392 Dr. Barnes on the Influence of the Imagination, 
underftanding, and receive their fentence, ac¬ 
cording to its fuperior determination. 
I fhall, perhaps, be told of the lover, who fees 
in his miftrefs an imaginary idol, decked all o’er 
with charms, perfed and matchlefs, in every air, 
and in every attribute. I fhall be told, of the 
amazing change in his judgment, when time and 
better knowledge have taken the glare from 
the object, (tripped the idol of her divinity, and 
faded her charms, even to uglinefs. But, againft 
this exception we meant to guard, by main¬ 
taining only, a due poife and degree of the ima¬ 
ginative quality. 
“ The lover, the lunatic, and the poet, are 
“ Of imagination all compact.” Shakefpeare. 
Minds, fo exceffively imaginative, cannot be 
judicious. 
But, on the other hand, fuppofe a perfon to 
contemplate excellence, female excellence , without 
imagination—juft as he would, a mathematical 
problem. Would he do more exaft and impartial 
iuftice to the fubjeft ? 
Would the fairer fex confent to abide the 
fentence of fuch a judge? Would they not juftly 
complain, that though he wore the form, he had 
not the fentiment, the foul of a human being ? 
Would they not appeal—and who would 
no t juflify the appeal—to the decifion of a mind, 
capable of feeling, and of fancy, and therefore 
rational ? 
