2A6 ESSAY XXIII.
Ol' 'fllll S'I'ANDAItD OF 'I'ASTII. 201
I Essey XXIII.--OI the Standard. of Taste.
Tq.u qrea-t variety of Taste, as well as of opinion, rvhich
prc-
vails in the rvorld, is too obvious
every one's observation. Men of the
to hoo* full"r, uri,l,*
'otrnost confined knowlctlg.
are able tr-r rer'ark a clifference of taste in the narrow circi.r
of their acquainta,nce, even where the persons have becn
edueate''l under the s&ure government, andhave early imbibcd
the same prejudices. But those, rvho can enlarge tieir view
to conternplate distant nations and remote aies, are stilr
m-ore surpr.ized at the great inconsistence anj contrariety.
We are apt to call bqrbarozrs whatever departs widely from
our olvn taste and apprehensiorr: But soon find the epithet
of,reproach retorted on u_s. And the highest a"roganci a,r,,l
_ ing harmony irr rrrolllls rnay be, a,ccountetl I't-,r' fi',rrrr thu r.r:r)'
self-conceit is at last startled, on observin"g ur,
o' all sides, anil ser.ples, a,midst such a i>'tesf,of
"qooL.rur.ance
scrtim*rt,
to pronounce positively in its orvn favour.
As. this variety of taste is obvious to the most
careless
enquirer; so will it be found, on exaiuina,tiorr, to be still
greater in reriity than i' a,ppcarance. The senti'rents of
men often differ with.regar.d to berauty anrl deforrnity
of all
kinds, even rvhile their general cliscourse is flre same. There
are certain terms in every }i,uguir,ge, rvhich inrport bla,me, and
others praise; and all mett, wluo use ilie same tongue, inust
*gree in their application of them, Every voice is'irnited in
applalding eiegance,, propriety, simplicitl; spirit in writing
; latter, than I'nxrr,ox rv<.rulcl adurit of. The sage Ur,yssus in
119-.i" blaming fustian, a.ffectation, "oi,loe.*, orrd u fufe
brilliancy : But when critics corne to particulars, tl,is see*irg
unanimity va,nishes; ancl it is found, that flrey had a{fixei
a vexy different meaning to their expressioris. fn aU rnatters
of opinion and science, flre case is .pposite : The cli{l,erence
aluong rneir is there oftener founil to lie in gener,,ls than in
pa,rticrrla,rs ; and to be less in reality thari in appoarance.
An,explanatio' of the terms commonry ends ilre
and th-e disputants are surpr.ized to fiird, tha,t thcy",riri"oo"".y ;
haal be6rr
quanelling, while at bottom they agreed in theirludgrnent.
Those who founcl morality on ientiment, oro"" tirorl orr
reason, ai'e inciined to cornprehend eilrics uucler the forrner
observation, ancl to mainta,in, t]r:r,t, in all questions, which
regnrd conduct and milnners, tlre difl.erence among men is
really greater than at fir'st sigiit it appears. It is indeed
r [Thi-. F)ssay s.a," firsi pulilishr:rl in Drlition L.]
{ obvious, that writers of all nations anrl all riges corrcr.rr in
appla,ucling jnsticc, lrtrrrriluit;,. rungr:ir,rrirrriiy" 1rt'ttrlcrrcc, vela-
*t
** city ; aucl irr blrr"uriug fhc olrlxrsilc rlrritlilit:s. l)vt:rr pocls it.nd
othcr arrthors, 'who,se compositiorrs u,re chicfly cllculrr,ted to
;
f
please the imagination, are 1'ct found, frorn tlont,:n dorvn to
Fnltor,ox, to inculca,tr,'the srlnre rnorrr,l plecepts, a.rrr-l to brrstorv
their apl.,lausc a,nd lrlarrro orr tlLc snrle viltues iltrd vices.
Tlris gri'a.t rnranimity is nsualll. ascrilierl to the irr{lut:uce c,f
plairr r',lrs,,rr; rvlriclr, in lll tht,rrr,] ('i),ses, rriairitirilrs siimilrrr
serrtirrrr:nts in a,ll lrcn, arrd l,rrcvcnts those c<.nrtlovelsies, to
which thc ubstra,ct scierrces ale so much cxposed. So fai' as
the una,nirrrity is real, tlris irccourrt uriry l.re acltnittccl as satis-
factor;': But rve rnust alsri alloir. that sonre ptltol'thc scr:ur-
natnre of larrg'"rrrge. Tlrc word. 'uirhrc, rvith its etpivirlt'ut in
every tonguc, irrrpJies lrlaise ; a.s thirt of 'uit:c docs Jrl:r,mc :
Aud no one, r,ithout the rnost obr.ious a,ld glt'rssc,st iurpro-
priety, coukl aflix reproa.ch to a tenrr, rvhich in genelu,l
acceptation is unclerstoocl in a goticl sonse ; or br.:ston' applause,
rvhere the itliom i:erlnires clisaplrrolou,tion. I:[ouun's gericnrl
prccepts, lvhere he clelir,'ers nriy such, rvill rrei'er be contl<.r-
vertt:cl ; but it is obvious, that, wheu l-re dralvs palticulnr
pictures of rnarrners, ancl represcrrts heloism in Acurr,r,rs aucl
prudence in Ur,vssns, hc intermixes l rnnch gre&ter ilegree
of f'erocity in the formeL, and of cunning and {i'aud in t}re
the Gnnrx poct seems to dt:light in lics ancl fictions, a.ncl
often eurplo;'s them rvithout any necessity or even advanta.ge :
Bul ltis lnole sorllpulous son, in tlie li'nnrics epic rvriter, ex-
poses hirnsclf to the rnost irnrninent 1.rerils, rather than clepart
{iorn the rnost exact lirre of tlrith ir.ncl velacity.
The aclnrilels anrl follorvers of thc Ar,conalr insist on the
excellerrrt irrorirl precepts interslicrscil throughout tlur,t rvild
ancl absurcl pr:r'frrnuunc0. I3trt il is to be supposecl, that the
Anenrc n'olr.l-", rvhjch ctn'r'oslroud to the }]xcr,Istt, ecluity,
justice, tenrlri'r-ance, rlceliuess, chality, rvele snch a,s, fi'orn
the cor.rsttrrrt use o{'thu1. tc,rrgue, rnust aln.ays be takeu irr a
gc;cid st,nsc ; anrl it rr'r,nlil liar.e tle'rli:rl tirc g'rr:lrtest ignoliurce,
not of'urolals, lrrr.t r;f iilrrgrriige, 1r.r ha,ve rnentiorred therl lvith
anv epithets, br-,si.lrs tirr,rse of-irplrlriuse and appr:ulrir.tion, But
lloull rve )rnorv, rvlr,rthirl tlre ltrctenclccl prc'phct had really
iLtt,aincrl a ,jrrsi scutirrrettt ,rf'ttr,rrals P Let us attentl hr his
268 ESSAY XX[I.
narration ; ancl we shall soon fincl, that he bestows praise orr
such instarrces of treachery, inhumanity, cruelty, rel-enge,
bigotry, as ale utterly incompatible with civiiizetl society.
