be allowed, it will be conſidered, * that though all the light reflected from 2 large body ſhould ſtrike the eye in one inſtant; yet We muſt: auppoie ** the 5 e Fart 2. feck 7 Kno, e 260 On the SUBLIME 260 On the SUBLIME body itſelf is formed of a vaſt number of diſtin& points, every one of which, or the ray from every one, makes an im preſſion on the retina. © So that, though the image of one point ſhould cauſe but a ſmall tenſion of this membrane, another, and another, and another ſtroke, muſt in their progreſs cauſe a very great one, until it arrives at laſt to the higheſt degree; and the whole capacity of the eye, vibrating in all its parts muſt ap- proach near to the nature of what cauſes pain, and conſequently muſt produce an that one point only of an object is diſtin- guiſhable at once; the matter will amount nearly to the ſame thing, or rather it will make the origin of the fab- lime from greatneſs of dimenſion yet ed at once, tlie eye muſt traverſe the vaſt ſpace of ſuch bodies with great quick- _ ls, and conſequently: the fine "nerves G and and BEAUTIFUL. 261 and muſcles deſtined. to the motion of that part muſt be very much ſtrained; and their great ſenſibility muſt make them highly affected by this ſtraining. Beſides, it ſignifies juſt nothing to the effect produced, whether a body has its parts connected and makes its impreſſion at once; or making but one impreſſion of a point at a time, it cauſes a ſucceſſion of the ſame, Or others, ſo quickly, as: to make them ſeem united; as is evident from the common effect of whirling about a lighted torch or piece of wood; which if done with celerity, ſeems a circle of ng 25 5B om. x. r at Ry 4:1. al ich 0 N LT v why requiſs to rftneſ. 7: TT ti: abjetted to this EY that the eye generally receives an equal number of rays at all times, and EP that of petty ſquares, triangles,” or the like, 262 On the SUBLIME that therefore a great object cahnot affect it by the number of rays, more than that variety of objects which the eye muſt always diſcern” whilft it retabis open. But to this I anſwer, that-admit- ting an equal number of rays, br an equal quantity of luminous particles to ſtrike the eye at all times, yet if 'theſe rays frequently vary their nature nov to blue, now to red; and ſo on, or their manner of termination as to a fumber at "every change, whether of colour” or ſhape, che organ has 4 fort ef relaxation or reſt; but this relaxation and labour ſb often interrupted, 1s by no means pro- ductive of eaſe; neither Has it the effect of vigorous and uniform labour. Who- ever has remarked the different effects of fome R and ſome ite a teazing fretful enpboptwem, which 9 wearies and Weikent the body, © 6 ſhould 3 and BEAUTIFUL. 263 ſhould have nothing great; theſe ſorts of impulſes which are rather teazing than painful, by continually and ſuddenly al- tering their tenor and direction, prevent that full tenſion, that ſpecies of uniform labour, which is allied to ſtrong pain, and cauſes the ſublime. The ſum total of things of various kinds, though it ſhould equal the number of the uniform parts compoſing ſome one entire object, is not equal in its effect upon the organs of our bodies. Beſides the one already aſſigned, there is another very ſtrong rea- ſon for the difference. The mind in reality hardly ever can attend diligently to more than one thing at a time; if and a number of other little objects cannot engage the attention; the mind is bounded by the bounds of the object; and what is not attended to, and what does not exiſt, are much the ſame in * eg * Fe eye or and r 264 On the SUBLIME in this caſe there is no difference) in great uniform objects does not readily arrive at their bounds; it has no feſt, vhilſt it contemplates: them; the itfiage - is much the ſame every Where. 80 that every ching great by its quantity: mußt neceſſarily be, one, ſimple and entire 11 flauoch in ii 16 22 FLEE: 14 3o tan 506 8 Cre rel p blyocl!
