466 Uniformity find Diwrfity of -Tajie^ [Book X. 



beauty, which by no means refides in the conftituent 

 parts *. The fimple conftituents of beauty have but 

 little influence when put in competition with the defire 

 of gratifying the appetites, or the fear of pain ; to 

 illuftrate this, I (hall only mention auniverfal and com- 

 mon prejudice. There is nothing really deformed in 

 ferpents ; on the contrary, many of the acknowledged 

 conftituents of beauty, fuch as lively colours, variety^ 

 &c. are found in them , yet from a knowledge of their 

 noxious properties we cannot by any means bring our- 

 felves to view them with that pleasure which beautiful 

 objects ought to infpire. An object which is beautiful 

 will impart a virtue to every thing connected with it. 

 Things prepofterous and deformed in thefnfelves are 

 reconciled to us when worn by a beautiful perfon ; and 

 hence fafhion derives its extenfivc influence. On the 

 contrary, what is worn by ruftics is leiTened in our 

 eftimation by the awkwardncfs of the wearer. Men 

 admire the very defects of their miftrefles, and oftei* 

 judge of beauty by their peculiarities. 



" Aovatorem quod arnicas 



' Turpia decipiunt coecum vitia aut etiam ipfa hxc 

 Dele&antj veluti Balbinum polypus Hagrra }-.'* 

 i 



Hence we may in a great meafure account for both 

 the uniformity and diverfity of tafte prevalent among 

 mankind. There are fome objects and qualities, which 

 intereft and are pleafmg to every man ; others, with 

 men differently circumftanced, receive a colour from 

 other ideas, with which they may be connected. The 

 human form is the moft pleafmg of all forms to every" 



* Hippias Maj. ad. fin. 



f The robe of magiftracy, even when feen on the ftaSge, is- 

 accounted elegant and refptttabk, and fuggefls correfpondent 

 ideas. 



* man, 



