be contrafted in forming a garden; no temples, no obfcure walks; but jets d'eau, caf cades, objects active, gay, and fplendid. Nay fuch a garden fhould in fome meafure avoid imitating nature, by taking on an extraordinary appearance of regularity and art, to fhow the bufy hand of man, which in a waste country has a fine effect by contrast. It may be gathered from what is faid above*, that wit and ridicule make not an agreeable mixture with grandeur. Diffimilar emotions have a fine effect in a flow fucceffion; but in a rapid fucceffion, which approaches to co-existence, they will not be relished. In the midft of a laboured and elevated description of a battle, Virgil introduces a ludicrous image, which is certainly out of its place: Obvius ambuftum torrem Chorinæus ab ara * Chap. 2. part 4. VOL. I. En. xii. 298. 3 B The The following image is not lefs ludicrous, nor less improperly placed. Mentre fan quefti i bellici stromenti Perche debbiano tofto in ufo porfe, gran nemico de l'humane genti, וד Contra i Chriftiani i lividi occhi torfe : Gierufal, cant. 4. ft. 1. It would however be too auftere, to banish altogether ludicrous images from an epic poem. This poem doth not always foar above the clouds. It admits great variety; and upon occafions can defcend even to the ground without finking. In its more familiar tones, a ludicrous scene may be introduced without impropriety. This is done by Virgil in defcribing a foot-race ; the circumftances of which, not excepting the ludicrous part, are copied from Homert. After a fit of merryment, we are, * En. lib. 5. . Iliad, book 23. 1.879. it is true, the lefs difpofed to the ferious and fublime but then, a ludicrous fcene, by unbending the mind from fevere application to more interesting fubjects, may prevent fatigue, and preferve our relish entire. WH HEN I apply myself to explain uniformity and variety, and to fhow how we are affected by these circumstances, it appears doubtful what method ought to be followed. I foresee feveral difficulties in keeping close to my text; and yet by indulging a range, fuch as may be neceffary for a clear view, I fhall certainly incur the cenfure of wandering.- Be it fo. One ought not to abandon the right track for fear of cenfure. The collateral matters, befide, that will be introduced, are curious, and not of flight importance in the science of human nature. The neceffary fucceffion of perceptions, is a fubject formerly handled, so far as it depends on the relations of objects and their mutual mutual connections*. But that fubject is not exhausted; and I take the liberty to introduce it a second time, in order to explain in what manner we are affected by uniformity and variety. The world we inhabit is replete with things not lefs remarkable for their variety than their number. These, unfolded by the wonderful mechanism of external fenfe, furnish the mind with many perceptions, which, joined with ideas of memory, of imagination, and of reflection, form a complete train that has not a gap or interval. This tide of objects, in a continual flux, is in a good measure independent of will. The mind, as has been obferved †, is fo conftituted, "That it can by no effort "break off the fucceffion of its ideas, nor keep its attention long fixt upon the fame object." We can arreft a perception in its courfe; we can fhorten its natural duration, to make room for another; we can vary the fucceffion by change of place or amufement; and we can in fome mea * Chap. I. + Locke, book 2. chap. 14. fure |