The artificial I N FIN I EO Wale and ach zb.2ibod ing 10 XXV E have obſerved, that a ſperies VV of greatneſs ariſes from the ar- tificial infinite; and that this infinite con- liſts in an uniform ſueceſſion of great parts: we obſerved too, that the ſame. uniform ſucceſhon' had a like power in ſounds. But becauſe the effects of many things are clearer in one of the ſenſes than 1 in ano- ther, and that all the fenfes bear an ana- logy to, and illuſtrate one another; I ſhall begin with this power in ſounds, as the cauſe of the ſublimity from ſucceſſion 18 aid BEAUTED UL) 265 is rather more obvious in the ſenſe of Hearing: And I ſhall here once for all obſerbe, chat an iweſtigation of the na- tural and medhanicab cauſes» of our 3 pas Gons, | belides: the: curiafity of the ſub- ject, gives, ifoithey are diſcovered, a double ſtrength and luſtre to any rules we deliver on ſuch matters. When the ear receives any ſimple ſotind, hit ĩs ſtrack by a ſingle pulſe of the air, which makes the car - drum and the other inembranous parts vibrate acoording to the nature and ſpecies of the ſtroke. If the ſtroke be ſtrong, the organ of hearing ſuffers a conſiderable degree of tenſion. If the ſtroke be tepeated pretty ſoon after, the repetition-cauſes an expectation of ano- _ ther ſtroke; And it muſt he obſerved; that expectation itſelf cauſes a tenſion? This is apparent in many animals, Who, when they prepare for hearing any ſound, rouſe themſelves, and prick up their ears; ſo that here the effect of the ſounds is oonſiderabiy au gmented by a new auxiliary, i j —— ——!. ͤVU— ̃ —.wô.w. ot up ORG eh ar teas Sr i. err EEE ri eo > 2 266 n the BUBLIME Lary, the expettation.' But though af- ter a number of ſttokes, we expect ſtill more, not being able to aſcertain the exact time of their arrival, when they arrĩve, they produce a ſort: of -ſurpriſe, which increaſes:this tenſion yet further. For, I have:obferved, that chen at oy time I have. waited very earneſtly for ſme; ſound, that returned at intervals, (as the ſuoceſſive firing of cannon) though I fully expected the return af the ſound; a little; the ear · drum ſuffered a convul- ſion, and the whole body conſented with it. The tenſian of the part thus in- ereaſing at every blow, by the united tion, and the ſurpriſe, it is worked up to ſuch a pitch as to be capable of the ſublime; it is brought juſt. to the verge of pain. Even when the cauſe has ceaſedz the organs of hearing being often fuc- eeflively_ ſtruck in a ſimilar. manner, continue to vibrate in that manner for 13 | ſome and BEAUTIFUL. 265 ſome time longer; this is an additional help to the grcatneſs of the effect.
8E NCT. MI. b ed j i105 zB9fdo | TMs vibration muſt be ex E Ur it the vibration'Þe” vine O lar at every impreſſion, it can never be carried beyond the amber of actual impreſſions; for move any body, ds a pendulum, ini one wrayf and it wilt e. tihue to o Elllate in an areh df tlie. Hub 2 until the known' ese niake"Ie tion in — 2 intd another, it can never reaſſume the firſt direction; becauſe it can never move il ſelf, and conſequently it can have but ſeveral times, it will deſcribe a greater arch, and move a W And at Wiingeg SECT.
* On e SUBLIME Leer inn The effects of SUCCESSION in viſual a IP nn F we can e n; how things operate upon one of our ſenſes; there can be very little difficulty in con- ceiving in what manner they affect the reſt. To ſay a great deal therefore up- on the correſponding affections of every Hank would tend rather to fatigus us by an uſeleſs repetition, than to throw any new light upon the ſubject, by that am- ple and diffuſe manner of treating it;; but as in this diſcourſe we chiefly attach our- ſelves. to "the: lublime, as it affods "a — diſpoſition of abifores'p Sen the lame right line ſhould be ſublime, * and upon what principle this diſpoſition is enabled to make a comparatively ſmall * Part 2. ſect. 10.
