Modern History Sourcebook: David Hume (1711-1776): Of T e Standard Of Taste!

176"
Introductory Note David Hume (1711-1776) was born in Edinburgh, and was trained for the law. He early showed an eager interest in hiloso hy, and devoted himself to study with su!h intensity as to in"ure his health. He traveled in #ran!e more than on!e, and was on intimate terms with su!h men as d$%lembert, &urgot, and 'ousseau, for the last of whom he found a ension and a tem orary refuge in England. Hume is most !elebrated for his hiloso hi!al writings, in whi!h he !arried the em iri!al hiloso hy of (o!)e to the oint of !om lete s)e ti!ism. He wrote also a *History of England* in eight volumes, and a large number of treatises and essays on oliti!s, e!onomi!s, ethi!s, and estheti!s. &he following essay, *+f the ,tandard of &aste,* is a ty i!al e-am le of his !lear thin)ing and admirable style. *He may be regarded,* says (eslie ,te hen, *as the a!utest thin)er in .reat /ritain of the eighteenth !entury, and the most 0ualified inter reter of its intelle!tual tenden!ies.* Of The Standard Of Taste T e #reat variety of Taste! as $e%% as of o&inion! $ ic &revai%s in t e $or%d! is too obvious not to ave fa%%en under every one's observation( Men of t e most confined kno$%ed#e are ab%e to remark a difference of taste in t e narro$ circ%e of t eir ac)uaintance! even $ ere t e &ersons ave been educated under t e same #overnment! and ave ear%y imbibed t e same &re*udices( +ut t ose! $ o can en%ar#e t eir vie$ to contem&%ate distant nations and remote a#es! are sti%% more sur&rised at t e #reat inconsistence and contrariety( ,e are a&t to ca%% barbarous $ atever de&arts $ide%y from our o$n taste and a&&re ension- but soon find t e e&it et of re&roac retorted on us( .nd t e i# est arro#ance and se%f-conceit is at %ast start%ed! on observin# an e)ua% assurance on a%% sides! and scru&%es! amidst suc a contest of sentiment! to &ronounce &ositive%y in its o$n favour( .s t is variety of taste is obvious to t e most care%ess in)uirer- so $i%% it be found! on e/amination! to be sti%% #reater in rea%ity t an in a&&earance( T e sentiments of men often differ $it re#ard to beauty and deformity of a%% kinds! even $ i%e t eir #enera% discourse is t e same( T ere are certain terms in every %an#ua#e! $ ic im&ort b%ame! and ot ers &raise- and a%% men! $ o use t e same ton#ue! must a#ree in t eir a&&%ication of t em( 0very voice is united in a&&%audin# e%e#ance! &ro&riety!

sim&%icity! s&irit in $ritin#- and in b%amin# fustian! affectation! co%dness! and a fa%se bri%%iancy: +ut $ en critics come to &articu%ars! t is seemin# unanimity vanis esand it is found! t at t ey ad affi/ed a very different meanin# to t eir e/&ressions( 1n a%% matters of o&inion and science! t e case is o&&osite: T e difference amon# men is t ere oftener found to %ie in #enera%s t an in &articu%ars- and to be %ess in rea%ity t an in a&&earance( .n e/&%anation of t e terms common%y ends t e controversy- and t e dis&utants are sur&rised to find! t at t ey ad been )uarre%%in#! $ i%e at bottom t ey a#reed in t eir *ud#ment( T ose $ o found mora%ity on sentiment! more t an on reason! are inc%ined to com&re end et ics under t e former observation! and to maintain! t at in a%% )uestions! $ ic re#ard conduct and manners! t e difference amon# men is rea%%y #reater t an at first si# t it a&&ears( 1t is indeed obvious! t at $riters of a%% nations and a%% a#es concur in a&&%audin# *ustice! umanity! ma#nanimity! &rudence! veracity- and in b%amin# t e o&&osite )ua%ities( 0ven &oets and ot er aut ors! $ ose com&ositions are c ief%y ca%cu%ated to &%ease t e ima#ination! are yet found! from Homer do$n to 2ene%on! to incu%cate t e same mora% &rece&ts! and to besto$ t eir a&&%ause and b%ame on t e same virtues and vices( T is #reat unanimity is usua%%y ascribed to t e inf%uence of &%ain reason- $ ic ! in a%% t ese cases! maintains simi%ar sentiments in a%% men! and &revents t ose controversies!to $ ic t e abstract sciences are so muc e/&osed( So far as t e unanimity is rea%! t is account may be admitted as satisfactory: +ut $e must a%so a%%o$! t at some &art of t e seemin# armony in mora%s may be accounted for from t e very nature of %an#ua#e( T e $ord virtue! $it its e)uiva%ent in every ton#ue! im&%ies &raise- as t at of vice does b%ame: .nd no man! $it out t e most obvious and #rossest im&ro&riety! cou%d affi/ re&roac to a term! $ ic in #enera% acce&tation is understood in a #ood sense- or besto$ a&&%ause! $ ere t e idiom re)uires disa&&robation( Homer's #enera% &rece&ts! $ ere e de%ivers any suc ! $i%% never be controverted- but it is obvious! t at! $ en e dra$s &articu%ar &ictures of manners! and re&resents eroism in .c i%%es and &rudence in 3%ysses! e intermi/es a muc #reater de#ree of ferocity in t e former! and of cunnin# and fraud in t e %atter! t an 2ene%on $ou%d admit of( T e sa#e 3%ysses in t e 4reek &oet seems to de%i# t in %ies and fictions! and often em&%oys t em $it out any necessity or even advanta#e: +ut is more scru&u%ous son! in t e 2renc e&ic $riter! e/&oses imse%f to t e most imminent &eri%s! rat er t an de&art from t e most e/act %ine of trut and veracity( T e admirers and fo%%o$ers of t e .%coran insist on t e e/ce%%ent mora% &rece&ts inters&ersed t rou# t at $i%d and absurd &erformance( +ut it is to be su&&osed! t at t e .rabic $ords! $ ic corres&ond to t e 0n#%is ! e)uity! *ustice! tem&erance! meekness! c arity $ere suc as! from t e constant use of t at ton#ue! must a%$ays be taken in a #ood sense- and it $ou%d ave ar#ued t e #reatest i#norance! not of mora%s! but of %an#ua#e! to ave mentioned t em $it any e&it ets! besides t ose of a&&%ause and a&&robation( +ut $ou%d $e kno$! $ et er t e &retended &ro& et ad

