82 ESSAY upon the PRINCIPLES 



THIS double ufe of imagination in the compofition of hifto- 

 ry is perfectly confiftent with the definition at firft given of that 

 power. There is always reality in the emotion excited by figu- 

 rative language; but, at fome times, there is none in the fubject 

 of it, and, at other times, the qualities of that fubject are not 

 perceived precifely as they exift. A defcription, too, if rigidly 

 interpreted according to the letter, would be virtually deftroyed. 

 Principles ftrictly logical are not to be applied to terms deno- 

 ting an exertion of fancy \ becaufe they carry along with them 

 more or lefs latitude, according to the intention of the fpeaker 

 at the time. The aggregate of thefe terms fuggefts fome what 

 different from that which it naturally excites. It only begins 

 the picture which the fancy of the hearer muft complete, and 

 leaves that tafk to be performed by this delicate faculty, for 

 which the powers of expreflion fimply are unfit. 



BY a fine imagination, then, the hiftorian's language acquires 

 energy, and his defcriptions livelinefs. The power may improve 

 his expreflion (we have found) without adulterating his matter. 

 It may, in fome inflances, be too ftrong, and, in others, too 

 weak. In either cafe, the feelings of the writer and the reader 

 may be in unifon, without hitting their due pitch; and the 

 high purpofes of language, as the inflrument of nice interpre" 

 tation, muft be thereby defeated. 



IN die account already given of the powers of feeling and 

 imagination, a reference has been made to another one, whofe 

 province it is to control the exceffes of both. When the two 

 former are feeble, the perfon in whom this is the cafe, muft, 

 for ever, keep the rank which nature has afligned him. Na 

 provifion is made for multiplying the avenues by which percep- 

 tions can enter his mind, nor for increafing his power of form- 

 ing ideal combinations of fuch as do. By means of judgment, 

 however, luxuriance may be corrected, though deficiency can- 

 not be fupplied ; and fuch a balance may be eftablifhed among 

 the different powers, as will conftitute the perfection of each. 



JUDGMENT 



