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OF TASTE. 



BOOK I. 



Heat and Cold are perceived by the sense of touch. Their 

 combined effect is most pleasing in spring and autumn, which 

 seasons are farthest removed from the extremes of each. "When 

 every part of the sense of touch is alike affected by heat or cold, 

 the effect is most grateful ; as in cold and hot baths, where one 

 part of the body is hot and another cold ; as is generally the case 

 with mankind in clothed and civilized nations ; the effect is 

 more or less disagreeable, according to the degrees of difference 

 between the temperature of each. The most grateful effect of 

 coolness is in the mid-day breeze ; the most grateful effect of 

 heat in the tepid bath. 



Motion is perceived by the eye. The elementary motions 

 may be reduced to two, straight and circular. The gradations 

 of motion vary from the imperceptibly rapid to the insensibly 

 quiet. Their compounds are produced either gently or forci- 

 bly. Such motions as are gentle, and in which the circular 

 prevails, are the most pleasing and graceful ; as in that of the 

 bending of trees, the waving of corn, the flying of small birds ; 

 and, above all, the movements of the eyes and mouth in the hu- 

 man countenance, when love or benevolence reigns in the heart. 

 Horizontal, angular, abrupt motions are generally the most 

 ridiculous, as those of drunkards. Undulating and continued 

 motions the most beautiful, as in dancing. Perpendicular de- 

 scending motions are the most terrific, and perpendicular as- 

 cending the most sublime, &c. 