rea%%y attained a *ust sentiment of mora%s5 6et us attend to is narration- and $e s a%% soon find! t at e besto$s &raise on suc instances of treac ery! in umanity! crue%ty! reven#e! bi#otry! as are utter%y incom&atib%e $it civi%i7ed society( 8o steady ru%e of ri# t seems t ere to be attended to- and every action is b%amed or &raised! so far on%y as it is beneficia% or urtfu% to t e true be%ievers( T e merit of de%iverin# true #enera% &rece&ts in et ics is indeed very sma%%( , oever recommends any mora% virtues! rea%%y does no more t an is im&%ied in t e terms t emse%ves( T at &eo&%e! $ o invented t e $ord c arity! and used it in a #ood sense! incu%cated more c%ear%y and muc more efficacious%y! t e &rece&t! be c aritab%e! t an any &retended %e#is%ator or &ro& et! $ o s ou%d insert suc a ma/im in is $ritin#s( Of a%% e/&ressions! t ose! $ ic ! to#et er $it t eir ot er meanin#! im&%y a de#ree eit er of b%ame or a&&robation! are t e %east %iab%e to be &erverted or mistaken( 1t is natura% for us to seek a Standard of Taste- a ru%e! by $ ic t e various sentiments of men may be reconci%ed- at %east! a decision afforded! confirmin# one sentiment! and condemnin# anot er( T ere is a s&ecies of & i%oso& y! $ ic cuts off a%% o&es of success in suc an attem&t! and re&resents t e im&ossibi%ity of ever attainin# any standard of taste( T e difference! it is said! is very $ide bet$een *ud#ment and sentiment( .%% sentiment is ri# t- because sentiment as a reference to not in# beyond itse%f! and is a%$ays rea%! $ erever a man is conscious of it( +ut a%% determinations of t e understandin# are not ri# t- because t ey ave a reference to somet in# beyond t emse%ves! to $it! rea% matter of fact- and are not a%$ays conformab%e to t at standard( .mon# a t ousand different o&inions $ ic different men may entertain of t e same sub*ect! t ere is one! and but one! t at is *ust and true- and t e on%y difficu%ty is to fi/ and ascertain it( On t e contrary! a t ousand different sentiments! e/cited by t e same ob*ect! are a%% ri# t: +ecause no sentiment re&resents $ at is rea%%y in t e ob*ect( 1t on%y marks a certain conformity or re%ation bet$een t e ob*ect and t e or#ans or facu%ties of t e mind- and if t at conformity did not rea%%y e/ist! t e sentiment cou%d never &ossib%y ave bein#( +eauty is no )ua%ity in t in#s t emse%ves: 1t e/ists mere%y in t e mind $ ic contem&%ates t em- and eac mind &erceives a different beauty( One &erson may even &erceive deformity! $ ere anot er is sensib%e of beauty- and every individua% ou# t to ac)uiesce in is o$n sentiment! $it out &retendin# to re#u%ate t ose of ot ers( To seek t e rea% beauty! or rea% deformity is as fruit%ess an in)uiry! as to &retend to ascertain t e rea% s$eet or rea% bitter( .ccordin# to t e dis&osition of t e or#ans! t e same ob*ect may be bot s$eet and bitter- and t e &roverb as *ust%y determined it to be fruit%ess to dis&ute concernin# tastes( 1t is very natura%! and even )uite necessary! to e/tend t is a/iom to menta%! as $e%% as bodi%y taste- and t us common sense! $ ic is so often at variance $it & i%oso& y!

es&ecia%%y $it t e sce&tica% kind! is found! in one instance at %east! to a#ree in &ronouncin# t e same decision( +ut t ou# t is a/iom! by &assin# into a &roverb! seems to ave attained t e sanction of common sense- t ere is certain%y a s&ecies of common sense! $ ic o&&oses it! at %east serves to modify and restrain it( , oever $ou%d assert an e)ua%ity of #enius and e%e#ance bet$een O#i%by and Mi%ton! or +unyan and .ddison! $ou%d be t ou# t to defend no %ess an e/trava#ance! t an if e ad maintained a mo%e- i%% to be as i# as Teneriffe! or a &ond as e/tensive as t e ocean( T ou# t ere may be found &ersons! $ o #ive t e &reference to t e former aut ors- no one &ays attention to suc a taste- and $e &ronounce! $it out scru&%e! t e sentiment of t ese &retended critics to be absurd and ridicu%ous( T e &rinci&%e of t e natura% e)ua%ity of tastes is t en tota%%y for#ot! and $ i%e $e admit it on some occasions! $ ere t e ob*ects seem near an e)ua%ity! it a&&ears an e/trava#ant &arado/! or rat er a &a%&ab%e absurdity! $ ere ob*ects so dis&ro&ortioned are com&ared to#et er( 1t is evident t at none of t e ru%es of com&osition are fi/ed by reasonin#s a &riory! or can be esteemed abstract conc%usions of t e understandin#! from com&arin# t ose abitudes and re%ations of ideas! $ ic are eterna% and immutab%e( T eir foundation is t e same $it t at of a%% t e &ractica% sciences! e/&erience- nor are t ere any t in# but #enera% observations! concernin# $ at as been universa%%y found to &%ease in a%% countries and in a%% a#es( Many of t e beauties of &oetry! and even of e%o)uence! are founded on fa%se ood and fiction! on y&erbo%es! meta& ors! and an abuse or &erversion of terms from t eir natura% meanin#( To c eck t e sa%%ies of t e ima#ination! and to reduce every e/&ression to #eometrica% trut and e/actness! $ou%d be t e most contrary to t e %a$s of criticism- be cause it $ou%d &roduce a $ork! $ ic ! by universa% e/&erience! as been found t e most insi&id and disa#reeab%e( +ut t ou# &oetry can never submit to e/act trut ! it must be confined by ru%es of art! discovered to t e aut or eit er by #enius or observation( 1f some ne#%i#ent or irre#u%ar $riters ave &%eased! t ey ave not &%eased by t eir trans#ressions of ru%e or order! but in s&ite of t ese trans#ressions: T ey ave &ossessed ot er beauties! $ ic $ere conformab%e to *ust criticism- and t e force of t ese beauties as been ab%e to over&o$er censure! and #ive t e mind a satisfaction su&erior to t e dis#ust arisin# from t e b%emis es( .riosto &%eases- but not by is monstrous and im&robab%e fictions! by is bi7arre mi/ture of t e serious and comic sty%es! by t e $ant of co erence in is stories! or by t e continua% interru&tions of is narration( He c arms by t e force and c%earness of is e/&ression! by t e readiness and variety of is inventions! and by is natura% &ictures of t e &assions! es&ecia%%y t ose of t e #ay and amorous kind: .nd o$ever is fau%ts may diminis our satisfaction! t ey are not ab%e entire%y to destroy it( Did our &%easure rea%%y arise from t ose &arts of is &oem! $ ic $e denominate fau%ts! t is $ou%d be no ob*ection to criticism in #enera%: 1t $ou%d on%y be an ob*ection to t ose &articu%ar

