342 On Tragical Representations: . 
ing an uniformly benevolent temper may be 
supposed to be in view; then the pain is mixed 
and tempered with something that we know not 
to givé a name to; something that must attend on 
every mind in the exercise of its best affections, 
a complacence such as a superior spirit may be 
supposed to feel, if he were viewing the infirmi- 
ties and distresses of some inferior system. To 
such scenes, which imply no augmentation of 
the real calamities of our fellow creatures, but 
may minister to the augmentation of our good 
will towards them, we are moved by an internal 
impulse ; by an impulse which we approve of 
in reflection; and which thosé who are little 
accustomed to reflection do however obey. 
In speaking of the affection of the mind to 
tragic representations, I have adopted the lan- 
guage of the writers I have opposed, while I 
- Was discussing their theories ; and 1 may myself; 
in contemplating the impulse to tragical represen- 
tations, and the complacence in those benevolent 
affections which are excited, and distinguishing 
these from the impressions on the heart which 
the spectacle of pain excites, have used the term 
pleasure, yet with a visible dubiousness and re- 
luctance, because language immediately suggest= 
ed no other term ; though it by no means corres= 
ponded to my idea, nor to the real truth of the 
sensation, When the mind is but moderately 
