Part 5 (1/2)

A Sublime Image always dilate's and widen's the Mind, and put's it upon the Stretch. It comprehends somewhat almost too big for it's Reach; and where the Mind is most stretch'd, the Image is most Sublime; if we consider no foreign a.s.sistances. As _Homer_ say's, _The Horses of the G.o.ds, sprung as far at every Stride, as a Man can see who sit's upon the Sea-sh.o.r.e_. But foreign a.s.sistances, as a figurative Turn, &c. may raise a pa.s.sage to an equal degree of Sublimity, which yet does not so largely dilate the Mind; as this of _Shakespear_'s is more Sublime than that of _Homer_'s.

--_Heaven_'s Cherubs, _hors'd Upon the sightless_ Curriers _of the Air, Shall blow the horrid Deed in every Eye_.

_Macbeth_. Act. 1. Scen. 7

The not having a perfect Idea of the Sentiment, make's us conceive something the greater of it.

A Sublime Thought always gives us a greater and more n.o.ble Conception of either the Person speaking; the Person spoken of; or, the Thing spoken of. I need not instance; but if you apply this to any of the Thoughts of _Homer_, or _Shakespear_, generally call'd Sublime, you'll find it will always square.

Here let me make one Observation: That you may never be mistaken in judging of a Sublime Pa.s.sage, _Cubbin_, take notice; that there are some Thoughts so much imaged in the Turn that is given to 'em, by the figurative Expression, that they lose the name of Thoughts, and commence Images. I will mention one out of _Shakespear_, (who uses this Method the most of any Author, and 'tis almost the only thing that raises his Language) I will mention it, because, being in it self a low and common Sentiment, he has made it the most Sublime, I think, of any he has.

_Macbeth_'s Lady say's, before the Murther of the King.

--_Come, thick Night.

And pall thee in the dunnest Smoak of h.e.l.l, That my keen Knife see not the Wound it makes Nor Heav'n peep thro' the Blanket of the Dark, To cry, Hold! Hold!_

_Macbeth_ Act. 1. Scen. 5.

But I run the Digression too far.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Images. And which are proper for Pastoral, which not_.

Let us proceed to consider what Images will s.h.i.+ne most in PASTORAL. And here I shall not consider all kinds of Images, both good and vicious, but only those which are in their own nature good; and among those show which may, and which may not, be introduc'd into Pastoral.

Of Images, in their own Nature good, only the BEAUTIFUL, and the [A]GLOOMY are, properly speaking, fit for Pastoral. The Uncommon, the Terrible, and the Sublime, being improper.

[Footnote A: _The Division of the Images and Thoughts is made, and the nature of the_ GLOOMY _consider'd, in the Critical Preface to the Second Part of our Pastorals_.]

If any other kinds of Images are introduced, they must be artfully qualify'd, or else be faulty; the Methods to be used in so qualifying them, are too numerous to recount. But give me leave to put down one, which relates to the Language.

Suppose you was to describe some LOVELADS and La.s.sES roving a little by the Sea-sh.o.r.e in a guilded Boat; when, on a sudden, the Wind arises, drives 'em into the middle of the Main at once, and dashes the _Gondola_ on a Rock. Might you not describe such a boistrous Circ.u.mstance in an easy and Pastoral manner.

_Sore raven the fell Sea (Oh sorry Sight!) And strait (most wofull Word) the Boat doth split_.

But these are things which are better left to the Writer's own Genius, than to Rule and Criticism.

As to the gloomy Images, I shall only caution the Pastoral Writer, that they must be of a very different Nature from those in Epick Poetry or Tragedy: That is, the gloomy must not be so strong; but the Images must rather contain a pleasing Amus.e.m.e.nt. And that they'll do, if they are drawn from the Country: As _Fairies_; _Will-o'-Wisps_; _the Evening_; _falling Stars_; and the like, will all furnish Images exactly agreeable to Pastoral.

Having made this Observation on the _Gloomy Images_, let us now proceed to the Consideration of the Beautiful, which will detain us somewhat longer.

SECT. 2.

_Of Beautiful Images. And of those; which are more, which less fine_.

In my usual way of considering Beautiful Images; for the greater Clearness, I rank 'em into three several Cla.s.ses. This division I do not desire to impose on any one else; but the mentioning it, cannot be amiss.