SECT. IX.

WHY VISUAL OBJECTS OF GREAT DIMENSIONS ARE SUBLIME.

VISION is performed by having a picture formed by the rays of light which are reflected from the object painted in one piece, inftantaneously, on the retina, or laft nervous part of the eye. Or, according to others, there is but one point of any object painted on the eye in fuch a manner as to be perceived at once; but by moving the eye, we gather up, with great celerity, the feveral parts of the object, fo as to form one uniform piece. If the former opinion be allowed, it will be confidered*, that though all the light reflected from a large body should strike the eye in one instant; yet we must suppose that the body itself is formed of a vast number of diftinct points, every one of which, or the ray from every one, makes an impreffion on the retina, So that, though the image of one point fhould caufe but a fmall tenfion of this membrane, another, and another, and another ftroke, muft in their progrefs caufe 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 approach near to the nature of what caufes pain, and confequently muft produce an

*Part II. fect. 7.

idea of the fublime. Again, if we take it, that one point only of an object is distinguishable at once; the matter will amount nearly to the fame thing, or rather it will make the origin of the fublime from greatnefs of dimenfion yet clearer. For if but one point is obferved at once, the eye muft traverse the vaft fpace of fuch bodies with great quickness, and confequently the fine nerves and muscles destined to the motion of that part must be very much ftrained; and their great fenfibility must make them highly affected by this ftraining. Befides, it fignifies juft nothing to the effect produced, whether a body has its parts connected and makes its impreffion at once; or, making but one impreffion of a point at a time, it causes a fucceffion of the fame or others fo quickly as to make them feem united; as is evident from the common effect of whirling about a lighted torch or piece of wood: which if done with celerity, feems a circle of fire.

SECT. X.

UNITY WHY REQUISITE TO VASTNESS.

IT may be objected to this theory, that the eye generally receives an equal number of rays at all times, and that therefore a great object cannot affect it by the number of rays, more than that variety of objects which the eye muft always difcern.

whilft it remains open. But to this I answer, that admitting an equal number of rays, or an equal quantity of luminous particles to ftrike the eye at all times, yet if these rays frequently vary their nature, now to blue, now to red, and fo on, or their manner of termination, as to a number of petty fquares, triangles, or the like, at every change, whether of colour or fhape, the organ has a fort of relaxation or reft; but this relaxation and labour fo often interrupted, is by no means productive of ease; neither has it the effect of vigorous and uniform labour. Whoever has remarked the different effects of fome strong exercise, and some little piddling action, will understand why a teafing fretful employment, which at once wearies and weakens the body, fhould have nothing great; these forts of impulfes, which are rather teafing than painful, by continually and fuddenly altering their tenour and direction, prevent that full tenfion, that fpecies of uniform labour, which is allied to ftrong pain, and causes the fublime. The fum total of things of various kinds, though it fhould equal the number of the uniform parts compofing fome one entire object, is not equal in its effect upon the organs of our bodies. Befides the one already affigned, there is another very ftrong reafon for the difference. The mind in reality hardly ever can attend diligently to more than one thing at a time; if this thing be little, the effect is little, and a number

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 exift, are much the fame in the effect; but the eye or the mind (for in this cafe there is no difference) in great uniform objects does not readily arrive at their bounds; it has no reft, whilft it contemplates them; the image is much the fame every where. where. So that So that every thing great by its quantity muft neceffarily be one, fimple and entire.

SECT. XI.

THE ARTIFICIAL INFINITE.

WE have obferved, that a fpecies. of greatnefs arifes from the artificial infinite; and that this infinite confifts in an uniform fucceffion of great parts we obferved too, that the fame uniform fucceffion had a like power in founds. But because the effects of many things are clearer in one of the fenses than in another, and that all the fenfes bear analogy to, and illuftrate one another, I fhall begin with this power in founds, as the cause of the sublimity from fucceffion is rather more obvious in the fenfe of hearing. And I fhall here once for all, observe, that an inveftigation of the natural and mechanical caufes of our paffions, besides the curiofity of the fubject, gives, if they are discover

ed,

ed, a double ftrength and luftre to any rules we deliver on fuch matters. When the ear receives any fimple found, 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 and fpecies of the ftroke. If the ftroke be strong, the organ of hearing fuffers a confiderable degree of tenfion. If the ftroke be repeated pretty foon after, the repetition caufes an expectation of another ftroke. And it must be obferved, that expectation itself caufes a tenfion. This is apparent in many animals, who, when they prepare for hearing any found, roufe themselves, and prick

up their ears: fo that here the effect of the founds is confiderably augmented by a new auxiliary, the expectation. But though after a number of ftrokes, we expect ftill more, not being able to afcertain the exact time of their arrival, when they arrive, they produce a fort of furprise, which increases this tenfion yet further. For I have observed, that when at any time I have waited very earneftly for fome found, that returned at intervals, (as the fucceffive firing of cannon) though I fully expected the return of the found, when it came it always made me ftart a little; the eardrum fuffered a convulsion, and the whole body confented with it. The tenfion of the part thus increasing at every blow, by the united forces of the ftroke itfelf, the expectation, and the furprife,

it