SECT. XXII. 2. i. AND IMITATION. 199 



proceeds the irkfomnefs of a continued attitude, and of an in- 

 dolent life. 



However fmall this hourly accumulation of the fpirit of ani- 

 mation may be, it produces a propenfity to fome kind of action j 

 but it neverthelefs requires either defire or averfion, either pleaf- 

 ure or pain, or fome external ftimulus, or a previous link of af- 

 fociation, to excite the fyftem into activity ; thus it frequently 

 happens, when the mind and body are fo unemployed as not to 

 poffefs any of the three firft kinds of ftimuli, that the laft takes 

 place, and confumes the fmall but perpetual accumulation of fen- 

 forial power. Whence fome indolent people repeat the fame 

 verfe for hours together, or hum the fame tune. Thus the poet: 



Onward he trudged, not knowing what he fought 

 And whiftled as he went, for want of thought. 



II. The repetitions of motions may be at firft produced either 

 fay volition, or by fenfation, or by irritation, but they foon become 

 eafier to perform than any other kinds of action, becaufe they 

 foon become afibciated together, according to Law the feventh, 

 Section IV. on Animal Caufation. And becaufe their fre- 

 quency of repetition, if as much fenforial power be produced du- 

 ring every reiteration as is expended, adds to the facility of 

 their production. 



If a ftimulus be repeated at uniform intervals of time, as de- 

 fcribed in Sect. XII. 3. 3. the action, whether of our mufcles or 

 organs of fenfe, is produced with ftill greater facility or energy ; 

 becaufe the fenforial power of aflbciation, mentioned above, is 

 combined with the fenforial power of irritation ; that is, in com- 

 mon language, the acquired habit aflifts thepower of the ftimulus. 



This not only obtains in the annual, lunar, and diurnal catena- 

 tions of animal motions, as explained in Sect XXXVI. which 

 are thus performed with great facility and energy ; but in every 

 lefs circle of actions or ideas, as in the burthen of a fong, or the 

 reiterations of a dance. To the facility and diftinctnefs, with 

 which we hear founds at repeated intervals, we owe thepleafure, 

 which we receive from mufical time, and from poetic time j as 

 defcribedin Botanic Garden, P. 2. Interlude 3. And to this 

 the pleafure we receive from the rhymes and alliterations of mod- 

 ern verfification ; the fource of which without this key would 

 be difficult to difcover. And to this likewife (hould be aicribed 

 the beauty of the duplicature in the perfect tenfe of the Greek 

 verbs, and of fome Latin ones, as tango tetegi, mordeo momordi. 



There is no variety of notes referable to the gamut in the 

 beating of the drum, yet if it be performed in mufical time, it is 



agreeable 



