15 



the ocean, tlic immense vault of the hearens bespangled 

 with stars, or any other extent in ever}' sense unlimited, when 

 attended to never fail to excite it, and are therefore themselves 

 denominated sublime; it seems to me to consist in an emo- 

 tion of astonishment attlie poM'er exerted in the production of 

 such objects. 



28. Hence the production of any other effects, suggesting 

 the notion of infinite power, bj causing astonishment, may 

 be denominated sublime.* Terrific objects, so far from con- 

 tributing to this emotion, seem to me rather to interrupt and 

 suppress it, by exciting another emotion that interests us 

 more nearly. 



29- Grandeur h an approximation to the sublime, exciting 

 an inferior but analagous emotion ; this we experience in be- 

 holding the elevation of a balloon, or the magnificent spec- 

 tacle of a first rate ship of war. 



30. PI ere it ma}' not be amiss to remark, that magnanimity, 

 by exciting some degree of surprise, has frequently been 

 confounded with the sublime, and dignified Avith that appel- 

 lation : it seems however to be applicable only to sentiments 

 which excite admiration, by indicating a frame of mind su- 

 perior in energy, vigour or fortitude, to that observed in com- 

 mon mortals ; thus the ilium non populi fasces, non purpura re- 

 gum— fiexit, dfc. of Virgil ; the apostrophe of Demosthenes 



justifying 



• Hence Huet wa3 much mistaken- in denying the sublimity of Genes. 1. 3. he falsely 

 imagined that simplicity was opposite to the sublime. See x Bib. Choisie, 220. 



