Philofophical Enquiry INTO THE ORIGIN of our IDEAS OF THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL. The FOURTH EDITION. With an introductory DISCOURSE concerning LONDON: MDCCLXIV. THE PREFA C E.. Have endeavoured to make this edition fomething more full and fatisfactory than the firf. I have fought with the utmoft care, and read with equal attention, every thing which has appeared in publick against my opinions; I have taken advantage of the candid liberty of my friends. and if by thefe means I have been better enabled to discover the imperfections of the work, the indulgence it has received, imperfect as it was, furnished me with a new motive to Spare no reasonable pains for its improvement. Though I have not found fufficient reafon, or what appeared to me fufficient, for making any material change in my theory, I have found it neceffary in many places to explain, illuftrate and enforce it. I kave prefixed an introductory difcourfe concerning Tafte; it is a matter curious in itself; and it leads naturally enough to the prin I more A 2 1 principal enquiry. This with the other explanations has made the work confiderably larger; and by increafing its bulk has, I am afraid, added to its faults; so that notwithStanding all my attention, it may stand in need of a yet greater fhare of indulgence than it required at its first appearance. They who are accustomed to ftudies of this nature will expect, and they will allow toe for many faults. They know that many of the objects of our enquiry are in themselves obfcure and intricate; and that many others have been rendered fo by affected refinements or false learning; they know that there are many impediments in the subject, in the prejudices of others, and even in our own, that render it a matter of no fmall difficulty to fhew in a clear light the genuine face of nature. They know that whilst the mind is intent on the general scheme of things, Some particular parts must be neglected; that we must often fubmit the ftyle to the matter, and frequently give up the praife of elegance, fatisfied with being clear. The The characters of nature are legible it is true; but they are not plain enough to enable those who run, to read them. We must make ufe of a cautious, I had almost faid, a timorous method of proceeding. We must not attempt to fly, when we can scarcely pretend to creep. In confidering any complex matter, we ought to examine every diftinct ingredient in the compofition, one by one ; and reduce every thing to the utmoft fimplicity; fince the condition of our nature binds us to a ftrict law and very narrow limits. We ought afterwards to re-examine the principles by the effect of the compofition, as well as the compofition by that of the principles. We ought to compare our fubject with things of a fimilar nature, and even with things of a contrary nature; for difcoveries may be, and often are made by the contraft, which would escape us on the fingle view. The greater number of these comparisons we make, the more general and the more certain our knowledge is like to prove, as built upon a more extenfive and perfect induction. |