86 



In dusky wreaths reluctant flame*, the sign 

 Of wrath awak'd. 



In general, however, where the glory, 

 powej, or majesty of God are represented, 

 be has avoided that variety of form and of 

 colouring, which might take off from sim- 

 ple and uniform grandeur; and has en- 

 compassed the divine essence with un- 

 approached light, or with the majesty of 

 darkness. 



Again, (if we descend to earth) a per- 

 pendicular rock of vast bulk and height, 

 though bare and imbroketi ; or a deep 

 chasm under the same circumstances, are 

 objects which produce awful sensations; 

 but without some variety and intricacy, 

 either in themselves or their accompani- 

 ments, they will not be picturesque. Last- 

 ly, a most essential difference between 

 the two characters is, that the sublime, by 

 its solemnity, takes off from the loveliness 

 of beauty; whereas the picturesque renders 

 it more captivating. This last difference 

 is happily pointed out and illustrated, in 

 the most ingenious and pleasing of all fie- 