No steacly rule of right seems there to be atterrded to; and
every a,ction is blamecl or praiseil, so far only as it is bene-
{icia,I or }rurtful to the true believers.
'Ihe urerit of clelivering true genera,l precepts in cthics is
indecil very small. Whoever-Jecommend.s any moral virtues,
rea1l1, does no more than is impliecl in the terms themselves.
That people, nho invented the word, ch,aritu, and used it iu a
good sense, inculcateil more clearly and much nore effica,-
ciousiy, the precept, be clmri,tablc, than any pr'ctended legis-
lator or prophet, who should. insert such u marim in lfs
writings. Of all expressions, those, rvhich, togethcr rvith
tlreir other meaning, irnply a ilegree either of blarne or alipro-
bation, are the least liable to be pervertecl or rnistaken.
ft is natura,l for us to seek a Btattcla,rcl o.f Tastc; a rule, by
lvhicir the various sentirnents of rnen may be lecoucilcil; at
least, a clecision, afforcled, confilming one sentiment, and
condt mning another.
There is a, species of philosophy, rvhich cuts off a,ll hopes
of success in such an attempt, ancl represents thc iurpossibility
of ever attaining any standa,rd of taste. The difll-'rence, it is
srr.id, is very wicle between juclgrnent and sentimeut. All
sen'r,irnent is right ; beeause sentiment has a r:eferencie to
nothing beyonrl itselt end is ahvays real, wherever a, rnan is
conscious of it. But ali ileterrninu"tions of the understancling
are rrot right; because ttrrey liave a referelrce to somethiug be-
vond themseh'esr to 'rvit, real mttter of firct; and ale not
alwars conformable to that standarcl. Amolq a thorrsiind
diff'elent opinions which rli{l'erent, lren rniry enteltain of the
sirrr. e subjeot, ther-e is one, and but one, tliat isiust arrcl tr'uel
and the orily difiiculty is to fix ancl asceltain it. On tlie
contra,ly, a thousu,nd different sentiments, excitecl by the sarne
object, are all r'ight : Beca,use no seltirneut replcserrts rvhat
is really in the olrject. It only marks a certain con{tl'ruity
or relaticln Letlveen the object aud the organs ol faculties of
the rnind ; and if that coufcrrmity cliil not really exist, the
sentiment coukl nevel possibly have beirrg. Beauty is no
qua.lity in things theurselves : IL exists nrerely in the
nrind rvhich conteurplates thern ; and each rnintl pr)r'ceives
iu r'lifle'rcut beaut;'. Otrn p.tr*un rnay evcn pe-r'ceivc clcfblmitl',
oF llilE FII'TINDARD OF TASTE' 269
where another is sensible of beauty ; ancl every indivitlual
ought toacquiesce in his own sentimentrwithout pretending-to
reg:ulute tir-ose of others. To seek the real beaut'y, or real de-
foirnity, is as fruitless arr enquily' as to pretenil to ascertain
the real s{'eet or real bitter. Aocording to the clisposition of
the organs, the sarne objc,ct rlay be both sweet ancl bitter;
and the proverb has justly determiued. it to be fruitless to
disprrte concernit g t',r,stes. It is very natural' r-lnil even quite
o".lrrnry, to exteud this a,xiorn to metltal' as well as bodily
ta,ste; utr.l tho* colnmon sense, which is so often at varia'nce
witli philosophy, especialiy vrith the sceptical kin'd, is found,
in one insta;ce at least, to agree in pronouncing the sarne
decision.
But though this axiom, by passing into a proverb, seems to
have attaiued the'sarrction of comtnon sense; there is certainly
a species of common sense wlrich opposes it, at least serves
to moclify and restrain it. JMhoever wolrlcl assert an ecuality
of genins and elegance bet'ween Oerr,sv and Milror, or
BuNlveN and AnorioN, would be tirought to 'dcfend no less
an extravagance, than if he hacl maintainecl a' nro]e-hill
to be as higL as Tnnnnrrrn, or a poncl as extensive as the
ocea,n. Though there may be fountl persorrs, who give the
preference
-so"h
to the former authors; no one pays attention to
a taste; and. we pronounce without scruple the senti-
ment of these pretendecl critics to be absurcl and ridiculous'
'Ihe principle of the natural equality of tastes is then totally
forgcit, and while we admit it on some occasions, where the
objects seem near an eqrra,lity, it appears an extravagant
pa""aclox, or rather a, palpable absurdity, where objects so dis-
proportionecl are compare'J together. -
^ is eviclent that none of the rules of composition are
fi
fixecl by reasonings a ptr'iori, or can be esteemecl abstract con-
clusions of the understaucling, from comparing those habituiles
ancl relations of icleas, which a}e eternal ancl imrnutable.
'Iheir f<-,undation is the same with that of all the practical
sciences, experience; nor a,re they any thing' but^gen-eral
observationJ, co'cer'ing what has been universally fountl to
please in all countries anil in all ages. Many of t'he bea-uties
of poetry and even of eloquence- are founded' on falsehood
utrd fictibo, on hyperboles, metaphors, and an abuse or per-
version of t6rms-from their na.tural meaning' To check the
sallies of the irnagination, and to reduce every expression to
I
 270 DSS,IY XXilI.
€ieometricn,l truth and exirctness, woulal be the most contrary
to the laws of criticism; because it woukl proaluce & \Mork,
rvhich, by universa,l experience, has been found the most
insipid ancl clisagrtiea,ble. I3r.Lt though poetry can never sub-
ri:it to exact truth, it must be con{inc.d by rules of art, dis-
cot'ered to the authol eitirtr bv genius ol c,bservation. If
sorne negligeut or lruegula,r writers hu.r'e pleased, they have
not plea,sotl by thcir trrr,nsgressions of r,ule or order, but in
spite of these trtnsgressions: They have possessed other
beauties, 'which were con{brma,ble to just criticism ; ancl the
forcle of these bearrties has been able to overpower censure,
and give the miritl a satisfaction superior to the clisgust
arising from the blemishes. Anrosro pleases ; hut not by
his monstrous arrd irnprobable frcbiotrs, by his bizame mixture
of the selious and coriic st.yles, by the want of coherence in
his stories, or by the continual interruptions of his narration.
He charrns by thci force a,rrrl clearness of his expression, b;'
the reailiness anil variety of his inveutions, and by his natural
pictures of the p&ssions, especially those of the gay ancl
amorous l(ind: And however his fir,ults may d"iminish our
satisfaction, they are not able entirely to destroy it. DiaI
our: pleasure really arise from those parts of his poem, .which
we clenominate faults, this-lvould be no objection to criticism
irr general: It would only be an objection to those particular
rules of criticism, which lvould establish such circumstances
to be faults, ancl woulcl represent them as universally blarne-
able. If they are founal to please, they cannot be faults ; let
the pleasure, which they procluce, be ever so unexpected and
unaceountable.
