184 FRAGMENTS ON' THE BEAUTIFUL. 



a faint drefim of freedom, there is a leaping joy in the bosom. We catch 

 the grace, the ease, the swiftness, and are for the lime companions of 

 the springing antelope, twirling her tiny limbs and careering over the 

 plain like a frisking vapor driven wild before the chasing wind. 



There is a glory around the setting sun. The quivering lances of 

 red light are darted against the cloud-shielded breast of Heaven. — The 

 deep glow kindling the air-woven vapors, reflected from hill-side and 

 house-top, rock and tree, mirrored in every still pool, and flashing in 

 every dimpled stream — lights up all things with unconsuming fire, and 

 makes a universe of flame. 



"The glorious sun 



Stays in his course, and plays the Alchemist ; 



Turning with splendor of his precious eye, 



The meagre, cloddy earth to glittering gold." * 



But it is the spirit in its high and calm musings, whilst the heart beats 

 tranquilly as in the bosom of the sinless child, it is the soul dwelling in 

 tender melancholy on thoughts of life's evening repose, the rest of 

 those who have passed earth's horizon, to shine in another firmament 

 where they shall set no more — it is the light of the setting sun playing 

 on a golden link of that chain which binds us as immortals to the bless- 

 ed God whose word sent him forth to run his race — it is this — it is 

 these that give it beauty. 



This great principle which we call the law of Association, consti- 

 tutes the grand link, in the mind, of objects which have no absolute con- 

 nection. The mind having had cognizance of one object at the same 

 time and place with another, whenever it subsequently beholds but one of 

 them — is reminded of its fellow. From the difference of the circum- 

 stances under which the mental grouping is made arise those peculiari- 

 ties, and sometimes anomalies of feeling, for which without reflection 

 we might oftentimes be unable to account. You and I may be looking 

 at the same object — you may be moved deeply — I may view it with in- 

 difference, or smile at a sensitiveness which 1 do not comprehend. I 

 cannot feel with you, because with that object my mind has not the as- 

 sociation which gives to you its beauty or its power. The Switzer 

 may languish with death -like longings when he hears the Ranz des 

 Vaches, an air by no means remarkable for its pathos, because he has 

 heard it echoed from the hills on whose side his father's cot was built, 

 when the voice of a mother still calls him back to the home of his 

 childhood. Wherever this law of mental association acts, a sense of the 

 beautiful may be excited. Objects ordinarily absolutely disgusting, by 



* King John, Act I, Sec. 1. 



