STUDY X. 47 



in our climates, produces quite contrary effects, 

 for, during Winter, fhe redoubles our repofe 

 within doors, by covering the face of Heaven with 

 dark and rainy clouds. All depends, as I have 

 juft faid, on the firft impulfion which the foul 

 receives. Lucretius is, undoubtedly, right in fay- 

 ing, that our pleafure and fecurity, on fhore, are 

 greatly increafed by the fight of a ftorm at fea. 



A Painter, accordingly, who wifhed to flrengthen, 

 in a picture, the effect of a beautiful landfcape, 

 and the felicity of it's inhabitants, would only have 

 to reprefent, in the back- ground, a vefTel at the 

 mercy of the winds, and of the raging deep : the 

 happinefs of the fhepherds would, in this cafe, be 

 powerfully heightened by contrail with the diftrefs 

 of the mariners. But if it were his intention, on 

 the contrary, to augment the horrors of a tempeft, 

 it would be neceffary for him to place, in oppo- 

 fition to the diftrefs of the mariners, the felicity 

 of the fhepherds ; and, for this effect, the veiTel 

 muft be introduced between the fpectator and the 

 landfcape. The firft fentiment depends on the 

 firft impulfion ; and the ground contrafting with 

 the fcene, is fo far from being a deviation from 

 Nature, that the leading object is impreffed with 

 additional energy, by being thrown back upon it- 

 felf. Thus, it is poffible, with the fame objecls 



placed 



