$*cf. XXII 3. REPETITION AND IMITATION. 297 



cide frequently, though lefs fo than in the two oc- 

 taves. It is probable that thefe chords bear fome 

 analogy to a mixture of three alternate colours in 

 the fun's fpectrum feparated by a prifm. 



The pleafure we receive from a melodious fuccef- 

 iion of notes referable to the gamut is derived from 

 another fource, viz. to the pandiculation or counter- 

 action of antagonifl fibres. See Botanic Garden, 

 P. 2. Interlude 3, If to thefe be added our early 

 aflbciations of agreeable ideas with certain propor- 

 tions of found, I fuppofe, from thefe three fources 

 fprings all the delight of mufic, fo celebrated by 

 ancient authors, and fo cnthufiaftically cultivated at 

 prefent. See Se&. XVI. No. 10. on Inftinct. 



This kind of pleafure arifing from repetition, that 

 is from the facility and diftinctnefs, with which we 

 perceive and underftand repeated fenfations, enters 

 into all the agreeable arts ; and when it is carried to: 

 excefs is termed formality. The art of dancing like 

 that of mufic depends for a great part of the plea- 

 fure, it affords, on repetition j architecture, efpe- 

 cially the Grecian, confifts of one part being a re- 

 petition of another ; and hence the beauty of the 

 pyramidal outline in landfcape-painting ; where one 

 fide of the picture may be faid in fome meafure to 

 balance the other. So univerfally does repetition 

 contribute to our pleafure in the fine arts, that beau- 

 ty itfelf has been defined by fome writers to confift 

 in a due combination of uniformity and variety. 

 See Sea. XVI. 6. 



III. i. Man is termed by Ariilotle an imitative 

 animal \ this propenfity to imitation not only appears 

 in the actions of children, but in all the cuftoms and 

 fafhions of the world : many thoufands tread in 

 the beaten paths of others, for one who traverfes 

 regions of his own difcovery. The origin of this 

 propenfity of imitation has nor, that I recollect, been 

 deduced from any known principle ; when any ac- 

 tion 



