On Genius. 403 
tions and traces analogies between the moral 
and the natural world and the various objects 
of each, which wholly escape the common 
eye. Aristotle(p)represents this quickness to 
discern analogies amongst the different objects 
of thought and perception, as a quality which 
no education can give, and the surest indica- 
tion of Genius; but it could not, as I conceive, 
exist, or at least would not be exerted, unless 
there were some one idea, about which the 
mind felt a more than usual interest and which 
formed the centre of its associations. Some 
strong association of delight, grandeur, beau- 
ty, wonder and utility with this favourite con- 
ception induces us to view it on all sides, and 
examine its relation with our other ideas; and, 
kindling our enthusiasm, gives to the expres- 
sion of our thoughts an air of freshness and 
originality. 
One of the chief causes of great intellectual 
power lies in the facuity of close attention. 
(p) Tode /AEYbS OY, TO pera Popinoy EbVab* pLovoy Yue TETO, STE wae 
GAAS E56 AaBey, evQuias TE TnlLEboy ESb* TO Yae Ev petaQecesy, 70 
Fo ouosov Jeweery 6, De Poeticl. XXXVII. The sense is excellently 
conveyed in the paraphrase of M. Batteux : ‘‘ C’est la seule chose, qu’ 
on ne puisse emprunter d’ ailleurs, C’est la production du Genie, le coup 
a? ceil d’ un esprit, gui voit les rapports.” , a 