ru%es of criticism! $ ic $ou%d estab%is suc circumstances to be fau%ts! and $ou%d re&resent t em as universa%%y b%ameab%e( 1f t ey are found to &%ease! t ey cannot be fau%ts- %et t e &%easure! $ ic t ey &roduce! be ever so une/&ected and unaccountab%e( +ut t ou# a%% t e #enera% ru%es of art are founded on%y on e/&erience! and on t e observation of t e common sentiments of uman nature! $e must not ima#ine! t at! on every occasion! t e fee%in#s of men $i%% be conformab%e to t ese ru%es( T ose finer emotions of t e mind are of a very tender and de%icate nature! and re)uire t e concurrence of many favourab%e circumstances to make t em &%ay $it faci%ity and e/actness! accordin# to t eir #enera% and estab%is ed &rinci&%es( T e %east e/terior indrance to suc sma%% s&rin#s! or t e %east interna% disorder! disturbs t eir motion! and confounds t e o&eration of t e $ o%e mac ine( , en $e $ou%d make an e/&eriment of t is nature! and $ou%d try t e force of any beauty or deformity! $e must c oose $it care a &ro&er time and &%ace! and brin# t e fancy to a suitab%e situation and dis&osition( . &erfect serenity of mind! a reco%%ection of t ou# t! a due attention to t e ob*ect- if any of t ese circumstances be $antin#! our e/&eriment $i%% be fa%%acious! and $e s a%% be unab%e to *ud#e of t e cat o%ic and universa% beauty( T e re%ation! $ ic nature as &%aced bet$een t e form and t e sentiment! $i%% at %east be more obscure- and it $i%% re)uire #reater accuracy to trace and discern it( ,e s a%% be ab%e to ascertain its inf%uence! not so muc from t e o&eration of eac &articu%ar beauty! as from t e durab%e admiration! $ ic attends t ose $orks! t at ave survived a%% t e ca&rices of mode and fas ion! a%% t e mistakes of i#norance and envy( T e same Homer! $ o &%eased at .t ens and 9ome t$o t ousand years a#o! is sti%% admired at :aris and at 6ondon( .%% t e c an#es of c%imate! #overnment! re%i#ion! and %an#ua#e! ave not been ab%e to obscure is #%ory( .ut ority or &re*udice may #ive a tem&orary vo#ue to a bad &oet or orator- but is re&utation $i%% never be durab%e or #enera%( , en is com&ositions are e/amined by &osterity or by forei#ners! t e enc antment is dissi&ated! and is fau%ts a&&ear in t eir true co%ours( On t e contrary! a rea% #enius! t e %on#er is $orks endure! and t e more $ide t ey are s&read! t e more sincere is t e admiration $ ic e meets $it ( 0nvy and *ea%ousy ave too muc &%ace in a narro$ circ%e- and even fami%iar ac)uaintance $it is &erson may diminis ed t e a&&%ause due to is &erformances: +ut $ en t ese obstructions are removed! t e beauties! $ ic are natura%%y fitted to e/cite a#reeab%e sentiments! immediate%y dis&%ay t eir ener#y- $ i%e t e $or%d endures! t ey maintain t eir aut ority over t e minds of men( 1t a&&ears t en! t at amidst a%% t e variety and ca&rice of taste! t ere are certain #enera% &rinci&%es of a&&robation or b%ame! $ ose inf%uence a carefu% eye may trace in a%% o&erations of t e mind( Some &articu%ar forms or )ua%ities! from t e ori#ina% structure of t e interna% fabric! are ca%cu%ated to &%ease! and ot ers to dis&%ease- and

if t ey fai% of t eir effect in any &articu%ar instance! it is from some a&&arent defect or im&erfection in t e or#an( . man in a fever $ou%d not insist on is &a%ate as ab%e to decide concernin# f%avours- nor $ou%d one! affected $it t e *aundice! &retend to #ive a verdict $it re#ard to co%ours( 1n eac creature! t ere is a sound and a defective state- and t e former a%one can be su&&osed to afford us a true standard of taste and sentiment( 1f! in t e sound state of t e or#an! t ere be an entire or a considerab%e uniformity of sentiment amon# men! $e may t ence derive an idea of t e &erfect beauty- in %ike manner as t e a&&earance of ob*ects in day-%i# t! to t e eye of a man in ea%t ! is denominated t eir true and rea% co%our! even $ i%e co%our is a%%o$ed to be mere%y a & antasm of t e senses( Many and fre)uent are t e defects in t e interna% or#ans! $ ic &revent or $eaken t e inf%uence of t ose #enera% &rinci&%es! on $ ic de&ends our sentiment of beauty or deformity( T ou# some ob*ects! by t e structure of t e mind! be natura%%y ca%cu%ated to #ive &%easure! it is not to be e/&ected! t at in every individua% t e &%easure $i%% be e)ua%%y fe%t( :articu%ar incidents and situations occur! $ ic eit er t ro$ a fa%se %i# t on t e ob*ects! or inder t e true from conveyin# to t e ima#ination t e &ro&er sentiment and &erce&tion( One obvious cause! $ y many fee% not t e &ro&er sentiment of beauty! is t e $ant of t at de%icacy of ima#ination! $ ic is re)uisite to convey a sensibi%ity of t ose finer emotions( T is de%icacy every one &retends to: 0very one ta%ks of it- and $ou%d reduce every kind of taste or sentiment to its standard( +ut as our intention in t is essay is to min#%e some %i# t of t e understandin# $it t e fee%in#s of sentiment! it $i%% be &ro&er to #ive a more accurate definition of de%icacy t an as it erto been attem&ted( .nd not to dra$ our & i%oso& y from too &rofound a source! $e s a%% ave recourse to a noted story in Don ;ui/ote( 1t is $it #ood reason! says Sanc o to t e s)uire $it t e #reat nose! t at 1 &retend to ave a *ud#ment in $ine: T is is a )ua%ity ereditary in our fami%y( T$o of my kinsmen $ere once ca%%ed to #ive t eir o&inion of a o#s ead! $ ic $as su&&osed to be e/ce%%ent! bein# o%d and of a #ood vinta#e( One of t em tastes it- considers itand! after mature ref%ection! &ronounces t e $ine to be #ood! $ere it not for a sma%% taste of %eat er! $ ic e &erceived in it( T e ot er! after usin# t e same &recautions! #ives a%so is verdict in favour of t e $ine- but $it t e reserve of a taste of iron! $ ic e cou%d easi%y distin#uis ( <ou cannot ima#ine o$ muc t ey $ere bot ridicu%ed for t eir *ud#ment( +ut $ o %au# ed in t e end5 On em&tyin# t e o#s ead! t ere $as found at t e bottom an o%d key $it a %eat ern t on# tied to it( T e #reat resemb%ance bet$een menta% and bodi%y taste $i%% easi%y teac us to a&&%y t is story( T ou# it be certain! t at beauty and deformity! more t an s$eet and bitter! are not )ua%ities in ob*ects! but be%on# entire%y to t e sentiment! interna% or e/terna%- it must be a%%o$ed! t at t ere are certain )ua%ities in ob*ects! $ ic are