But though all the general rules of art are founcled on.ly on
exper:ience ancl orr the observation of the conrmon st:utiments
of hurnan nature, $'e must not irnagine. ttrat, on every ocea-
siorr, the feeiings of men will be conforrna,ble to thesj rules.
Those finer emotiols of the rnind. are of a vei.y tender anrl
delicate nature, anil require the concurrence of nrany favour-
able circuurstances to rnake them play with facility antl
exactness, accoriling to their general ancl establishecl princi-
ples. The least exterior hinc}:ar.rce to such small springs, or
the least irrternal disoriler, distLrrbs their nrotion, and con-
fcuntls the operation of the whole rnachine. When we rvould
rn-ake an experiment of this nature, ancl would try the ftrrce
of any beauty or deforrnity, we nrust choose with carri a,
OI' TIIE STANDARD OF 'IASTD. 27I
proper tirne arrd place, ancl bring the fancy to a suitable
situation antl disposition, A perfect serenity of minil, a re-
collection of tLought, tr due attention to the object; if any
of these circurnsta,nces be wtr,rrting, our experiment wiII be
fallacious, and we shall be unable to juclge of the catholic
and universal berr,uty. The relation, which nilture has pla,cecl
between the firrnr a,nd the sentiment, will a,t letst be more
obscure ; and it rvill require greater a,ccurncy to trtrcr: and
discern it. 'lVe shall be nblc to ascertain its influence not so
nruch from the operati<lrr of etr,ch particnlir.r beauty, as fr<lm the
durable adrniration, whjch a,ttenils those lvorlrs, that have
surrived all the caprices of rr ode and fashiorr, all lhe mis-
takes of ignorance and envy.
l'he same Homln, who plea,secl at Arunns anil Rotnn two
thousancl years ago, is still atlrnirecl at Panrs a,rrd at LolvnoN.
Ali the changes of climate, government, reliqion, and lan-
guage, have not been zr,ble to obscure his glory. AuLhority
or prejuilice uray give a temporary vogue to a bad. poet or
orator; but his reputa'tion will never be clurable c,r general.
When his compositions are exarnineil by posterity or by
foreigners, the encha,ntment is dissipated, and his fauits
appear in their true colours. On the coutrtlry, a real genius,
the longer his wolks endure, antl the more wide they are
spread, the more sincere is the admira,tion 'lvhich he rreets
with. Envy and jealousy have too nruch pla,ce in a narrorv
circle; ancl even farniliar acquilintanoe u'ith his person may
climinish the applause due to his perfcrmra'nces: But rvhen
these obstructions are removed, the beauties,'lvhich are natu-
rally fitted to excite aE;reeatrle sentiments, immecliately dis-
play tlieir energy; ancl rvhile the rvorlcl enclures, they maintain
their a,uthority over the mincls of men.
It a,ppears t}:en, thaf, a,rnidst all the va,riety ancl caprice of
taste, there are certairr general princilrles of approba.tion or
blame, whose influence a careful eye In&) trace in all opera-
tions of the rnind. Some particular forms or qualities, from
tbe original structure of the internal fabric, are calculated to
please, ancl others to clisplease; and if tliey fail of their
effect in any particular instance, it is fi'om some appa.rent
defect or imperfection in the organ' A man in a fever rvould
not insist on his palate as able to decide concerning flavours I
nor would. one, affectecl with the jaundice, pretencl to give a
verdict with regard to colours. In each creature, there is a
272 nSSAY XXI[.
sound ancl a defective state; and the former alone can be
supposecl to afford. us a true standard of taste antl sentiment.
It in the souncl state of the org'i],n, there be an entire or a
corrsiderable uniforrnity of sentimerrt arnong men, we rrray
thence ilerive an iilea of the perfect beauby; in like uranner
as the apperra,nce of objects in da1'-Iight, to ihe eye of &man
in health, is clenorninatecl their true and real colour, even
while colour is alio'n'ecl to be merely a ph:r,ntasl:r of the senses.
Mrr,ny a,nc1 flccluent a,r'e the delects in the iirterna,l organs,
whicli prevoirt, or weirl(cn the influence of those general lirin-
ciples, on rvhich clepends our sentiment of beauty or rJefolrnity.
Though soure objects, by the structure <lf the mincl, be na,tu-
rally ca,lculated to give pleasure, it is not to be expectecl, that
in every inclividilal the pleasure ivill be equally felt. Pa,rti-
cular iucitlents a,ud situations occur, rvhich either throw a
fciso lighi on tire olrjects, or hincler the true frorn conveying
to the iuraginir,tioir tlic proper sentiment arid perception.
Oue obvious ca,use, why ma,ny feel not the proper sentirnent
of beLr,uty, is the want of that del'ica.cy of imzLgination, which
is requisite to convey a sensibility of those finer emotions.
This delicacy every one pretencls to : Every one talks of it ;
and woukl reduce every kind of taste or sentiment to its
stauclaril. But as our intention in this essay is to r-':ingle
sorne light of the unclerstaniling with the f'eelings of senti-
rnent, it will be proper to give a rnore accurate definition
of <lelicacy, than has hilherto been attempted. Anil not to
draw our philosophy from too profbund & soulce, we shir,ll
have recoulse to a noted story iu I)oN Qurxor:r.
It is with good reason, says Sllcuo to the squire with the
great nose, that I pretend to ha,ve a judgrnent in 'n'iue : This
is a quality hered,itary in our farnily. 'Iwo of my kinsmen
were once called to give their opirrion of a hogsheacl, wliich
was supposetl to be excellent, being okl a,nil of a, goocl vintage.
One of them tastes it ; corrsiclers it; ancl after rna,ture reflec-
tion pronounces the wine to be goocl, were it not for a, small
taste of le'ather, which he perceived in it. The other, aftel
using the saule preca,utions, gives also his verrlict in fir,voul of
the wine ; bu.t lvith the reserve of a ttr,ste of iron, which. he
could easily tlistinguish. You cannot imagine how rnuch
they were both ridiculed for their juclgmcnt. But rvho
iaughed in the end P On emptying the hogshead, there was
found at the bottom, an old key witb a leatheln thong tied to it.
