[ 14 ] 



violent emotion ; for there are excefl'es I believe of almoft every 

 paffion, which are fometimes occafions of the fublime. Such a 

 degree of pathos as exhibits vehement, uncommon and aftonifli- 

 ing agitations, and almoft runs out into madnefs, whatever be 

 the efiicient caufe, however refined or tender it might be thought, 

 wlien abftradcd from fuch effeds, appears fometimes in a fubHme 

 form. The mind thus agitated often ftrikes out great and forci- 

 ble images, or pours itfelf forth in ftrong and glowing language. 

 Almoft all the paffions, if carried to excefs, naturally fall into 

 the ufe of the profopopasia, one of the boideft figures of 

 fpeech, and fublimeft exprefllons of pafTion. In cafes like thefe 

 nothing feems attended to but the effeds themfelves. The 

 imagination is too flrongly impreffed and too deeply interefted 

 to trace them up to their caufes. So that if they be of fuch 

 a nature as to excite emotions of terror, or if they be figns of 

 fome great exertion of force and power, or have a ftriking 

 analogy to any other form or fource of the fublime, they do 

 not lofe their character by a relation to their efficient caufe. 

 Perhaps we fliould for the moft part except pity on fuch occa- 

 fions, which feems not well fuited to vehement expreiTion. This 

 paiTion may be confidered as the handmaid of grief, attending 

 it through all its fofter movements, but unable to follow in any 

 extravagant exceffes, and under thefe circumflances generally 

 loft in filent contemplation. Even grief itfelf feems lefs liable 

 to thefe violent agitations than moft other paffions, and feldom 

 appears in fo difturbed a form, except in minds naturally weak 

 and tender; and it fhould be obferved, that in cafes of this 

 nature the charader of the fufferer gives a foft and delicate 

 fhade to the paffion, however vehement, and fo in a great mea- 

 fure defeats the fublime efFed. The grief of Belvidera could 



not 