fitted by nature to &roduce t ose &articu%ar fee%in#s( 8o$ as t ese )ua%ities may be found in a sma%% de#ree! or may be mi/ed and confounded $it eac ot er! it often a&&ens t at t e taste is not affected $it suc minute )ua%ities! or is not ab%e to distin#uis a%% t e &articu%ar f%avours! amidst t e disorder in $ ic t ey are &resented( , ere t e or#ans are so fine! as to a%%o$ not in# to esca&e t em- and at t e same time so e/act! as to &erceive every in#redient in t e com&osition: T is $e ca%% de%icacy of taste! $ et er $e em&%oy t ese terms in t e %itera% or meta& orica% sense( Here t en t e #enera% ru%es of beauty are of use! bein# dra$n from estab%is ed mode%s! and from t e observation of $ at &%eases or dis&%eases! $ en &resented sin#%y and in a i# de#ree: .nd if t e same )ua%ities! in a continued com&osition! and in a sma%%er de#ree! affect not t e or#ans $it a sensib%e de%i# t or uneasiness! $e e/c%ude t e &erson from a%% &retensions to t is de%icacy( To &roduce t ese #enera% ru%es or avo$ed &atterns of com&osition! is %ike findin# t e key $it t e %eat ern t on#- $ ic *ustified t e verdict of Sanc o's kinsmen! and confounded t ose &retended *ud#es $ o ad condemned t em( T ou# t e o#s ead ad never been em&tied! t e taste of t e one $as sti%% e)ua%%y de%icate! and t at of t e ot er e)ua%%y du%% and %an#uid: +ut it $ou%d ave been more difficu%t to ave &roved t e su&eriority of t e former! to t e conviction of every bye-stander( 1n %ike manner! t ou# t e beauties of $ritin# ad never been met odi7ed! or reduced to #enera% &rinci&%es- t ou# no e/ce%%ent mode%s ad ever been ackno$%ed#ed- t e different de#rees of taste $ou%d sti%% ave subsisted! and t e *ud#ment of one man been &referab%e to t at of anot er- but it $ou%d not ave been so easy to si%ence t e bad critic! $ o mi# t a%$ays insist u&on is &articu%ar sentiment! and refuse to submit to is anta#onist( +ut $ en $e s o$ im an avo$ed &rinci&%e of art- $ en $e i%%ustrate t is &rinci&%e by e/am&%es! $ ose o&eration! from is o$n &articu%ar taste! e ackno$%ed#es to be conformab%e to t e &rinci&%e- $ en $e &rove t at t e same &rinci&%e may be a&&%ied to t e &resent case! $ ere e did not &erceive or fee% its inf%uence: He must conc%ude! u&on t e $ o%e! t at t e fau%t %ies in imse%f! and t at e $ants t e de%icacy! $ ic is re)uisite to make im sensib%e of every beauty and every b%emis ! in any com&osition or discourse( 1t is ackno$%ed#ed to be t e &erfection of every sense or facu%ty! to &erceive $it e/actness its most minute ob*ects! and a%%o$ not in# to esca&e its notice and observation( T e sma%%er t e ob*ects are! $ ic become sensib%e to t e eye! t e finer is t at or#an! and t e more e%aborate its make and com&osition( . #ood &a%ate is not tried by stron# f%avours! but by a mi/ture of sma%% in#redients! $ ere $e are sti%% sensib%e of eac &art! not$it standin# its minuteness and its confusion $it t e rest( 1n %ike manner! a )uick and acute &erce&tion of beauty and deformity must be t e &erfection of our menta% taste- nor can a man be satisfied $it imse%f $ i%e e sus&ects t at any e/ce%%ence or b%emis in a discourse as &assed im unobserved( 1n t is case! t e &erfection of t e man! and t e &erfection of t e sense or fee%in#! are found to be united( . very de%icate &a%ate! on many occasions! may be a #reat inconvenience bot to a man imse%f and to is friends: +ut a de%icate taste of $it or

beauty must a%$ays be a desirab%e )ua%ity! because it is t e source of a%% t e finest and most innocent en*oyments of $ ic uman nature is susce&tib%e( 1n t is decision t e sentiments of a%% mankind are a#reed( , erever you can ascertain a de%icacy of taste! it is sure to meet $it a&&robation- and t e best $ay of ascertainin# it is to a&&ea% to t ose mode%s and &rinci&%es $ ic ave been estab%is ed by t e uniform consent and e/&erience of nations and a#es( +ut t ou# t ere be natura%%y a $ide difference in &oint of de%icacy bet$een one &erson and anot er! not in# tends furt er to increase and im&rove t is ta%ent! t an &ractice in a &articu%ar art! and t e fre)uent survey or contem&%ation of a &articu%ar s&ecies of beauty( , en ob*ects of any kind are first &resented to t e eye or ima#ination! t e sentiment $ ic attends t em is obscure and confused- and t e mind is! in a #reat measure! inca&ab%e of &ronouncin# concernin# t eir merits or defects( T e taste cannot &erceive t e severa% e/ce%%encies of t e &erformance! muc %ess distin#uis t e &articu%ar c aracter of eac e/ce%%ency! and ascertain its )ua%ity and de#ree( 1f it &ronounce t e $ o%e in #enera% to be beautifu% or deformed! it is t e utmost t at can be e/&ected- and even t is *ud#ment! a &erson so un&ractised $i%% be a&t to de%iver $it #reat esitation and reserve( +ut a%%o$ im to ac)uire e/&erience in t ose ob*ects! is fee%in# becomes more e/act and nice: He not on%y &erceives t e beauties and defects of eac &art! but marks t e distin#uis in# s&ecies of eac )ua%ity! and assi#ns it suitab%e &raise or b%ame( . c%ear and distinct sentiment attends im t rou# t e $ o%e survey of t e ob*ects- and e discerns t at very de#ree and kind of a&&robation or dis&%easure $ ic eac &art is natura%%y fitted to &roduce( T e mist dissi&ates $ ic seemed former%y to an# over t e ob*ect: T e or#an ac)uires #reater &erfection in its o&erations- and can &ronounce! $it out dan#er or mistake! concernin# t e merits of every &erformance( 1n a $ord! t e same address and de/terity! $ ic &ractice #ives to t e e/ecution of any $ork! is a%so ac)uired by t e same means! in t e *ud#in# of it( So advanta#eous is &ractice to t e discernment of beauty! t at! before $e can #ive *ud#ment on any $ork of im&ortance! it $i%% even be re)uisite t at t at very individua% &erformance be more t an once &erused by us! and be surveyed in different %i# ts $it attention and de%iberation( T ere is a f%utter or urry of t ou# t $ ic attends t e first &erusa% of any &iece! and $ ic confounds t e #enuine sentiment of beauty( T e re%ation of t e &arts is not discerned: T e true c aracters of sty%e are %itt%e distin#uis ed( T e severa% &erfections and defects seem $ra&&ed u& in a s&ecies of confusion! and &resent t emse%ves indistinct%y to t e ima#ination( 8ot to mention! t at t ere is a s&ecies of beauty! $ ic ! as it is f%orid and su&erficia%! &%eases at first- but bein# found incom&atib%e $it a *ust e/&ression eit er of reason or &assion! soon &a%%s u&on t e taste! and is t en re*ected $it disdain! at %east rated at a muc %o$er va%ue(

