THE EXPRESSION OF THE PASSIONS. 



431 



and nothing but the mere attention, is called forth. But is the glaring and 

 terrible eyeball here alluded to a mark of simple attention? Has any one 

 ever seen it so in any animal, whether carnivorous or graminivorous, quad- 

 ruped, biped, or footless ? Has he ever seen it exhibited on such occasion, I 

 will not say constantly and invariably, as upon this opinion it ought to be, 

 but in a single case of simple attention ? And in like manner, I may ask 

 respecting the tremendous retraction of the flesh of the lips, and exposure 

 of the teeth, — not merely of the canine teeth or tusks, as stated above, but of 

 all the teeth of both jaws, as far as such retraction will allow, — has any one 

 ever witnessed this movement in the action of mere seizing or biting, as, for 

 example, in the case of devouring food ? Mr. Bell himself seems sufficiently 

 to settle this point, by telling us, in the beginning of the passage I have just 

 quoted, that " the retraction of the flesh of the lips indicates the most savage 

 fury." And I may add, it indicates nothing else; it is not wanted, and is 

 never made use of, in the muscular movement of mere biting, and, conse- 

 quently, is an immediate symbol of the passion called into exercise. It com- 

 mences with the commencement of this passion, and is limited to its conti- 

 nuance and operation. 



What, then, it may be asked, is the use of external expression, in instances 

 of this kind, if it do not add to the power of defence or resistance ] The 

 proper answer must be found in the general object and intention of nature 

 upon the whole of the case before us. 



Man, by his constitution, is designed for society and mental intercourse. 

 But what is to draw him to his fellows ] to strip him of timidity and reserve, 

 and fix him in communion and confidence 1 The language of expression — 

 the natural characters of the countenance — the softened cheek — the smiling 

 lip — the beaming eye — the mild and open forehead — the magic play of the 

 features in full harmony with each other ; — which tell him, and, where arti- 

 fice does not mimic nature, tell him infallibly, that the mind to w^hich they 

 belong is all sympathy, benevolence, and friendship, and will assuredly return 

 the confidence it meets with. But we have sufficiently seen in the last two 

 lectures, that the mind is not always thus constituted ; that at times it is the 

 storehouse of rage, revenge, malevolence, suspicion, and jealousy; and that 

 to confide in it would be misery and ruin. How is a man to be on his guard 

 on such an occasion ? He again looks at the countenance, and, instead of 

 being attracted, he is instantly repelled : the characters are now hideous ; 

 and the Almighty, as formerly upon Cain, has set a mark upon the forehead, 

 that it may be known. 



Such, then, is the real use of that instinctive language of the features which 

 is perpetually- interpreting the condition of the mind ; a language of the highest 

 importance, and of universal comprehension ; and which, if ever disguised 

 and fallacious, is almost infinitely less so than that of the lips or language. 

 Its characters are most perfect in mankind ; but they are occasionally to be 

 traced in quadrupeds : below w^hich class, however, the signs of the passions, 

 whether sought for in the face, or in any other organ, grow gradually more 

 indistinct ; or, perhaps, from our knowing less of the manners and expres- 

 sion of the inferior classes, they appear so to ourselves, though not so ifi 

 reality to others of the same kinds. 



Nec ratione ali& proles cognoscere matrem 

 Nec mater posset prolem ; quod posse videmua ; 

 Nec minus, atque homines, inter se nota cluere.* 



Hence alone 

 Knows the fond mother her appropriate young, 

 Th' appropriate young their motlier, mid the brutes 

 As clear discern'd as man's sublimer race. 



In contemplating, then, the passions, or other affections of the mind, as 

 cognizable by external characters, they easily resolve themselves into two 

 descriptions — the attractive and the repulsive ; the signs of which are to be 



+ De Rer. Nat. ii. 34a 