0F TIIII STI\ND.\RD 0F 'L\S'lll' lTjl
The great resemblnnce betrveen mental and bodiiy taste
will easily teach us to apply this story. Though it be certain,
that benrity antl cleformity, more tha,n swer:t ar.rcl bitter, are
not qua,lities in obiects, but belong entirelv to the sentiment,
internal or external ; it nrust be allcirved, thil't ther"e are cer-
tain qunlities in obiects, .lvhich ar-e fitterl b1' nilture t+i protluce
tlrise-pu,rticular {'ee,lings. No.rv a,s therse qrur,libies niay be {bunrl
i* .r, si'zr,ll clcg'e,_,, or miry be mixecl and couftinnderl rvith cu,ch
othcr, it oftetr happcns' th&t the ta,ste is not rr'ffecterl rvith
such tninute qua,lities, or is not able to clistinquish all the
particula'r fla,vours, amiilst the disorder, irrrvhich thcy a'l'e
presentecl. Where the orqrrns are so firtc, as to tr,llorv nothirtg
iu thetn ; a'cl a,t the sit,lne tirne s. exlct a's to percei'r'e
"r.rr1r"
cvery iLrgretlictrt in tlte composition : I'his rve ca'll clelicacy of
trL-*tc, rvlietht-r l*e et'plov these terms irr the litr:ral or rneta-
l,horical sense. Here tllen the geuelir,l lul:s of
beauty are-of
i,r" ; being <trra'lvn from established nodels, and from the
ol,sclvrr,tion of what pleases or displeases, rvhen presented
sirrgly ancl in a high degree: And if' the sameqnrr'lities,in, ir'
c,.,r"ti,.,,red composition a,nd in a srnallcr degree, affect notthe
clrgnrls rvith a, sensible clelight or uneasiness, $'e exclude the
lrni'.or-, ftorn all pretensions to this
tlelictcy. T9 fr-oil-1ee
ih.r,, gu,.t"t',rl rules or irl'orved" patterns of col'ptlsition is like
fiutling the key with the lc'athern thong; whir:h justifietl the
r..rdiJ of Sencso's ki.srnen, a,rtcl confo.'derl tllose pretenclcrl
j\rlges who had conilemnecl thern. Though the hogshearl htril
1l.0'"u" b"ett ernptied, the taste of the olre was -*till equally
clelicate, and that of the <-rther equally dull and lalguitl: But
it woulcl have been more alifiicult to have ploved the supe-
riority of the former, to the conviction -of evc'r-y by-standcr'
I' lilie manner, though the beauties of 'writi'g 1a'r'l' ncv.t:
been methoilizecl, or reilucecl to general priuciples ; th<xrglr'
no excellent moilels hntl ever been acknowledgetl; tire tlif-
{'erent clegrees of taste rvoulcl still }rave subsistecl, rrnd t}re
jur"lgmeuf of one man been preferable to thrrt of anqther;
U.,tltlvoulcl not have been so easy to silence the ba'd critic,
rr.ho might ahvays insist upon his particular sentiment, and
refirse to submit to his antagorrist. But when rve sht>rv him
an avowed principle of art ; when we illustrate this principle
by exarnple,s, whose operation; from his own particular taste,
lrc acknowleclges to be conforma'ble to thc priuciple; then
rre prove, that the same principle nray be alililied to the pre-
274 ESSAY XXIII.
sent case, where he tliil not perceive or feel its influence : Ife
must-conclude, upon the whole, that the fault lies in himseif,
ancl that he wants the delicacy, rvhich is requisite to rnake
him sensible-_of every beauty and every biemish, in any con_
position or discourse.
^
ft-is acknowledgecl to be the perfection of every sense or
faculty, to perceive with exactness its most minnl I objects,
and allow nothing to escape its notice and observ.iriou. 'fhe
smaller the objects are, r'hich become sensible to the e1.e,
the finer is that organ, ancl the more elaborate its rrral<e a.rrd
compoeition. A goocl palate is not tried by strong flavours I
but by a rnixture of small ingrecli+:nts, *,he"e we are stili
sensible of each part, notwithst:lnding its minuteness and its
confusion with the rest, In like rnanner, a quick arid acute
perception of beauty and cieformity musi be the perfection of
our mental taste; nor can a man be satisfiecl .lvith hirnself
while he suspects, that any excellence or blernish in a, rlis-
course-has passed. hirn unobserved. In this ca,se, ilre perfec_
tion of the rnan, and the perfection of the sense or feeiing,
are found to be united. A very clelicate palate, or, *rrr1. o._
casions, may be a great inconvenience both to a mair hiiirsclf
ancl to his {riends : But a clelicate taste of rvit or beauty
must.always be a desirable quality I because it is flre .o,,".L
of all the finest ancl most innocent enjo.1 ments, of ll.hich
human nature is susceptible. fn t,his tlecision the seritiurents
of all mankincl are agreed. \\'herever you can a,scertain a
delicacy of taste, it is sure to meet with approbntion; antl
the best way of ascertairrins. it is to appcal to those moclels
and. principles, rvhich have been cstablished by the unifor.m
consent a,nil experience of nilt,ions and ages.
Rut tirough there J:e rraturaliy il l'icle clifferencc in point
of clelicacy between one person ancl another, nothing iends
further to encrease and. improve tiris talent, than prctctice in
a, particular art, an,l the frequent srirvey or conterirplation of
a particula,r species of beauty. When objects of any kind
are first presenteil to the eye or imagination, the sentiment,
which attends them, is obscure anil conf'used ; and the rnind
is, in a greai measure, incapable of pronouncing concerning
their merits or defects. The taste cannot perceiye tLe
several excellences of the performa,nce; much less distin-
guish the particular character of each excellency, ancl ascer.-
tain its quality antl tlegr.ee. f I it pronounce the u'ho]e in
OF TI{I' STANDARI] O1T 'fASTtr]. 275
gener&l to be beautiful or d.eforlnetl, it is the utrnost t'hat can
be expectecl; and eYen this judgment, a person, so unprac-
tisedf will be apt to deliver with great hesitntion ancl resert'e'
But allorv hirr to acquire experience'IIc in those objects, his
feeling becotnes ,.tc,r't Lxact a,ircl nice : rrot only perceives
the b-eauties anil defects o{ each part, Lrut ttarks the dis-
tinguishing species of each quality, ancl assigns it suit'n'ble
prol*" ot bio-*. A. clear ancl clistirrct sentimenl attends him
ihrough the whole survey of the objects; ancl he discerns
that very clegree antl kind of approbation or ilispleasure,
which ecr,ch patt is naturally fitted to produce. The mist
clissipates, nutti.lt seemed forrnerly to hang oYer the object:
The lrgan acquires greater: perfection in its operations; and
p"inn,tnce, without danger of nlistake, concerning the
meri{s of every performance. In a, wold, the same a'ddress
"u,o-
anil clexterity, which practice gives to the execution of aily
work, is a,lso acquii'ecl by the same means, in the jutlging
of it.