3523 quantity and BEAUTIFUL. 269 quantity of matter produce a grander effect, than a much larger quantity diſ- poſed in another manner. To avoid the perplexity of general notions; let us ſet before our eyes a colonnade of uniform pillars planted in a right line; let us take our ſtand, in ſuch a manner, that the eye may ſhoot along this; colonnade, for it has its beſt effect in this view. In our preſent ſituation it is plain, that the rays from the firſt round pillar will, cauſe in the eye a vibration of that ſpe- cies; an image of the pillar itſelf. The pillar immediately ſucceeding increaſes it; that which follows renews and en- forces the impreſſion; each in its order pulſe, and ſtroke after ſtroke, until the eye long exerciſed in one particular way cannot loſe that object immediately; and being violently rouſed by this conti- nued agitation, it preſents the mind with a grand or ſublime conception. But in- * of viewing a rank of uniform pillars; — 27: on the SUBLIME 88 us ſuppoſe, that: they ſucceed: _ each other, a round and a ſquare one alternabely. In this; caſe the vibration cauſed by the firſt round pillar periſhes as ſoon as it is formed; and one of quite another ſort (the ſquare) directly occu- pies its place; which however it reſigns as quickly to the round one; and thus . Refs wag, ag as long whe building continues. From whence it is obvious, that at the laſt pilar, the impreſſion is as far from conunuing as ir was at the very firſt; becauſe in fact, the ſenſory can receive no diſtinct impreffion but from the laft; and'it can never of itſelf reſume a diſſi- milar impreſſion: beſides, every vatia- tion of the object is a reſt and relaxarelüefs prevent that powerful emotion fo neceſſary to: praduce the ſublime. To produce therefore a perfect Srandeur in . as we have been mention and BEAUTIFUL. 27: ing; there ſhould be a perfect ſimplicity; an blurs -uniformiry "in Upon be aſked; why a long bare wall ſhould not be a more ſublime object than a 00» lonnade; ſinoe the ſucceſſion is no way interrupted; ſince the eye meets no check; ſince n- more uniform ican be conceivedi A eee nade- of the ame length and height. 20 is not altagether difficult to account po this difference: When we look at 2 naked wall, from the evenneſs/qf the object, the eye runs along its whole ſpace, and arrives quickly at its termination; the eye meets nothing which may inter- _ thing which may detain it a proper time to produce a very great and laſting effed. The vie of a bare wall, if it be 0 2 great height and length, is undoubt- ed grand but this is only one idea, « TL tk. * > 272 On] the 8 URLUM E and not a hh of ſumilan ideas; it is therefore great, not do much upon tho neſs.;;But: we:are not ſa,;owetfully: af- Red: with any one inipulſe;” unlſs ĩt be ons of a prodigiouis force indeed, as we are becauſe the nerves of the ſenſdry do not (if Tanay uſes the expreſſion) acquite a habit of | repeating tlie /ſame feeling in than its c cauſe tis in action; beſides, all the effects which L have attributed te expectation and ſurpriſe inſetcti ni. can ee eee ee Boe red eie eee e e p$@:8nmerry. MIV. VU 1.5: kp iW. Hi: ic xt at Lockeis r ppHh,ũjEz̈l!: concerning darkneſs, Sate dry/oeenfidereds/u; hit} ga t5:natfts bes tov; & 9 % Panke bak and BEAUTIP UIG 253 painful to the ſenſe, that tlie greateſt exceſs of darkneſs is no ways troubleſome: He obſerves indeed ih another place, that a nurſe or an old Yman having onee aſſociated the ideas of ghoſts and goblins: with that cf flarkneſs; night ever after becomes painful and horrible to ces imagination The authority of this great man is doubtleſs as great; as that of any man can be, and it ſeems to ſtand in the way of our geteral principle. We have conſidered, paim or terror; ſo chat, if darkneſs be ho wif abit or terrible to any, who = have not had their mihds early tinted with ſuperſtitions, it can be no ſource of the ſublime to them. But with all de 2 ferenge 1 to fuch an authority; z it ſeems to me, dba an affoeistion of a more gene- ral n ature, an af ociat a which takes in ; OW N. air On art 2. ſect. 3.
