1 64 APPENDIX. 



fubject ; fo in Poetry, Tragedy is more beautiful than Comedy, 

 becaufe, as I faid, the perfons are greater whom the Poet in- 

 ftru&s; and, consequently, the inflruc"lions of more benefit to 

 mankind : the action is Jikewife greater and more noble, and 

 thence is derived the greater and more noble pleafure. 



To imitate Nature well in whatfoever fubjed:, is the perfec- 

 tion of both Arts ; and that Picture, and that Poem, which 

 comes neareft the refemblance of Nature, is the beft: But it 

 follows not, that what pleafes mod in either kind is therefore 

 good, but what ought to pleafe. Our depraved appetites and 

 ignorance of the arts miflead our judgments, and caufe us 

 often to take that for true Imitation of Nature, which has no 

 refemblance of Nature in it. To inform our Judgments, and 

 to reform our Taftes, rules were invented, that by them we 

 might difcern when Nature was imitated, and how nearly. I 

 have been forced to recapitulate thefe things, becaufe mankind 

 is not more liable to deceit than it is willing to continue in a 

 pleafing error, ftrengthened by a long habitude. The imita- 

 tion of Nature is therefore juftly conftituted as the general, 

 and indeed the only rule of pleaiing, both in Poetry and 

 Painting. Ariftotle tells us, that Imitation pleafes, becaufe it 

 affords matter for a reafoner to inquire into the truth or falfe- 

 hood of Imitation, by comparing its likenefs or unlikenefs 

 with the original : But by this rule, every fpeculation in Na- 

 ture, whofe truth falls under the inquiry of a Philofopher, 

 mud produce the fame delight, which is not true. I fhould 

 rather affign another reafon : Truth is the object of our Un- 

 derftanding, as Good is of our Will; and the undemanding 

 can no more be delighted with a lie, than the will can choofe 

 an apparent evil. As truth is the End of all our fpeculations, 

 fo the difcovery of it is the Pleafure of them; and fince a true 

 knowledge of Nature gives us pleafure, a lively imitation of 



it, 



