SECT. X. Magnitude in BUILDING. O the fublime in building, greatness The of dimension seems requisite; for on a few parts, and those small, the imagination cannot rise to any idea of infinity. No greatness in the manner can effectually compenfate for the want of proper dimenfions. There is no danger of drawing men into extravagant designs by this rule; it carries its own caution along with it. Because too great a length in buildings destroys the purpose of greatness which it was intended to promote; the perspective will leffen it in height as it gains in length; and will bring it at laft to a point; turning the whole figure into a fort of triangle, the poorest in its effect of almost any figure, that can be presented to the eye. I have ever obferved, that colonnades and avenues of trees trees of a moderate length, were without comparison far grander, than when they were suffered to run to immense diftances. A true artist should put a generous deceit on the fpectators, and effect the noblest designs by easy methods, Defigns that are vaft only by their dimensions, are always the fign of a common and low imagination. No work of art can be great, but as it deceives; to be otherwise is the prerogative of nature only. A good eye will fix the medium betwixt an exceflive length, or height, (for the fame objection lies against both), and a short or broken quantity; and perhaps it might be ascertained to a tolerable degree of exactness, if it was my purpose to defcend far into the particulars of any art. SECT. SECT. XI. INFINITY in pleasing OBJECTS. INF be NFINITY, though of another kind, causes much of our pleasure in agreeable, as well as of our delight in fublime images. The fpring is the pleasantest of the seasons; and the young of moft animals, though far from being compleatly fashioned, afford a more agreeable fenfation than the full grown; cause the imagination is entertained with the promise of something more, and does not acquiefce in the present object of the fense. In unfinished sketches of drawing, I have often seen something which pleased me beyond the best finishing; and this I believe proceeds from the cause I have just now affigned. SECT. SECT. XII. DIFFICULTY, 'A' NOTHER fource of greatnefs is work feems to have required immenfe force and labour to effect it, the idea is grand. Stonehenge, neither for difpofition nor ornament, has any thing admirable; but thofe huge rude maffes of ftone, set on end, and piled each an other, turn the mind on the immenfe force neceffary for fuch a work. Nay the rudeness of the work increases this caufe of grandeur, as it excludes the idea of art, and contrivance; for dexterity produces another fort of effect which is different enough from this. * Part. 4. fect. 4, 5, 6, SECT. SEC T. XIII. MAGNIFICENCE. M Agnificence is likewise a source of the fublime. A great profufion of things which are fplendid or valuable in themselves, is magnificent. The starry heaven, though it occurs fo very frequently to our view, never fails to excite an idea of grandeur. This cannot be owing to any thing in the ftars themfelves, feparately confidered, The number is certainly the caufe. The apparent diforder augments the grandeur, for the appearance of care is highly contrary to our ideas of magnificence. Befides, the stars lye in fuch apparent confufion, as makes it impoffible on ordinary occafions to reckon them. This gives them the advantage of a fort of infinity. In works of art, this kind of grandeur, which consists in multitude, is to be very cautiously admit ted; |