48 •» OF TASTE. BOOK T. 



1. The senses which compose or administer to the faculty of 

 taste may be all imperfect, or partly so ; or some of them not 

 sufficiently cultivated, or totally wanting. 



2. The other faculties of the mind, as the moral sense, me- 

 mory, imagination, judgment, &c. may be imperfect, or culti- 

 vated in different degrees. The want of a well-cultivated ima- 

 gination, in particular, will render the impressions made by 

 painting, poetry, and sculpture, comparatively weak, and even 

 erroneous. A good understanding may enable us to compare 

 the representation with the thing represented ; but unless it has 

 often been employed about objects of the same kind, and has 

 treasured or accumulated an ample stock of ideas in the mind, 

 we naturally stop, and think of no farther pleasure ; or else en- 

 deavour to find beauties and resemblances which were never 

 intended. But a single idea of excellence presented to the 

 fertile imagination rouses a long train of corresponding sensa- 

 tions, which often carry us, as it were, beyond ourselves into 

 the regions of romance and enthusiasm. 



3. The limited sphere of some individuals may have pro- 

 scribed their knowledge of objects of taste, and thus vitiated 

 their natural faculties. But though this can never be supposed 

 to take place in general, it may, and really does frequently 

 happen in particular cases. Thus travellers are often ready to 



