Chap. XVIII. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 273 



As Beauty is perceived by the intelleft only, and net by the kn- 

 fes, it does not belong to obje(fls of fenfe confidered only as fuch, 

 that is, as perceived by the fenfes. In the tafte therefore of fuch ob- 

 jeds, in their fmell, their feeling, their colour, or in the found they 

 produce, there is no beauty ; and thefe are the only things which the 

 ienfcs perceive in fucli objedts. Thefe indeed may give us pleafure, 

 and often give us a great deal of pleafure : But it is of the fenfual kind, 

 not of the intelledlual ; of which kind only Is the pleafure of Beauty. 

 When we perceive therefore that any thing has a fine tafte, a fine fmell, 

 a fine feeling, a fine colour, or a fine found, if we mean that it is 

 beautiful, we fpeak improperly ; for all thefe are only perceptions of 

 fenfe, which, as I have faid, may give us a great deal of pleafure, 

 but are not beautiful, becaufe they affed only the fenfes and not the 

 intellecl. Of thefe perceptions. Colour is what ftrikes our knk of 

 feeing J and, if it be very bright, or if there be a great many bright ob- 

 jedls together, they make a very fplendid fhow and afFed our fenfes 

 in a very lively manner. The fame is true of Sound, which, if it 

 be fine and delicate, foothes the fenfe very agreeably ; and, if it be 

 loud or ftrong, it furprifes us, and in that way gives us a certain 

 pleafure, but has nothing of the beautiful in it. Of thefe ob- 

 jeds that I have mentioned, thofe that are perceived by the fenfes 

 of Seeing and Hearing may have a certain order and arrangement, 

 and be fo conneded wdth one another, that the mind will perceive 

 beauty in them : But this cannot be the cafe of the other objeds of 

 lenfe that I have mentioned, fuch as Smelling, Tailing, or Feeling ; 

 which it is impofllblc to conceive to be fo ordered and arranged, 

 as to give us any idea of beauty. And thus I think I have very 

 clearly fhown, that no perceptions of fenfe can give us the idea of 

 beauty, though the objeds which produce thofe fenfations may be 

 fo ordered and arranged, and made to operate in fuch a way, as to 

 give us that idea. From what I have hitherto faid of the beautiful, 

 I think I have proved, not only that it gives us the higheft pleafure. 

 Vol. VI. M m and 