1 "of darleneſs as a cauſe of the ſublime; and we'hiveall along: conſidered the ſublime as depending on ſome modification of = 1 274 On the SUBLIME, | all mankind may male darkneſs tertble;, for in utter darkneſs; it reines —ů — hd et, round us: we may every moment ſtrike againſt ame dangerous obftruQion 3 we may fall down a precipiee the firſt ſtep We take; and if an enemy approach, vr kriow- not in. has quarter to defend ourſelves; in ſuch a 26aſe. ſtrength is no ſure protection; wiſdom can only act by —— bald W muh 1 ahem. ed! een A * P Elk fas: 1990 ee TP e 8}, JEL!
And BEAUTIFUL) 2575 thit- ſuch representations hav##'made darkneſs: ' terrible:.'The rind of man that the effect of an idea ſo univerſall/ terrible ih alk times, nd/invll"eBuntties,”; —. r tale dbb Gr 5 | eaaſe af a © 'nbunds 10 trivial, And "of an | | 1 * 1 * * * pany 4, : : ' i ur in ome ee pid pn — —b;V eee ee er Ree ere PR ry ALD": = m——n—_——— bad 1 0 ſelden tells as; that the firſt- time the boy ſaw a black object, i Uneafineſs; and that ſome time after, 276 On e e ia 4d E had deen born — and fri — ſo until he was thirteen or foùrteen years old; he: was then couched for à cataract, by which operation he received his ſight. Among many remarkable particulars that attended his firſt perceptions, and judgments on | viſual objects, Chegave him great upon accidentally ſeeing a negro woman, he was ſtruck with great horror at the fight. The horror, in this cafe! ca ſcarcely be ſuppoſed to ariſe from any aſſociation - The boy appears by the count to have been particularly obſervin and ſenſible for one of his age: and there - Gre, it is probable, if the great uncaſi- neſs: hep felt at the firſt ght of black had ariſen from its/cohnexion- with; any? other diſagrecable ideas;) he would: have: and BEAUTIFUL. 277 cauſe of its ill effect on the paſſions evi- dent enough at the firſt impreſſion; in ordinary caſes, it is indeed frequently loſt; but this is, becauſe the original aſſocia- tion was made very early, and the con- ſequent impreſſion repeated often. In our inſtance, there was no time for ſuch an habit; and there is no reaſon to thin that the ill effects of black on his imanexion with any difagreeable ideas, than that the good effects of more cheerful calours. ws derived from their connexion with pleaſing ones. They had bath probably weir r effects Fog: their tion.
