366 



" Another thing," continued Mr. Ha- 

 milton, " I must mention: you have laid 

 no slight stress on the analogy between the 

 sight and the touch ; there cannot be a 

 more evident one; I think, however, there 

 is this very essential difference as to the 

 manner in which the two senses are affect- 

 ed : sharp, or rugged surfaces of any kind, 

 are always unpleasant to the touch — 



" 'Tis pain in each degree 



whereas light is only painful when excessive : 

 in all its various degrees, short of that excess, 

 it is the great, the only source of pleasure; 

 so great indeed is the pleasure, that light, 

 by the splendour and magnificence of its 

 effects, compensates, in many instances, the 

 pain it gives to the mere organ. You re- 

 member what Lear says — 



" When the mind's free, 



" The body's delicate 



in the same manner, when the imagination 

 is not affected, the organ is delicate; and 

 as this white building, and shaven bank, 

 certainly have no hold on your imagination, 

 you are very impatient at the glare* 