So advantageous is practice to the tliscernment of beaut"v,
that, before *" give juilgrnent on any work of imgor;
tance, it 'lvill "utt
even be requisite, thar,t that verv individual
perfonnance be more than once peruseal by us, and be sur-
i,eyed in different lights with attc'tio' and deliberatio'"
There is a flutter or hurry of thought which attends the first
perusal of any piece, anil which confounds the genuine senti-
inent of bea'ty. The relation of the parts is not clisce'recl:
The true characters of style are little clistinguished : 'Ihe
several perfections ancl def'ects seem wrappeil up in a species '
of confision, and present thenselves indistinotly to the im-
agination, Not to mention, that there is a species of beaufy,
*Li"h, as it is florid and superficial, pleases at first; but
being founil incompatible with a just expression eithev of
or pir'ssioll, soon palls upon the taste, ancl is then
""urJn
rejected with disclain, at least rated at a, much lower value"
It is impossible to continue in the practice of conternplat-
ing any order of beauty, without being frequently obliged to
folm between t5e several species anci' ilegrees of
"irn1,oris,r'r.s
excellence, and estimating theit proportion to eil'ch otllpr' A
man, who has hacl no opportunity of compaling the difi'cront
kinds of beauty, is indeed totally unquali{ied to pronounce an
opinion with iegard to any object presented to him' Lty
cimparison alone we fix the epithets of' plaise 6r blame, and
27G ESSAY XXIII,
learn how to assign the due ilegree of. each. The corr,rsest
daubing contails a certain lustrJof colours ir,nd. exactness of
imitation, which a,re so fnr bea,uties, arrtl lvoultl zr,ffect tlie
mincl of a peasant or Iniii:rn rvith the liighest aduriration.
The most vulgar bzr,llzr,ds a,re not entirely destitute <if liar.-
mony or nature I antl none bnt l, perso)l, frrurili:,r,r,ized to
superior beautics, rvould pronouncje their rrurnbers hlrsh, or
narration uninterestir:rg. A greri,t inferiority o{'beauty gives
_pain
to a, person conversant in the highest Lxcellence-of the
kind, and is for that reitsorl p"ouoou""d a defolmity: As the
most firrisbed object, with u'hich we are l,crpu,irrled, is na,-
tur_ally supposed to hnve re:lched the pinnacie of pel.fection,
aucl to be entitlecl to the lrighest applause. One accustorneci
to see, and examine, a,ncl weigh the several perfonnurces,
ad.mired in clifferent ages anil nations, can only rate the
merits of a worlr exhibitecl to his view, and assign its proper
rank among the productions of genius.
But to enable a, critic the more futly to execute this uncler-
taking, he must preserve his mirrd f'reL from all prej,ud,i,ce, and.
allow nothing to enter into his consideratit_ro, bnt ilre very
object which is subnritted to his examination. We rna.y
observe, that every work of a,rt, in order to produce its dul
effect on the mind, must be surveyecl in a certain point of
view, and cannot be fully relished by persons, whose siluation,
real or imaginary, is not conformable to that which is re-
qnired by the performarrce. An orator addresses hirnself to
a particulal auclience, and must hnve a, rega,ril to their par-
ticular genius, interests, oliinions, passions, ancl prejurliies;
otherwise he hopes in vain to govern their resolutiorrs, aoi
inflaure their affections. Should they even have enterta,ined-
some prepossessions against hin, ho.lvever unreasouable, he
must not overlook this disadvantage; but, before he enters
upon the subject, must endeavour to conciliate their affec-
tior5 and acquire their good graces. A critic of a different
age or nation, who should peruse this discourse, mnst have
all these circumstances in his e.ye, and must place himself in
the same situation as the auclience, in orcler to form a true
j{gment of the oration. fn hke manner, when any work is
ad.clressed to the public, though I shoutd have a frientlship
or enmity with the author, I must depart from this situa-
tion;_ and consiclering myself as a man in general, {brget, if
possible, rny individual being anil my peculiar cireumstances.
oF TIIII STANlr.\lil) Oi' TA-s1'll. 277
A person influenced l:y prc'jtidice, cornplies ucit with this
condition; but obstinatcl;' nrainttins his latural position,
without placing hiuiself in that poirri of vierv, which the
perform:lnce supposcs. If the worli be tiddressecl to persons
of a clifferent age or rra,tion, he rnakes no allowance for their
peculiar vielvs and prejuclices ; but, full of the manners of his
orvn age arlal country, rashly condernns lvhat seetned admira-
ble in the eyes of those fbr rvhom alone the cliscourse was
ca,lculated. If the work be executecl for the public, he never
sufiiciently enlarges his comprehension, or fbrgets his interest
as a, friend or enemy, as a rivtll or comrncntator'. By tiris
rneans, his sentirnents are pcrvertecl I nor have the sa,urc
beauties and blernishes the same influerlce upon hirn, as if
he hacl imposed a ploper violence on his irnagination, a,nd"
had forgotten himself lbr a rnornent. So {ar his taste evi-
tleritly dcparts frorn tire tme stand.ard ; anrl of consequence
loses ail creilit and authority.
It is well known, that in all questions, submitted to the
untlerstilncling, prejudice is destructive of sound juclgmerrt,
ancl pervorts all operai,ions of the intellectual I'aculties : It is
no less coutrary to p4oocl taste ; nor has it less influence to
corlupt our st'ltimeut of beu,uty, It belongs to rlootl serose
to chec,l< its influence in both cases ; antl in this respect, as
well a,s irr nraly othcrs, reasolr, if not u,n essentinl part of
taste, is at least reqriisite te' the opclir,tions of this latter
{irculty. h all the notrler ploductions of genius, there is a
mutual relation aud correspontlence of parts; nor can either
the beauties or blemishes be perceivecl by him, r'r'hose
thought is not capacic.rus enough to courpretrrend all those
pa,r-ts, and colnpa,re them rvith each other, in order ro per-
ceive the consistence and uniformity of the whole. Every
rvork of art has also a certairr end or purpose, for which it is
c:r,lcrriatetl ; alrd is to be cleernecl more or' Iess perfect, as it is
lnore ol less fitted to rittain this encl. The obiect of eloquence
is to persuntle, of histoly to irrstruct, of poetry to please by
rneans of the passions aucl the imagination. These ends we
must carrl' constir,ntly in oul vielv, lvhen lve peruse any per-
lbrmarice ; anrl we nrrist be able to judge how far the means
turployeil are adapted to their respective purposes. Besides,
cvery kincl of conrposition, even the rnost poetical, is nothing
but a chirirr of propositions antl reasoriings ; lot a,lwu,ysrinrleecl,
the jnstest antl trost cxa,ct, bi.tt still plausiblcr ir,trd specious,
278 ESSAY XX[I.
howevcr disguisecl by the colouring of the irnagination.
The persons introclucetl in tragecly and epic poetry, must be
represerrted as reasoning, and thinking, and conclucling, and
acting, suitably to their character and circumstances I a,nrl
without judgrnent, as well as taste anil inverrtiorl, a poet cau
never hope to succeecl in so delicate an undertakilg. Not to
mention, that the sarne excellence of faculties which con-
tributes to the improvemenb of r:eason, the sarne clen,rness of
conception, the sam,e exactness of clistinction, the same
vivacity of appreherrsion, are essential to the operations of
true taste, and are its infallible concornitllnts. It scldr.rm, or
never liappens, tLrr,t a, lniln of scttsc, rvho ltits expelierrce in
a,rry alt, ciurnot iudgtl of its bc:ruty r elrrtl it il; lo less rare tcr
rueet rvith & lnillr who has a just ttrste lvithout a, souutl tmder-
stunrlirrg.
