328 On Tragical Representations, 
to decline this test; and, if compelled thereto, 
confesses its insufficiency to account for the phe- 
nomena of nature. 
It is, therefore, a general objection to both 
these systems, in the first view of them, that the 
principles, to whose operation they ascribe such 
singular effects, are either not at all present to the 
mind, while.their influence is supposed to be 
exerted and felt; or make a very dubious ap- 
pearance, and utterly vanish at that critical mo- 
ment, when the effect of the tragic imitation is 
' the greatest ; viz. when their presence ought to 
be most conspicuous and manifest to the very 
sense. Who in the moment, when the heart is 
rent and agonized with a tragic scene, can say to 
himself: that he converts the exquisitely painful 
feelings of that moment, into the character of 
pleasure; or so as to be attracted by, and be 
passionately interested in the scene ; because his 
soul abhors the languor of indolence, and de- 
lights to be violently moved? Or who, with 
Mr. Hume, is ruminating on the ingenuity and 
eloquence of the artist, which can give to a 
fictitious scene all the glowing colours of nature ? 
Who, under the possession of sympathetic sor- 
row, has his eye fixed upon an object of intel- 
lectual taste, and feasts in proportion to the 
opinion which he has of the poet’s skill ? 
If the system of Du Bos be true, our attrac- 
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