Chap. 9.] Pleafure from Surprlfe and Variety. 459 



Pleafure may refult from furprife on feveral accounts. 

 The agitation which a moderate furprife occafions is 

 agreeable ; but the furprife which is united with the 

 fatisfaition of finding ourfelves fafe, after fancying we 

 were in danger, is ftiil more exquifite ; and, perhaps 

 the mod exquifite of ail is, when we find occafion for 

 fclf- commendation, as in folving a problem, &c. 



The pleafure of variety feems to be the effecl: chiefly 

 of the moderate, and yet lively agitation, which feveral 

 trains of thought induce. 



Though it appears from all that has been faid, that 

 gentle agitation is in general productive of pleafure, 

 yet the mind has likewife a natural love of eafe, and 

 will not bear much fatigue ; a little exertion foon tires 

 it } for this reafon, regularity is pleafing, and the con- 

 trary. We readily embrace a regular figure j the train 

 of thoughts flow naturally to the different parts j we 

 comprehend it -, our mind is fatisfied with it. We 

 purfue, with a kind of eafy emotion, a regular feries ; 

 and hence it is, that men have been fo fond of reafon- 

 ing from univerfal axioms. The irregular pleafes in 



" Trophies of the inilruments of mufic or of agriculture, imi- 

 tated in painting or ftucco, make a common and an agreeable or- 

 nament of our halls and dining-rooms. A trophy of the fame kind, 

 compofed of the inftruments of furgery, of differing and amputa- 

 tion knives, &c. would be abfurd and (hocking. Inftruments of 

 furgery, however, are always more finely, polifhed, and generally 

 more adapted to the purpofes for which they are intended, than 

 inftruments of agriculture. The remote effects of them too, the 

 health of the patient, is agreeable; yet as the immediate effeft of 

 them is pain and fuffering, the fight of them always difpleafes." 

 #. 



'' Inftruments of war are agreeable, though their immediate effect 

 may feem to be, in the fame manner, pain and fuffering ; but then 

 it is the paia and fuffering of our enemies, &c. With regard to 

 us, they are immediately connected with the agreeable ideas of 

 courage, victory, and honour." Ib. 



the 