Thus. though the principles of taste be universal, and,
nearly, if not entirely the sllme in all men; yet felv are
qurr,lifred to give juclgrnent on any work of ara, or establish
their own sentirnent as the stanclarcl of ben,uty. The organs
o{' internal sensa.tion irre se}donr so perfect as to il,llorv the
general priuciples theil full play, and procluce a f'eeling cor-
responileut to those principles. They either labtiur under
sorne rlefect, or are vitia,tecl by some disorcler; and by thlt
nleirlls, excitc a sentitnent, rvhich may be pronounccd el-
roneous. When the critic has no il:licacy, he judges n'ith-
out any distinction, ancl is only affected by the grosscr antl
rnore palpnl.rle qnnlities of the object : The finer touches
pass unnoticecl a,url clislegl,r'c1erc1. Where he is rrot a,iclecL i-ry
practice. his teltlict is tttendctl rvith corrlirsiou autl hesittr-
tion. \\rhele no cotnlilt,t'is<)u luts been ernployecl, the lnost
frivolons bt-rruties, srtt'h as lather rnerit the narne of tlef'ects,
are the object of' his achniration. Wher:e he lies uutler the
influence of plejutlit'e, nll his natural sentirneuts &re pcr-
vertecl. Whele goocl sense is rvautiug, lte is not clurr,lified to
discern the beauties of clesign anQ reasoniug, rvhich ar,l
the highest ancl rnost excellerrt. Under soltte or other ot'
these inrper:f'er:tioI-rs, the gerrerality of men labour I anrl
hence a true jrrclge in the iinet arts is obselred, everl tlurins'
the most polishecl ages, to be so la.re a, charactel' : Strong
sense, uriitcd to clclicate sentitrrerrt. iurpror-ed by prer,cticc,
per'l'ectecl by colrliir,risolt. attt-l ttlcllerl ot' rr.ll pre'.jutliccr, t:ittr
alinc errtitlet o'itics to this vitlrtitl.,lc ctrillitct,tr'; a,ncl the jr-.'irrt
OIr THn ST,IND.\RD OF T,\STE. 275
vcltlict of such, wircleyer they are to be founil, is the true
stirndrr,r'd of trr,ste antl beauty.
l3rrt lvherc a,re such critics to be found? By what marks
ar:e they to be kuorvn ? Horv distin"luish them from pre-
tcuders P 'I'hese questions are emban:assing; ancl seem to
throrv us brrcli into tire sarne uneertaiuty, frorn which, cluring
the coulsc of this essaJ', we have endeavoured to extrica,te
oulselves.
But if rve consiclel the matter aright, these are cpestions of
fllct, not of sc.ntirnent. Whethcr any pirrtictrlar person be
endorved rvith good sense and a clelicate irnagination, free
finm prejuclice, may o{ten be the subject of ilispute, and be
li.Lble to great discussion and enquiry : But tha,t such a
cliarrr,cter is valuable anil estirntr,ble will be a.greetl in by all
manhiud. I\rhere these doubts occuL, men can clo no more
l,hir,n in other clisputa,ble questions, which are submitted. to
the understancliug : They must produce the best argurnents,
that their invention suggests to them; they rrust acknow-
ledge a true and d.ecisive standnrcl to exist sornewhere, to
'lvit, renl existence ancl matter of fil,ct; ancl they urust have
indulgence to such as differ frour thern in their appeals to
this stanclarcl. It is sufiEcient for our present purpose, if
lve have proved, that the taste of all individuals is not upou
a,n equa,I fboting, ancl that sorne men in general, holvever
di{ficult to be particularly pitchecl upon, will be acknow-
lerlged by universal seutirnent to have a preference a,bove
others,
But in reality the dilfculty of finding, even in particulars,
the standard. of taste, is not so great as it is representecl.
Though in speculation, we rray readily avow a eertain
criteriorr in science anrl deny it in sentiment, the matter is
founil in practice to be much more hard" to ascertain in the
former case than irr the latter. Theories of abstract philo-
sophy, systerns of profound theology, have prevailecl cluring
one age: In a, successive period, these have been universa,lly
exploded : Their absurditv has been cletectecl: Other theories
and systems have supplied their place, which again gave
place to their successors: Anil nothilg has been experienced
more liablel to the revolutions of chance and fashion than these
pretended dccisions of science. The case is rrot the same
with the beauties of eloquence and poetry. Just expressions
of pa,ssir:rr antl natrtlc illc sure, :rftcr a littlc tinre, to gain
 7

280 NSSAY XXIII. OF TIIE STA]VDARD OF TASTE. 281

p"!lt! apJ)lause, which thery nraintain for ever. Anrsror:r,n, for a stanclard, by which we can reconcile the contrary sen-
l-leto, and Eprcunus, ald Dlscan,rrs, may successively
a.rrtl
tirnents.
yielcl to each other-: But Tnnr:rvcr and y'rcrr, maintain A young man, whose passions arc warm, will be more
au ur,iversal, undisputed ernpire over the miruls of rrren.
Tlre a,Lstract philosorrh.y of Cri;nno ]ras lost its crec-lit:
sensibly touchecl with a,morous and tencler images, than a
Tirc rnarl more advancetl in yeilrs, who tal<es pleasure in wise,
veheme'ce of' bis o'atory is stilr the object of athnira- philosophical reflections concerning the concluct of life and
tion. 'ur rnoderation of the pa,ssions. At twentv, Ovro may be the
-be Though men of delicate ta,ste be rare, ilrey a,re casily to
distinguished i' s<.rc,iety, b1' the souncfress
favourite autlror; Honecn a,t fbrty ; a,ncl perhaps Tacrrus
their- untler- at fifty. Yainly rvouicl lve, in such cilses, endeavour to enter
standing and the superiority of thci" fir,culties'fabove the rest
into the sentirnents of others, and clivest ourselves of tirose
of mankind. The ascenclant, .which they acquire, gives ii,
prevalence to that lively approbation, *ith *i,i.t 'tfiny 1:ropensities, which are natural to us. \tr/e choose our'
."_ favourite author as we clo our friend, frorn a confbmrity of
ceiv-e any productiorrs of genius, and renclers it gerrJrnlly
hurnour rr,uil dispositiol. Mitth orpassion, sentirnent or re flcc-
predominant.