F v I © x gination were more owing to its con- — — pale — TEM Hs 2 . e ei ee nn 1 I '$ It- LY * nom, s * Or. xi 14 Why DARKNESS is cemibl, T. ma ho i ds to ci a L how darkneſs 'cat" operate. in ſuch a manner as to cauſe pain. It is obier⸗ vable,i that ſeill as e vebede frog the light; nature has ſo —— that dee ppl is aged by; ths 18 -'of che iris; in Propertian to — receſs.” Naw inſtead: Gf declining" 'from it but a little; ſuppaſt that we withdroy entirely from the? light; it is 'reaſonable to think, that the contraction af the! ra» dial fibres of the iris is proportionably greater; and that this part may by ch darkneſs come to be ſo contracted, as to ſtrain the nerves that eampaſe it beyond their natural tone; and by this means to produce a painful ſenſation. Such a tenſion it ſeems there ce is, whilſt we are involyed in darkness; for in ſuch a ſtate whilſt continual nifus:to receive light; this is ma- nifeſt from the flaſhes, and luminous apcumſtances to play before it; and which can be nothing but the effect of ſpaſms, its object; ſeveral other ſtrong im- pulſes will. produce the idea of light in the eye, belides the ſubſtance of light itſelf, as we experience on many ofions.. Some who allow. darkneſs th be a cauſe of the ſublime, would infer from the dilatation--of the pupil, that a re- laxation may be productive of the ſubs lime as ell as a convulſion; but they do not, I believe, conſider, that although-- the eircular ring of the iris be in ſ ſenſe a ſphincter, which may politily-be. dilated by a ſimple relaxation, yet in one xeſpeR it differs from moſt: of: the other ſphincters of the body, that it is n with antagoniſt muſcles, which T 4 are AUTIFUL 259 U rr — 289 On tlie SUBLIME are the radial fibres of the iris; no ſooner does the circular muſcle begin ta relax, than theſe fibres wanting their counterpoiſe, are forcibly drawn back, and open the pupil to a conſiderable wideneſs. But though we were not apprized of this, I believe any one will find if he opens-his eyes and makes an effort to ſee in a dark place, that a very perceivable pain enſues. And I bave heard ſome ladies remark, that after ha- ving worked a long time upon à ground of black, their eyes were ſa pained and : weakened: they. could hardly ſee. It may perhaps be objected to this theory of the mechanical effect of darkneſs, that the ill effects of darkneſs or black neſs; ſeem rather mental than corporeal; and 1 own it is true, chat they do (63 andiſo do all thoſe that depend on the affections of the ſiner parts of our ſy- ſtem. The ill effects of bad 'weather er often no N in 4 melanmelan- : and BEAUTIFUL. 231 melancholy and dejection of ſpirits, though without douht, in this caſe, the bodily organs a —_— een Wa enen Thelen BLACKNESS. SI 1 Þ ackneG is but d en see O and therefore it derives ſome of its 4 from being mixed and furrounds ed with coloured bodies. In its own nature, it cannot be conſidered as a co. lour. Black bodies, reflecting none, or but a few rays, with regard to fight, are but as ſo many vacant ſpaces pete among the objects we view. When the eye lights on one of theſe vaeuities, af ter having been kept in ſome degree of tenſion by the play of the adjacent” co lours upon it, it ſuddenly falls into a re- Jaxation'; out of which it as ſuddenly recovers by a convulſive ſpring. To il. luſtrate foe •[0nmãũ9u.