1t is im&ossib%e to continue in t e &ractice of contem&%atin# any order of beauty! $it out bein# fre)uent%y ob%i#ed to form com&arisons bet$een t e severa% s&ecies and de#rees of e/ce%%ence! and estimatin# t eir &ro&ortion to eac ot er( . man! $ o ad ad no o&&ortunity of com&arin# t e different kinds of beauty! is indeed tota%%y un)ua%ified to &ronounce an o&inion $it re#ard to any ob*ect &resented to im( +y com&arison a%one $e fi/ t e e&it ets of &raise or b%ame! and %earn o$ to assi#n t e due de#ree of eac ( T e coarsest daubin# contains a certain %ustre of co%ours and e/actness of imitation! $ ic are so far beauties! and $ou%d affect t e mind of a &easant or 1ndian $it t e i# est admiration( T e most vu%#ar ba%%ads are not entire%y destitute of armony or nature- and none but a &erson fami%iarised to su&erior beauties $ou%d &ronounce t eir numbers ars ! or narration uninterestin#( . #reat inferiority of beauty #ives &ain to a &erson conversant in t e i# est e/ce%%ence of t e kind! and is for t at reason &ronounced a deformity: .s t e most finis ed ob*ect $it $ ic $e are ac)uainted is natura%%y su&&osed to ave reac ed t e &innac%e of &erfection! and to be entit%ed to t e i# est a&&%ause( One accustomed to see! and e/amine! and $ei# t e severa% &erformances! admired in different a#es and nations! can a%one rate t e merits of a $ork e/ ibited to is vie$! and assi#n its &ro&er rank amon# t e &roductions of #enius( +ut to enab%e a critic t e more fu%%y to e/ecute t is undertakin#! e must &reserve is mind free from a%% &re*udice! and a%%o$ not in# to enter into is consideration but t e very ob*ect $ ic is submitted to is e/amination( ,e may observe! t at every $ork of art! in order to &roduce its due effect on t e mind! must be surveyed in a certain &oint of vie$! and cannot be fu%%y re%is ed by &ersons! $ ose situation! rea% or ima#inary! is not conformab%e to t at $ ic is re)uired by t e &erformance( .n orator addresses imse%f to a &articu%ar audience! and must ave a re#ard to t eir &articu%ar #enius! interests! o&inions! &assions! and &re*udices- ot er$ise e o&es in vain to #overn t eir reso%utions! and inf%ame t eir affections( S ou%d t ey even ave entertained some &re&ossessions a#ainst im! o$ever unreasonab%e! e must not over%ook t is disadvanta#e- but! before e enters u&on t e sub*ect! must endeavour to conci%iate t eir affection! and ac)uire t eir #ood #races( . critic of a different a#e or nation! $ o s ou%d &eruse t is discourse! must ave a%% t ese circumstances in is eye! and must &%ace imse%f in t e same situation as t e audience! in order to form a true *ud#ment of t e oration( 1n %ike manner! $ en any $ork is addressed to t e &ub%ic! t ou# 1 s ou%d ave a friends i& or enmity $it t e aut or! 1 must de&art from t is situation- and considerin# myse%f as a man in #enera%! for#et! if &ossib%e! my individua% bein#! and my &ecu%iar circumstances( . &erson inf%uenced by &re*udice! com&%ies not $it t is condition! but obstinate%y maintains is natura% &osition! $it out &%acin# imse%f in t at &oint of vie$ $ ic t e &erformance su&&oses( 1f t e $ork be addressed to &ersons of a different a#e or nation! e makes no a%%o$ance for t eir &ecu%iar vie$s and &re*udices- but! fu%% of t e manners of is o$n a#e and country! ras %y condemns $ at seemed admirab%e in t e eyes of t ose for $ om a%one t e discourse $as ca%cu%ated( 1f t e $ork be e/ecuted for t e &ub%ic!