_Many men, rvherr left to themselvcs,-huu" bui tion ; n'hichever of these rnost predominates in our teurper, it
a, faint and dubious percepbion of beauty, who yet
are gives us a peculiar sympathy with the writer who resembles us.
c:r,pable of relisliing any fine stroke, rvhich is- pointei
out to One person is more plea,secl with the sublirne I anotirr:r
them. Every convert to ilre admiration of the real poet or. rvith the tentier; a thiril with ra,illery. Orre has a strong
orator is the cause of sonre new conversion. And though
sensibility to blemishes, ancL is extremely studious of cor-
prejudices rnay prevail for. a tirne, they nevcr unito in celt:_
rectness r Another has a more lively feeling of benuties, lrr.rtl
brating any rival to the tlue genius, liut yield at last to the pardons twenty absurdities ancl defects fol one eleyated cir
force of nat.re and just sentiment. Trrus. ilro,gh a civiiizetr
pa{,hetic stroke. The ear of this man is entirely turned
.abion may e:rsily be mistarien in flre crioice of tleir. a<lr'ir.ecl
towards conciseness a,nd. energy ; that rnan is delighted lvith
philosopher, thcy nevcr have been {'ouncl long to cn,, in thelir
affection for a favorite epic or tragic author.
a colrious, rich, and harmonious expression. Simplicity is
affected by one I ornament by another. Comecly, tragecly,
But notwithstanding all o,r. e'd"*.,ro,r", to fix a, stanclarcl
satire, odes, have each its p:lrtizans, rrho prefer that par-
of taste, a'd reconcile thc, cliscordant apprehensions of ,rrer,,, ticular specics of writing to all others. It is plainly an
there still remri' tw' so.rces of variir,iion, rrhich ,,.,t errcx in a critic, to confine his a,pprobation to one species or
s*fficient rudeed to confou'cl all the bountraries of""* beaui,y style of rvriting, and conclemn a,ll the rest. But it is ahnost
ancl- cleformitv, but will often serve to protl*ce n
difl-ere,cl impossibie not to fcel a pretlilection for that rvhich suits our
i_1_the degrees of our applobation or bla,ine. The
one is ilre particula,r turn a,nd dispoeition. Such preferences a,re in-
c'lifferent ]rumonrs of particular lnen; the other, t],e pa"_
nocent arid rinavoiilable, a,nci can never reasonably be the
ticular manner.s and opinions of our age ancl .oorlt"y. 'i1,"
objcct of dispute, becrluse bhere is no stanclard, by which
g_eneral principles of taste are unifoim in human "rraturr:
they can be decided.
Where
Ten-varl in their juclgrnents, sorne rlefect or per_
version in the faculties -.ay co-*only be remarkecl;
Tor a like rea,son. we are more pleasecl, in the course of
our rearlinE, rvith pir:tures and. characters, that resemble
ceecling either from prejudice, from .want of practice, o" i"o_
Jar,t objects which nre fbunil in our own age or country, than
of delicacy; ancl theie is just reason for apfroving orre trr.tu, with those which describe a clifferent set of customs. It is
and conclemning another. But where there is su-ch a cliver-
rrot without some effbrt, th"r,t rre reconcile ourselves to the
gity in the internal frame or externa,l situation o* l* simplicity of ancient rn&nners, and bel'.olcl princesses carry-
bla,meless on both sicles, ancr reaves no room to give ""iir*!
o'e th'o ing water from the spring, ancl kings aud heroes dressinq
qreference above the other; in thrr,t case a, ce"tal. d"gro" ,,f their own victua,ls. We rna,y allow in general, that the le-
diversity in judgrnerrt is tuavoiclable, ancl we *""k fi ,;i;;
prcst-.ntir,tion of sur.lr lnilnnols is lo f'ault in the author, rror
282 L]SSAY XXIII. 0F TIIB S'I',\ND:\IID OF TASTIi'
in tlic piece ; but rve are not so sensibly touchcd
clefor:rnify rnotl^ern authors an adva'nta'ge over thern' We are uot i1r-
herrles :
rvitL thern. l-c,r this reasL)n, corn,-rdy is not ea,sily tra,ns- terestccl iu the forturrcs ailil sentiruerrts of such rongh
the lirnits of vice and virtue so
ferr',ril fi'onr one a,g'eor nation to a,nother'. .A F nnxcrunln or We are displeasecl to tind
JNlrclrsnlrew is not plcasecl rn'ith the ANnnr.r of, Tnnnricll, : A'cl u,hiltever iirdulge'ce we lnll'y give t<-r
*,,"1, .orrf.iuuleil
prevail ou
or"Or,ttr,r of M,rcnrevnr,l 'where the fine lady, ripon whorn the writer on ac<iouut of his plcjudices, rve cilrrnot
iln a'ffcction to
rLll tle 1rl;i1. turrrs, re.r'er once appears to the slrectatols, but oor'r"1r", to entcr irlto his sc"ti'ner:tts, or beilr
is aluri;s )rept behil<1 thc scenes, suitrr,bly to the reserved rvhich rve plir'illy tliscover: to-be blametble'
-
characters,
lrurut-rul of lhe aleicnt Gnntr<s and modern f.rer,t,urs. A 'IlLe i. u,-,t tl,e ,,'"ti' t"i1'lt trtot'rl prinr:iples' rr's .rvitL
rriitrr of leiu'niug :r,utl ri.rllectiou cau rnake allolvlnce for these "u,r" opitrioits ul aul liirrcl'- Ihesc lllo irl ct-'rttitrrul
specr"rlir,tive
1li x ,r,,,.1 rcr'.,1ttti.rLr. l-fLe si'in etrtblaces a
pcculiir,r'ities of' lri.lrrners ; but rr, commo]r a,riclience can neycr. rliflcreut systtrtrr
rvho c[rr
rlivcst thctrsclves so {ar o1' t}reir usuill icleas arril seutirneuts, ii'u,,t tlr" {*thcr. Nill', thirrc scurcelf is arty tttatr'
u,s to i'ciislr pictules nhich irr no wise reserlbie thern. boir,st of gr:eir,t corrst*it.'y "ttl uirift''rnity in
tliis piii:ticular"
Brrl hcle thele occurs a rcflection, which rnay, perhaps, iVt sl,rcculative i,t'," be lbund in the polite
be useful irr exllinining the celcrblatecl controvcr:sv coil- "t"u"i "t"y cletr,at-.t but lit.tle fror[
writings of ri,ry &go clr couutry, tLe.y
cerlting aricir:rtt ttr'-l iirodern lealuirtgI rvhere ne often fincl the vl,lue of those corlposititlris' 'I\rere rteeds i'-rut ir' certiriu
the ciue side excusing any seenring Ibsul'clity in tlie arrcir:rits turrroftiiouglrtoriuia-ginatiilrrtorrril]rcuserrter'irrtoalltlrtl
.r'
1i'om tlre rnariuels of the agc, ard tho ot,hcr rel'using tcr opitrir's, rvSlch the' prevn'ilccl, aricl reiish the serrtit'e'ts
l,dnrit this exclusr', cl at least, rrclrnitting it onl.y as ln apology clerivcd' fr,iir therri' But a very violcnt e'fltrlt is