£2 On the 8 UBLIME luſtrate this; let us conſidar, that when we.intend to ſit on a chair, and find it much lower than was expected, the ſhock is very violent; much more vio- lent than could be thought from ſo ſlight a fall as the difference between one chair and another can poſſibly make. If, aſter deſcending a flight of ſtairs, we attempt inadvertently to take another ſtep in the manner of the former ones, the ſhock is extremely rude and difagree- - a ſhock. by the ſame means, when we | > expect and prepare for it. When I ſay, that this is owing to having the change made contrary. to expectation; I do not mean ſolely, when the mind expects. I mean likewiſe, that when any organ of ſenſe is for ſome time affected in ſome one manner, if it be ſuddenly af · fected otherwiſe there enſues; a cou five motion; ſuch a convulſion as ig cauſed when any thing happens againſt the NOR of the mind. And though it and BEAUTIFUL. 283 it may appear ſtrange that ſuch a change as produces a relaxation, ſhould imme diately produce a ſudden convulſion; it is yet moſt certainly ſo, and ſa in all the ſenſes. Every one knows that fleep is a relaxation; and that filence, where nothing keeps the organs of hearing in action, is in general fitteſt to bring on this relaxation; yet waen a ſort of mur- muring ſounds diſpoſe a man to ſleep, let theſe ſounds ceaſe ſuddenly, and the perſon immediately awakes; that is, the parts are braced up ſuddenly, and he awakes. This I have often experienced myſelf, and I have heard the ſame from obſerving perſons. | In like manner, if a perſon in broad day light were falling aſleep, to introduce a ſudden darknefs would prevent his ſleep for that time, though filence and darkneſs in themſelves, and not ſuddenly introduced, are very favourable to it. This I knew only by conjecture on the analogy of the ſenſes when Tt ſt digeſted. theſe obſervations A but 284 On the SUBLIME but 1 bave ſince experienced it. And I have often experienced, and fo have thouſand others; that on the firſt in- lning ' towards ſeep, we have been fiddenly awakened with a moſt violent ſtart; and'that this ſtart was generally preceded by a fort of dream of our fal- ling down a precipice: | ſtrange motion ariſe; but from the too ſudden relaxation of the body, which by ſome mechaniſin in nature reſtores it- ſelf by as quick and vigorous an exer- tion of che contmcting Power of the muſcles? the dream itſelf ib cauſed by this relaxation; and it is of too uniform a nature to be attribute te aß the cauſe. The Parts relax too "Kiddenily, which i is in the nature of falling; and 525 accident of the body imduces this im ge in the'mind. When WE ale in 2 . ſtate of health"s and” vigour,” 2 al changes are, then et ſudden, pd = gn the cx Extreme, we can an ſeldom dm fob difagreeable ss. 0g SEC A 8. ect of BLACKNESS mr | Aeg in 2 0 UNI...think:they always continue ſo. Cuſtom reconciles ys,.to,every-thingii:; After we have been uſed to, the ſight of black ob- jects, the terror, abates, and the ſmooths, neſs, and gloſſineſs or ſome agreeable aceident of bodies ſo coloured, ſoſtens in ſome meaſure. the horror and ſterſineſs of their original nature yet tho; nature of the original impreſſion ſtill continues. Black will always haye ſomething; melancholy in it, becauſe the ſenſory will always find the change to it from other colours too violent; or if it occupy e whole commpaſs of the ſight, it will then be darkneſf; and what was ſaid of dark- neſs, will be applicable here. I do not eee 4x9 lee, dl dr de 5 e we at not 1 * 286 - on the SUBLAFME aid to illuſtrate this theory of the effects of light and darkneſs; neither will 1 examine all the different effects produced of theſe two cauſes: If the foregoin obſervations Have any foundatibfr in ture, I conceive them very ſufficient aecount for all che phænemena that can ariſe from all:the combinations of black with other evlours. ' To eiter particular; or te anſwet every objection only followed- che moſt Jeading roads, and. we hall: obſerve” the ſame ond ie the cauſe of anner * el * Aer. SOLO * Wi WAN 6 err (et 8. E c oy XX I Hi. LOTS” 8 * r an * CEP Ys II. 5 TY; * 111: vr Ys "216 tt ſe of LO. VE. nik PICs CASA % 7 placeney, the body is affected, ſo far a Sm mianner. —_ — — uaty with!
