[ i6 ] 



" by contraries fhe freezes and burns, fhe raves and is fober, 

 " fhe trembles and almoft expires ; fo that not a fingle paflion, 

 " but a combination of them, feems to overwhelm her." 



Dr. Blair admits that flrength of defcription, a necefTary requifite 

 to the fublime, depends upon a proper choice of circumftanccs. 

 The only queflion then in the prefent cafe is, whether the cir- 

 cumftanccs are capable by any management of caufing fublime 

 emotions ; for if they be, it will hardly be doubted that they 

 are well chofen and happily combined. We have here a moft 

 pathetic defcription of certain violent affedions, the effeds of a 

 pafTion as arbitrary and defpotic in fwaying the human heart, 

 as it is univerfal in its influence : The moft exalted hero bows 

 to its fovereign dominion. There being, therefore, no mean- 

 nefs nor weaknefs of mind in becoming its fubjcdt, fo far there 

 feems to be nothing unfavourable to the fublime, particularly 

 when its effeds are vehement and aftonifliing, full of pain and 

 terror. We fliould alfo confider thefe emotions to be wrought 

 in a great degree by jealoufy, a paflion which by its extreme 

 agitation is likely to ftrike out bold and forcible expreflions. 

 The human frame, agitated and convulfed almoft to diflblution 

 by the mixed palfions of love and jealoufy and defpair, is an 

 objed well adapted to excite ftrong fympathetic emotions, and 

 to fill the mind with alarming ideas of the defolating fury of 

 thefe paffions. For the moft part, indeed, love is confidered as 

 a tender and refined paflion, and as bearing a clofer analogy 

 to beauty, its natural foundation, than to fubHmity. The fenti- 

 ment is generally true ; yet as there is nothing in the nature 

 of the palfion humiliating or unworthy of true magnanimity, as 

 it frequently gives the mind a generous and exalted turn, and 



is 