e never sufficient%y en%ar#es is com&re ension! or for#ets is interest as a friend or enemy! as a riva% or commentator( +y t is means! is sentiments are &ervertednor ave t e same beauties and b%emis es t e same inf%uence u&on im! as if e ad im&osed a &ro&er vio%ence on is ima#ination! and ad for#otten imse%f for a moment( So far is taste evident%y de&arts from t e true standard! and of conse)uence %oses a%% credit and aut ority( 1t is $e%% kno$n! t at in a%% )uestions submitted to t e understandin#! &re*udice is destructive of sound *ud#ment! and &erverts a%% o&erations of t e inte%%ectua% facu%ties: 1t is no %ess contrary to #ood taste: nor as it %ess inf%uence to corru&t our sentiment of beauty( 1t be%on#s to #ood sense to c eck its inf%uence in bot casesand in t is res&ect! as $e%% as in many ot ers! reason! if not an essentia% &art of taste! is at %east re)uisite to t e o&erations of t is %atter facu%ty( 1n a%% t e nob%er &roductions of #enius! t ere is a mutua% re%ation and corres&ondence of &arts- nor can eit er t e beauties or b%emis es be &erceived by im! $ ose t ou# t is not ca&acious enou# to com&re end a%% t ose &arts! and com&are t em $it eac ot er! in order to &erceive t e consistence and uniformity of t e $ o%e( 0very $ork of art as a%so a certain end or &ur&ose for $ ic it is ca%cu%ated- and is to be deemed more or %ess &erfect! as it is more or %ess fitted to attain t is end( T e ob*ect of e%o)uence is to &ersuade! of istory to instruct! of &oetry to &%ease! by means of t e &assions and t e ima#ination( T ese ends $e must carry constant%y in our vie$ $ en $e &eruse any &erformance- and $e must be ab%e to *ud#e o$ far t e means em&%oyed are ada&ted to t eir res&ective &ur&oses( +esides! every kind of com&osition! even t e most &oetica%! is not in# but a c ain of &ro&ositions and reasonin#s- not a%$ays indeed! t e *ustest and most e/act! but sti%% &%ausib%e and s&ecious! o$ever dis#uised by t e co%ourin# of t e ima#ination( T e &ersons introduced in tra#edy and e&ic &oetry! must be re&resented as reasonin#! and t inkin#! and conc%udin#! and actin#! suitab%y to t eir c aracter and circumstances- and $it out *ud#ment! as $e%% as taste and invention! a &oet can never o&e to succeed in so de%icate an undertakin#( 8ot to mention! t at t e same e/ce%%ence of facu%ties $ ic contributes to t e im&rovement of reason! t e same c%earness of conce&tion! t e same e/actness of distinction! t e same vivacity of a&&re ension! are essentia% to t e o&erations of true taste! and are its infa%%ib%e concomitants( 1t se%dom or never a&&ens! t at a man of sense! $ o as e/&erience in any art! cannot *ud#e of its beauty- and it is no %ess rare to meet $it a man $ o as a *ust taste $it out a sound understandin#( T us! t ou# t e &rinci&%es of taste be universa%! and near%y! if not entire%y! t e same in a%% men- yet fe$ are )ua%ified to #ive *ud#ment on any $ork of art! or estab%is t eir o$n sentiment as t e standard of beauty( T e or#ans of interna% sensation are se%dom so &erfect as to a%%o$ t e #enera% &rinci&%es t eir fu%% &%ay! and &roduce a fee%in# corres&ondent to t ose &rinci&%es( T ey eit er %abour under some defect! or are vitiated by some disorder- and by t at means! e/cite a sentiment! $ ic may be &ronounced erroneous( , en t e critic as no de%icacy! e *ud#es $it out any

distinction! and is on%y affected by t e #rosser and more &a%&ab%e )ua%ities of t e ob*ect: T e finer touc es &ass unnoticed and disre#arded( , ere e is not aided by &ractice! is verdict is attended $it confusion and esitation( , ere no com&arison as been em&%oyed! t e most frivo%ous beauties! suc as rat er merit t e name of defects! are t e ob*ect of is admiration( , ere e %ies under t e inf%uence of &re*udice! a%% is natura% sentiments are &erverted( , ere #ood sense is $antin#! e is not )ua%ified to discern t e beauties of desi#n and reasonin#! $ ic are t e i# est and most e/ce%%ent( 3nder some or ot er of t ese im&erfections! t e #enera%ity of men %abour- and ence a true *ud#e in t e finer arts is observed! even durin# t e most &o%is ed a#es! to be so rare a c aracter: Stron# sense! united to de%icate sentiment! im&roved by &ractice! &erfected by com&arison! and c%eared of a%% &re*udice! can a%one entit%e critics to t is va%uab%e c aracter- and t e *oint verdict of suc ! $ erever t ey are to be found! is t e true standard of taste and beauty( +ut $ ere are suc critics to be found5 +y $ at marks are t ey to be kno$n5 Ho$ distin#uis t em from &retenders5 T ese )uestions are embarrassin#- and seem to t ro$ us back into t e same uncertainty! from $ ic ! durin# t e course of t is essay! $e ave endeavoured to e/tricate ourse%ves( +ut if $e consider t e matter ari# t! t ese are )uestions of fact! not of sentiment( , et er any &articu%ar &erson be endo$ed $it #ood sense and a de%icate ima#ination! free from &re*udice! may often be t e sub*ect of dis&ute! and be %iab%e to #reat discussion and in)uiry: +ut t at suc a c aracter is va%uab%e and estimab%e! $i%% be a#reed in by a%% mankind( , ere t ese doubts occur! men can do no more t an in ot er dis&utab%e )uestions $ ic are submitted to t e understandin#: T ey must &roduce t e best ar#uments! t at t eir invention su##ests to t em- t ey must ackno$%ed#e! a true and decisive standard to e/ist some$ ere! to $it! rea% e/istence and matter of fact- and t ey must ave indu%#ence to suc as differ from t em in t eir a&&ea%s to t is standard( 1t is sufficient for our &resent &ur&ose! if $e ave &roved! t at t e taste of a%% individua%s is not u&on an e)ua% footin#! and t at some men in #enera%! o$ever difficu%t to be &articu%ar%y &itc ed u&on! $i%% be ackno$%ed#ed by universa% sentiment to ave a &reference above ot ers( +ut in rea%ity! t e difficu%ty of findin#! even in &articu%ars! t e standard of taste! is not so #reat as it is re&resented( T ou# in s&ecu%ation! $e may readi%y avo$ a certain criterion in science! and deny it in sentiment! t e matter is found in &ractice to be muc more ard to ascertain in t e former case t an in t e %atter( T eories of abstract & i%oso& y! systems of &rofound t eo%o#y! ave &revai%ed durin# one a#e: 1n a successive &eriod! t ese ave been universa%%y e/&%oded: T eir absurdity as been detected: Ot er t eories and systems ave su&&%ied t eir &%ace! $ ic a#ain #ave &%ace to t eir successors: .nd not in# as been e/&erienced more %iab%e to t e revo%utions of c ance and fas ion t an t ese &retended decisions of science( T e case is not t e same $it t e beauties of e%o)uence and &oetry( =ust e/&ressions of

