Chap. 13.] Sympathy. 473 



by the hiftory of thofe moft powerful incentives to ac- 

 tion, avarice, ambition, and the paffion of love between 

 the different fexes. 



The pleafures of fympathy are generated, ift, by 

 that love to our fellow-creatures, which is the effect of 

 early obligation *. adly, Becaufe the fight of any en- 

 joyment excites in us the pleaiurable ideas of that en- 

 joyment, and unlefs envy interferes, thefe will ever have 

 their due effect. Thefe feelings are increafed by the 

 praife that is beftowed on benevolence, &c. and the 

 hope of reward in another life. Sympathy in the mis- 

 fortunes of others has a double effect j when beheld at 

 a diftance, as in theatrical reprefentations, I believe 

 moft men find fomething rather pleafing than otherwife 

 in them, and this arifes from the pleafure that attends 

 moderate emotion, even though derived from a painful 

 fource. In perfons of very delicate fenfations, this 

 affection often degenerates into actual pain ; and on 

 beholding real woe, it is fuch to all who retain the 

 common characteristics of humanity. Companion, or 

 the defire of relieving diilrefs, is no other than a wifh, 

 of removing pain. The fight of a wound excites im- 

 mediately ideas of pain in our minds, and we feel a fen- 

 fation of the fame nature (though weaker) according 

 to our memory of fimiiar pains, or, as we by defcrip- 

 tion judge of them, from the pains that we really have 

 felt. To relieve diftrefs, therefore, is actually taking ofF 

 pain from ourfelves ; to the act of relieving we give the 

 name genera/it}'. The idea of the pleafure is afterwards 

 excited by hearing of an act of generofity, nay, is affo- 



* The focial pleafures and affe&ions may, as Dr. Hartley pb- 



ferves, be much indebted for their, increafe to the pleafures of the 



palate. Since it has been cuflomary in all ages to fatisfy oar ap- 



' petites in the company of our neareft connections, the idea of 



pleafure will become combin,ed with them. 



elated 