an inclination to the object the mouth isa little opened, and n bechth rnb the whole! body is colnpoſed; and che hands fall:)dly: to the ſides. Al n Gib accompanied: with 2 1 eee melting and danguor. Theſs "I ene [the degieziof er ae enim — 8 nc. | the 288. On the 8 UBLINME the natural tone ſeemꝭ to me to be the cauſe of all poſitive pleaſure. Who is a ſttanger to that manner of expreſſion 16: common im all æimes and in all countries, of being ſoftened, relaxed, enervated, diſſolved, melted away by pleaſure? The univerſal voice of mankind; faithful to their feelings,. coricurs im affirming this uniform and general effect; and although ſome odd and particular inſtance may per- haps be found, wherein there appears a conſiderable degree of poſitive pleaſure, without all the characters of relaxation, we muſt not therefore reſect the conclu- fion we had drawn from a (concurrence! of many experiments, but we muſt. ſtill tetain it, ſubjoining the exceptions which may occur according to the juchcious rule laid down hy Sir Iſaac Newton in the third book of his Optics. Our poſition will; I conceive, appear confirmed beyond 1 if nn char woche the Seen conſtituents — 9442 have and BEAUTI F UL 289 have each of them ſeparately taken a natural tendency to relax the fibres. And if it muſt be allowed us, that the appearance of the human body, when all theſe conſti- tuents are united together before the ſenſory, further favours this opinion, we may venture, I believe, to conclude, that the paſſion called love is. produced by this te- laxation. By the ſame method of reaſon- ing, which we have uſed. in. the enquiry: FREY S chat a8 wa e object pre; eſented. to the ſenſe; by cauſing | a relaxation in the "body, produces the oP * its origin in the mind, | A relaxation of the outward. organs will as certainly enſue in a degree Proportioned t to | the 7 r it TI Wer SBI act ET ore FORE ee eee i; 1. 5 e tit IO OE a 42 7 F U S.
* paſſion of love i in the mind; ſo if by aD. means the paſſion "ſhould: firſt” have, = 290 On the SUBLIME ne. K Why SMOOTHNEss is beautiful.
T is to explain the true cauſe of viſual beauty, that I call in the aſſi- ſtance of the other ſenſes. If it appears that ſmoothneſs is a principal cauſe of pleaſure to the touch, taſte, ſmell, and hearing, it will be eaſily admitted a con- frituent of viſual beauty; eſpecially as we have before ſhewn, that this quality is found almoſt without exception in all bodies that are by general conſent held bodies which are rough and angular, rouſe and vellicate the organs of feeling, cauſing a fenſe of pain, which conſiſts in the vio- lent tenſion or contraction of the muſ- : cular fibres. On the contrary, the application of ſmooth bodies relax; gentle ſtroking with a ſmooth hand allays vio- lent and BEAUTIFUL, 291 lent pains and cramps; and relaxes. the ſuffering parts from their unnatural ten- ſion; and it has therefore very often no mean effect in removing ſwellings and obſtructions. The ſenſe of feeling is highly gratified with ſmooth bodies. A bed ſmoothly laid, and ſoft, that is, where the reſiſtance. is every way incon- ſiderable, is a great luxury, diſpoling to an univerſal relaxation, and inducing beee N e T. I.
$WEBTNESS, is nature; TOR is 3 amd. oy ſmooth bodies cauſe poſitive. pleaſure by relaxation. In the ſmell and taſte, we find all chings agreeable to them, and which are commonly called ſweet, to be of a ſmooth nature, and i 2 that 292 On the SUBLIME that they all evidently tend to relax their reſpective ſenſories. Let us. firſt conſider the taſte. Since it is moſt eaſy, to en- quire into the property of liquids, and ſince all things ſeem to want a fluid ve- hicle to make them taſted at all, I in- tend rather to conſider the liquid than the ſolid parts of our food. The vehi- cles of all taſtes are water and oil. And what determines the taſte is ſome ſalt, which affects vatiouſly according to its nature, or its manner of being combin- ed with other things. Water and oil ſimply conſidered are capable of giving ſome pleaſure to the taſte. Water, when ſimple, is inſipid, inodorous, «colourleſs, and ſmooth; it is found when not cold to be a great reſolver of ſpaſms, and lubri- cator of the fibres; this" power it pro- bably owes to its ſmoothneſb. For as fluidity depends] according to the moſt general opinion, on the roundriefs;fmooth- my, and weak coheſion of che 8; ak e UN ment” and BEAUTIFUI. 293 nent parts of any body; and as water acts merely as a ſimple fluid; it follows, that the cauſe of its fluidity: 18- likewiſe the cauſe of its relaxing quality; namely, the ſmoothneſs and ſlippery texture