&assion and nature are sure! after a %itt%e time! to #ain &ub%ic a&&%ause! $ ic t ey maintain for ever( .ristot%e! and :%ato! and 0&icurus! and Descartes! may successive%y yie%d to eac ot er: +ut Terence and >ir#i% maintain an universa%! undis&uted em&ire over t e minds of men( T e abstract & i%oso& y of ?icero as %ost its credit: T e ve emence of is oratory is sti%% t e ob*ect of our admiration( T ou# men of de%icate taste be rare! t ey are easi%y to be distin#uis ed in society by t e soundness of t eir understandin#! and t e su&eriority of t eir facu%ties above t e rest of mankind( T e ascendant! $ ic t ey ac)uire! #ives a &reva%ence to t at %ive%y a&&robation! $it $ ic t ey receive any &roductions of #enius! and renders it #enera%%y &redominant( Many men! $ en %eft to t emse%ves! ave but a faint and dubious &erce&tion o beauty! $ o yet are ca&ab%e of re%is in# any fine stroke $ ic is &ointed out to t em( 0very convert to t e admiration of t e rea% &oet or orator is t e cause of some ne$ conversion( .nd t ou# &re*udices may &revai% for a time! t ey never unite in ce%ebratin# any riva% to t e true #enius! but yie%d at %ast to t e force of nature and *ust sentiment( T us! t ou# a civi%i7ed nation may easi%y be mistaken in t e c oice of t eir admired & i%oso& er! t ey never ave been found %on# to err! in t eir affection for a favourite e&ic or tra#ic aut or( +ut not$it standin# a%% our endeavours to fi/ a standard of taste! and reconci%e t e discordant a&&re ensions of men! t ere sti%% remain t$o sources of variation! $ ic are not sufficient indeed to confound a%% t e boundaries of beauty and deformity! but $i%% often serve to &roduce a difference in t e de#rees of our a&&robation or b%ame( T e one is t e different umours of &articu%ar men- t e ot er! t e &articu%ar manners and o&inions of our a#e and country( T e #enera% &rinci&%es of taste are uniform in uman nature: , ere men vary in t eir *ud#ments! some defect or &erversion in t e facu%ties may common%y be remarked- &roceedin# eit er from &re*udice! from $ant of &ractice! or $ant of de%icacy: and t ere is *ust reason for a&&rovin# one taste! and condemnin# anot er( +ut $ ere t ere is suc a diversity in t e interna% frame or e/terna% situation as is entire%y b%ame%ess on bot sides! and %eaves no room to #ive one t e &reference above t e ot er- in t at case a certain de#ree of diversity in *ud#ment is unavoidab%e! and $e seek in vain for a standard! by $ ic $e can reconci%e t e contrary sentiments( . youn# man! $ ose &assions are $arm! $i%% be more sensib%y touc ed $it amorous and tender ima#es! t an a man more advanced in years! $ o takes &%easure in $ise! & i%oso& ica% ref%ections! concernin# t e conduct of %ife and moderation of t e &assions( .t t$enty! Ovid may be t e favourite aut or- Horace at forty- and &er a&s Tacitus at fifty( >ain%y $ou%d $e! in suc cases! endeavour to enter into t e sentiments of ot ers! and divest ourse%ves of t ose &ro&ensities $ ic are natura% to us( ,e c oose our favourite aut or as $e do our friend! from a conformity of umour and dis&osition( Mirt or &assion! sentiment or ref%ection- $ ic ever of

t ese most &redominates in our tem&er! it #ives us a &ecu%iar sym&at y $it t e $riter $ o resemb%es us( One &erson is more &%eased $it t e sub%ime- anot er $it t e tender- a t ird $it rai%%ery( One as a stron# sensibi%ity to b%emis es! and is e/treme%y studious of correctness: .not er as a more %ive%y fee%in# of beauties! and &ardons t$enty absurdities and defects for one e%evated or &at etic stroke( T e ear of t is man is entire%y turned to$ards conciseness and ener#y- t at man is de%i# ted $it a co&ious! ric ! and armonious e/&ression( Sim&%icity is affected by one- ornament by anot er( ?omedy! tra#edy! satire! odes! ave eac its &arti7ans! $ o &refer t at &articu%ar s&ecies of $ritin# to a%% ot ers( 1t is &%ain%y an error in a critic! to confine is a&&robation to one s&ecies or sty%e of $ritin#! and condemn a%% t e rest( +ut it is a%most im&ossib%e not to fee% a &redi%ection for t at $ ic suits our &articu%ar turn and dis&osition( Suc &references are innocent and unavoidab%e! and can never reasonab%y be t e ob*ect of dis&ute! because t ere is no standard by $ ic t ey can be decided( 2or a %ike reason! $e are more &%eased! in t e course of our readin#! $it &ictures and c aracters t at resemb%e ob*ects $ ic are found in our o$n a#e or country! t an $it t ose $ ic describe a different set of customs( 1t is not $it out some effort! t at $e reconci%e ourse%ves to t e sim&%icity of ancient manners! and be o%d &rincesses carryin# $ater from t e s&rin#! and kin#s and eroes dressin# t eir o$n victua%s( ,e may a%%o$ in #enera%! t at t e re&resentation of suc manners is no fau%t in t e aut or! nor deformity in t e &iece- but $e are not so sensib%y touc ed $it t em( 2or t is reason! comedy is not easi%y transferred from one a#e or nation to anot er( . 2renc man or 0n#%is man is not &%eased $it t e .ndria of Terence! or ?%itia of Mac iave%- $ ere t e fine %ady! u&on $ om a%% t e &%ay turns! never once a&&ears to t e s&ectators! but is a%$ays ke&t be ind t e scenes! suitab%y to t e reserved umour of t e ancient 4reeks and modern 1ta%ians( . man of %earnin# and ref%ection can make a%%o$ance for t ese &ecu%iarities of manners- but a common audience can never divest t emse%ves so far of t eir usua% ideas and sentiments! as to re%is &ictures $ ic no$ise resemb%e t em( +ut ere t ere occurs a ref%ection! $ ic may! &er a&s! be usefu% in e/aminin# t e ce%ebrated controversy concernin# ancient and modern %earnin#- $ ere $e often find t e one side e/cusin# any seemin# absurdity in t e ancients from t e manners of t e a#e! and t e ot er refusin# to admit t is e/cuse! or at %east admittin# it on%y as an a&o%o#y for t e aut or! not for t e &erformance( 1n my o&inion! t e &ro&er boundaries in t is sub*ect ave se%dom been fi/ed bet$een t e contendin# &arties( , ere any innocent &ecu%iarities of manners are re&resented! suc as t ose above mentioned! t ey ou# t certain%y to be admitted- and a man! $ o is s ocked $it t em! #ives an evident &roof of fa%se de%icacy and refinement( T e &oet's monument more durab%e t an brass! must fa%% to t e #round %ike common brick or c%ay! $ere

