Sect. XXII. 2. x. AND IMITATION. i 99 



proceeds the irkfomenefs of a continued attitude, and of an in- 

 dolent life. 



However fmall this hourly accumulation of the fpirit of ani- 

 mation may be, it produces a propenfity to forne kind of action^ 

 but it neverthelefs requires either defire or averfion, either pleas- 

 ure or pain, or ibme external ftimulus, or a previous link of aC 

 fociation, to excite the fyftem into activity ; thus it frequently 

 happens, when the mind and body are fo unemployed as not to 

 poffefs any of the three firft kinds of ftimuli, that the laffc takes 

 place, and confumes the imali but perpetual accumulation of fen- 

 forial power. Whence fome indolent people repeat the fame 

 verfe for hours together, or hum the fame tune. Thus the poet - 



Onward he trudged, not knowing what he fought. 

 And whittled as he went, for want of thought. 



II. The repetitions of motions may be at firft produced either 

 by volition, or by fenfation, or by irritation, but they foon become 

 eafier to perform than any other kinds of action, becaufe they 

 foon become a floriated together, according to Law the feventh 5 

 Section IV. on Animal Caufation. And becaufe their fre- 

 quency of repetition, if as muchfenforial power be produced du- 

 ring every reiteration as is expended, adds to the facility of 

 their production. 



If a ftimulus be repeated at uniform intervals of time, as de~ 

 fcribed in Seel:. XII. 3.3. the action, whether of our mufcies or 

 organs of fenfe, is produced with ftill greater facility or energy* 

 becaufe the fenforial power of aflbciation, mentioned above, is 

 combined with the fenforial power of irritation ; that is, in com- 

 mon language, the acquired habit affifts the power of the ftimuJuc- 



This not only obtains in the annual, lunar, and diurnal catena- 

 tions of animal motions, as explained in Sect. XXXVI. which 

 are thus performed with great facility and energy ; but in everjr 

 lefs circle of actions or ideas, as in the burthen of a fong, or the 

 reiterations of a dance. To the facility and diftinctnefs, with. 

 which we hear founds at repeated intervals, we owe the pleafure, 

 which we receive from mulical time, and from poetic time ; as 

 defcribed in Botanic Garden, P. 2. Interlude 3. And to this 

 the pleafure we receive from the rhimes and alliterations of mod- 

 ern verification ; the fource of which without this key would 

 be difficult to difcover. And to this likewife fhould be afcribed 

 the beauty of the duplicature in the perfect tenfe of the Greek 

 verbs, and of fome Latin ones, as tango tetegi, mordeo momordi- 

 There is no variety of notes referable to the gamut in the 

 beating of the drum, yet if it be performed in mulical time, it is 



agree: 



