from contemplating Scenes of Diflrefs . 145 
creatures are agonizing with terror, whilft I can 
neither diminifh their danger, nor, by my fym- 
pathy, divide their anguifh ? At the fight of 
another’s woe, does not my bofom naturally 
feel pain? Do I not fhare in his fenfations ? 
And is not this ftrong and exquifite fenfibility 
intended by my Maker, to urge me on to active, 
and immediate afiiftance? Thefe fenfations are 
indeed attended with a noble pleafure, when I 
can, by friendly attention, or by benevolent 
communication, footh the forrows of the poor 
mourner, fnatch him from impending danger, 
or fupply his preffing wants. But, in general, 
where my fympathy is of no avail to the wretched 
fufferer, I fly from the fpedtacle of his mifery, 
unable, or unwilling to endure a pain, which is not 
allayed by the fweet fatisfa&ion of doing good.” 
It will be incumbent on us, in anfwer to thefe 
objections, in the firft place, to prove the reality 
of the feeling, the caufe of which, in the human 
conftitution, we here attempt to explore. 
Mr. Addifon, in his beautiful papers on the 
Pleafures of the Imagination,* hasobferved, “ that 
objects or fcenes, which, when real , gave difguft 
or pa.n, in defctiption } often become beautiful and 
agreeable. Thus, even a dunghill may, by the 
charms of poetic imagery, excite pleafure and 
entertainment. Scenes of this nature, dignified 
* Spectator, fixth volume, No, 418. 
Vol. I. L 
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