men to make no a%%o$ance for t e continua% revo%utions of manners and customs! and $ou%d admit of not in# but $ at $as suitab%e to t e &revai%in# fas ion( Must $e t ro$ aside t e &ictures of our ancestors! because of t eir ruffs and fardin#a%es5 +ut $ ere t e ideas of mora%ity and decency a%ter from one a#e to anot er! and $ ere vicious manners are described! $it out bein# marked $it t e &ro&er c aracters of b%ame and disa&&robation! t is must be a%%o$ed to disfi#ure t e &oem! and to be a rea% deformity( 1 cannot! nor is it &ro&er 1 s ou%d! enter into suc sentiments- and o$ever 1 may e/cuse t e &oet! on account of t e manners of is a#e! 1 never can re%is t e com&osition( T e $ant of umanity and of decency! so cons&icuous in t e c aracters dra$n by severa% of t e ancient &oets! even sometimes by Homer and t e 4reek tra#edians! diminis es considerab%y t e merit of t eir nob%e &erformances! and #ives modern aut ors an advanta#e over t em( ,e are not interested in t e fortunes and sentiments of suc rou# eroes- ,e are dis&%eased to find t e %imits of vice and virtue so muc confounded- and $ atever indu%#ence $e may #ive to t e $riter on account of is &re*udices! $e cannot &revai% on ourse%ves to enter into is sentiments! or bear an affection to c aracters! $ ic $e &%ain%y discover to be b%ameab%e( T e case is not t e same $it mora% &rinci&%es as $it s&ecu%ative o&inions of any kind( T ese are in continua% f%u/ and revo%ution( T e son embraces a different system from t e fat er( 8ay t ere scarce%y is any man! $ o can boast of #reat constancy and uniformity in t is &articu%ar( , atever s&ecu%ative errors may be found in t e &o%ite $ritin#s of any a#e or country! t ey detract but %itt%e from t e va%ue of t ose com&ositions( T ere needs but a certain turn of t ou# t or ima#ination to make us enter into a%% t e o&inions! $ ic t en &revai%! and re%is t e sentiments or conc%usions derived from t em( +ut a very vio%ent effort is re)uisite to c an#e our *ud#ment of manners! and e/cite sentiments of a&&robation or b%ame! %ove or atred! different from t ose to $ ic t e mind! from %on# custom! as been fami%iari7ed( .nd $ ere a man is confident of t e rectitude of t at mora% standard! by $ ic e *ud#es! e is *ust%y *ea%ous of it! and $i%% not &ervert t e sentiments of is eart for a moment! in com&%aisance to any $riter $ atsoever( Of a%% s&ecu%ative errors! t ose $ ic re#ard re%i#ion are t e most e/cusab%e in com&ositions of #enius- nor is it ever &ermitted to *ud#e of t e civi%ity or $isdom of any &eo&%e! or even of sin#%e &ersons! by t e #rossness or refinement of t eir t eo%o#ica% &rinci&%es( T e same #ood sense! t at directs men in t e ordinary occurrences of %ife! is not earkened to in re%i#ious matters! $ ic are su&&osed to be &%aced a%to#et er above t e co#nisance of uman reason( On t is account! a%% t e absurdities of t e &a#an system of t eo%o#y must be over%ooked by every critic! $ o $ou%d &retend to form a *ust notion of ancient &oetry- and our &osterity! in t eir turn! must ave t e same indu%#ence to t eir forefat ers( 8o re%i#ious &rinci&%es can ever be im&uted as a fau%t to any &oet! $ i%e t ey remain mere%y &rinci&%es! and take not suc stron# &ossession of is eart! as to %ay im under t e im&utation of bi#otry or

su&erstition( , ere t at a&&ens! t ey confound t e sentiments of mora%ity! and a%ter t e natura% boundaries of vice and virtue( T ey are t erefore eterna% b%emis es! accordin# to t e &rinci&%e above mentioned- nor are t e &re*udices and fa%se o&inions of t e a#e sufficient to *ustify t em( 1t is essentia% to t e 9oman ?at o%ic re%i#ion to ins&ire a vio%ent atred of every ot er $ors i&! and to re&resent a%% &a#ans! ma ometans! and eretics! as t e ob*ects of Divine $rat and ven#eance( Suc sentiments! t ou# t ey are in rea%ity very b%ameab%e! are considered as virtues by t e 7ea%ots of t at communion! and are re&resented in t eir tra#edies and e&ic &oems as a kind of divine eroism( T is bi#otry as disfi#ured t$o very fine tra#edies of t e 2renc t eatre! :o%ieucte and .t a%ia- $ ere an intem&erate 7ea% for &articu%ar modes of $ors i& is set off $it a%% t e &om& ima#inab%e! and forms t e &redominant c aracter of t e eroes( @, at is t is!@ says t e sub%ime =oad to =osabet! findin# er in discourse $it Mat an t e &riest of +aa%! @Does t e dau# ter of David s&eak to t is traitor5 .re you not afraid! %est t e eart s ou%d o&en and &our fort f%ames to devour you bot 5 Or %est t ese o%y $a%%s s ou%d fa%% and crus you to#et er5 , at is is &ur&ose5 , y comes t at enemy of 4od it er to &oison t e air! $ ic $e breat e! $it is orrid &resence5@ Suc sentiments are received $it #reat a&&%ause on t e t eatre of :aris- but at 6ondon t e s&ectators $ou%d be fu%% as muc &%eased to ear .c i%%es te%% .#amemnon! t at e $as a do# in is fore ead! and a deer in is eart- or =u&iter t reaten =uno $it a sound drubbin#! if s e $i%% not be )uiet( 9e%i#ious &rinci&%es are a%so a b%emis in any &o%ite com&osition! $ en t ey rise u& to su&erstition! and intrude t emse%ves into every sentiment! o$ever remote from any connection $it re%i#ion( 1t is no e/cuse for t e &oet! t at t e customs of is country ad burt ened %ife $it so many re%i#ious ceremonies and observances! t at no &art of it $as e/em&t from t at yoke( 1t must for ever be ridicu%ous in :etrarc to com&are is mistress! 6aura! to =esus ? rist( 8or is it %ess ridicu%ous in t at a#reeab%e %ibertine! +occace! very serious%y to #ive t anks to 4od .%mi# ty and t e %adies! for t eir assistance in defendin# im a#ainst is enemies( Source: Harvard ?%assics! 1A"A T is te/t is &art of t e 1nternet Modern History Sourcebook( T e Sourcebook is a co%%ection of &ub%ic domain and co&y-&ermitted te/ts for introductory %eve% c%asses in modern 0uro&ean and ,or%d istory(

3n%ess ot er$ise indicated t e s&ecific e%ectronic form of t e document is co&yri# t( :ermission is #ranted for e%ectronic co&yin#! distribution in &rint form for educationa% &ur&oses and &ersona% use( 1f you do redu&%icate t e document! indicate t e source( 8o &ermission is #ranted for commercia% use of t e Sourcebook( B :au% Ha%sa%%! .u#ust 1AAC a%sa%%Dmurray(ford am(edu