lirr the rrul.hor', not 1'or tlie per{iilrnance. In rriy opinion, "i,rr.lo.lort,
recluisite to change our jutlgrueut of rnrnners' atrcl excite sctt-
ihe propcr boundaries irr tiris subjerci, hlve se'klorl been ti,,lr,rt-t* tif *,pprol-'-Ir,iintt u-'' bli'"tt, love or l'La'trec1, ili{ferc't.f'o'r
fixed betrv*'e'n the conterlclilg parties. \l,'irere a,riy i11o- thosc to oolti .t. the liiud flonr lorrg custorn has been
fir'rniliar-
ccrrt peculialities of rnannefs ilre lelrescntci{, srrch :rs t}roser izetl.Atlllr'hele&lu&uiscoufidentoftlierectitucleofth:r't jeaious of it'
above mentioneti, they ought ccrtainly to be acirrrittt:tl; ancl rrrolrl stalclil.rcl, by rvhich htl 3u''lges, he is justly
& ruan, lvho is sJ:.ocked rvith them, gires a"n cvii,lrrrt pr',oof of' antl n'i[ not pervert t]re setrtiurents of his heart {br a motnelt'
firlse clelicr.r,cT aud rclincrnernt. The poet's nt{)rLul1'tt':}Lt nt,ote in ce,rtrplllisll,rlce to tury rvritcl u'hltslrcvcl'
Of ,ril spec.,htive ei'r'ors, those, u'hich re'g&rii religion'
duro,blc tlr,t.n brass, nnist firll to the grouncl liice corrruron brick are
or cla,;-, were lllerl to iua.lle no illlorvzi,nce fol' thc corrtinua,l. tl,e rnost ixcus,rlrle in corupositiotrs of gelius I rr'or is it-evel
revolutions of inannels and. r:ustorns, a,ncl r""',i;ulc1 a,lrnit cif pcrruittctl to judgc of the cioiiity or rvisclom of any people'
r'.rr'

nothing but what rvas suitable to the pre\.a,i1illg tashion" '"".,r sittgl,! Lry tlie grrossncss or refirr'elnent of their
"f ''fhe
1,t,isons,
Must rve throw l,siclc the pictures of our ancestor$, bttc;lusc of it ont,rgi.,rl'-pt'incil-,les. sarrre goocl. sense' thrr't directs
their rnfls a.ncl fz'r,rc1inq:rles'l Eut .lvhere thc irlc;r,s of nrornlity rrel,. iri the tirclinruy occlln'elrces of life, is not
hearhened to
arrrl decency alter frtirn one age to lnother, and n'lie,'re vicious iu religious rua,tters, n'iiich il're supposecl to be placecl .alto-
nrrrners are describerl, rlithout bcing rnarhed with the propel g.ttr"r:rrt.,r,'e the cognizallce of hurnan l'ea'son' On
this ac-
chrlrircters of bLr.me alrd ilisnpprob;ltion; this nrust be ai- Euont,'be all the abs.,rt1itie, of the pagan system of theol<-'g'y
to
loll'eil bo disfig.ure the poem, a.ncl to lie a rcal dt{irmity. I urust ovellookecl by e'verv criiic, r.hcl rvoulcl pretetld
in
earurot, nor is il proper I sLould, enter into sucir sentiurents; iur',r, ,,, just notir,ru c,f ,r,'ciettt' poetry ; -antl our posteritl"
ard holvcver I may excllse the poet, on account of thr: ma,n- iit"i. t*trt, must hirYe the saure irrilulgence to tlieir' lbre-
rrels of iiis ago, I lrevcr cuu relisli the cornposition. 'Ihe fathels. Iio religio,rs principics c&Ir ever be irnputcd rr-s ir'

w&ni, of humanity ancl of decency, so corspicruc.rus in the rentirin- m€rely principles' antl
fir,utrt to atly poctr rvhilc they-
clLarilctels dlarvn by several ofl the ancient poels, even sorne- talie nr,rt such stroirg po,*"t'iott
-'tf
of his heart' as to lay hirn
tirrrt's by }lor.tnn and the Gnur.tx trrrgeclians, dininishcs con- rrr,tlcr 1he irnl,ltta.ti,ri biq0tta or Whe}e that
sttltcrsli't"irnt''
sidertr.bll tlic rnerit of l,treir noblt' ptrfr;rmirnc,es, and gives ir,,1,f"ttr, t;cri-c<-,'fi',Lr*t1 l'e '*critiulcnts 'f
rnoralitv' arld altel'
284 ESSAY X]iIII
the natural boundaries of vice ancl virtue, They are there-
fore eternal blemishes, accorcling to the principle above men-
tioned; nor are the prejudices €rncl false opinions of the age
sufficient to justify tl,em.
It is essential to the Rouer catholic religion to inspire a
violent hatred of every other worship, and to represent all
pa,gans, mahometans, an,i[ heretics as the objects of divine
wrath and vengeance. Such sentiments, though they are in
reality very blameable, are considerecl as yirtrres by the zea- S SAYSO
lots of that cornurunion, and are representetl in their trage-
dies ancl epic poerns as a kinil of clivine heroism, This bigotry
has clisfigured two very fine tragedies of the Fnnncn theatre,
Por,rpucrn a,ncl- Arner,re I where an intemperahe zeal fur par-
MORA Tt, POLITICAL,
ticular rnodes of worship is set off with all the pornp irnagi-
nable, ancl forms the pred.ominant character of the lieroes. AND
'What is this,'says the sublime Jolo to Josetnr, fiuding her
in discourse with MeruaN, the priest of Eeer,, , Does the
daughter of Devrn speak to Uris traitor ? Are you not afraid,
lest the ea,rth should. open and. pour forth flames to devour LITERARY.
you both ? Or lest these holy walls shoulcl fall and crush
you together ? What is his purpose P Why comes that
enemy of God hither to poison the air, which we breathe,
with his horricl presence P ' Such sentiments are receivcd. PART II.*
with great applause on the theatre of Penrs; but at LoxooN
the spectators woulcl be full as much pleased to hear
Acurr,r,rs tellAae,unuxorv, thathewas a dog in his forebead, * Pusr,rsunD in L7 52. [This Note was first given in Edition M.]
a,nd. a cleer in his heart, or Juprrnn threaten Jurvo with a
sound drubbing, if she will not be quiet.
Bnr,rerous principles are also a blemish in any polite com-
position, when they rise up to superstition, ancl intrude
themselves into every sentiment, however remote from any
connection with religion. It is no excuse for the poet, that
the customs of his country had. burthened life with so mauy
religious ceremonies and observances, that no part of it was
exempt from that yoke. It must for ever be ridiculous in
Prtnencn to compare his mistress L.o.onl, to Jpsus Crnrsr.
Nor is it less ridiculous in that agreeable libertine, Bocclcn,
very seriously to give thanks to Gon Ar,urcury and the
la,clies, for their assistance in defencling him against his
enemies.
 DAVID HUME

THE PHILOSOPHICAL WORKS

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 X]SSAYS

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