is represented to the life; a picture remarkable for high colouring as well as for strictnefs of imitation :

Worcester. Peace, coufin, fay no more.
And now I will unclasp a fecret book,
And to your quick-conceiving discontents
I'll read you matter, deep and dangerous;
As full of peril and advent❜rous fpirit
As to o'erwalk a current, roaring loud,
On the unsteadfast footing of a fpear.

Hotspur. If he fall in, good-night. Or fink or
fwim,

Send danger from the eaft into the west,
So honour cross it from the north to fouth;
And let them grapple. O! the blood more ftirs
To rouse a lion than to start a hare.

Worcester. Thofe fame Noble Scots;

That are your prifoners

Hotspur. I'll keep them all.

By Heav'n, he shall not have a Scot of them:
No, if a Scot would fave his foul, he fhall not;
I'll keep them, by this hand.

Worcester. You ftart away,

And lend no ear unto my purposes;

Those pris'ners you fhall keep.

Hotfpur. I will; that's flat:

He faid, he would not ranfom Mortimer: 3 C 2

Forbad

Forbad my tongue to speak of Mortimer :
But I will find him when he lies afleep,
And in his ear I'll holla Mortimer!
Nay, I will have a starling taught to speak
Nothing but Mortimer, and give it him,
To keep his anger still in motion.

Worcester. Hear you, coufin, a word.
Hotspur. All ftudies here I folemnly defy,
Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke:
And that fame fword- and buckler Prince of
Wales,

(But that I think his father loves him not,
And would be glad he met with fome mifchance),
I'd have him poifon'd with a pot of ale.
Worcester. Farewel, my kinfman, I will talk

to you,

When you are better temper'd to attend.

Firft part, Henry IV. at 1. fc. 4.

Having viewed a train of perceptions as directed by nature, and the variations it is fufceptible of from different neceffary caufes, we proceed to examine how far it is fubjected to will; for that will hath fome influence, more or lefs, is obferved above. And first, the rate of fucceffion may be retarded by infifting upon one object, and propelled

propelled by difmiffing another before its time. But fuch voluntary mutations in the natural courfe of fucceffion, have limits that cannot be extended by the most painful efforts. The mind circumfcribed in its capacity, cannot, at the fame inftant, admit many perceptions; and when replete, it has no place for new perceptions till others be removed. For this reafon, a voluntary change of perceptions cannot be inftantaneous; and the time it requires fets bounds to the velocity of fucceffion. On the other hand, the power we have to arrest a flying perception, is equally limited. The longer we detain any perception, the more difficulty we find in the operation; till, the difficulty becoming unfurmountable, we are forced to quit our hold, and to permit the train to take its usual course.

The power we have over this train as to uniformity and variety, is in fome cafes very great, in others very little. A train fo far as compofed of external objects, depends entirely on the place we occupy, and admits not more or less variety but by change of place. A train compofed of ideas of me

mory,

mory, is ftill lefs under our power. Objects which are connected, afford the mind an eafy paffage from one to another. They fuggeft each other in idea by the fame means; and we cannot at will call up any idea that is not connected with the train *. But a train of ideas fuggefted by reading, may be varied at will, provided we have books in ftore.

This power which nature hath given us over our train of perceptions, may be greatly ftrengthened by proper difcipline, and by an early application to business. Its improved strength is remarkable in those who have a strong genius for the mathematics : nor less remarkable in perfons devoted to religious exercises, who pafs whole days in contemplation, and impose upon themselves long and severe penances. It is not to be conceived, what length a habit of activity in affairs will carry fome men. Let a stranger, or let any person to whom the fight is not familiar, attend the Chancellor of Great Britain through the labours but of one day,

See chap. I..

during a feffion of parliament: how great will be his astonishment! what multiplicity of law-business, what deep thinking, and what elaborate application to matters of government! The train of perceptions muft in this great man be accelerated far beyond the common courfe of nature. Yet no confufion nor hurry; but in every article the greatest order and accuracy. Such is the force of habit! How happy is man, to have the command of a principle of action, that can elevate him fo far above the ordinacondition of humanity * !

ry

We are now ripe for confidering a train of perceptions with respect to pleasure and pain: and to this fpeculation we must give peculiar attention, because it ferves to explain the effects that uniformity and variety have upon the mind. A man is always in a pleasant state of mind, when his perceptions flow in their natural courfe. He feels himself free, light, and eafy, especially after any forcible acceleration or retardation. On the other hand, the refiftance felt in retarding or accelerating the natural course, excites a pain, which, though fcarcely felt

This chapter was compofed in the year 1753.