PART II.

Of the general Sources of the Varieties

G

of Genius.

ENIUS always arifes from those prin

ciples of the human mind which we have pointed out; but it derives confiderable diversities of form from the different modifications of these principles. Imagination being that faculty which is the immediate fource of genius, we must search for the origin of the varieties of genius, chiefly in the several modifications of which imagination is fufceptible. But because imagination is attended and affifted in all the exertions of genius, by other faculties, without the co-operation of which its effects would be extremely imperfect, fome of the varieties of genius are no doubt partly owing to the peculiar force or modification of these other faculties. On this account, an examination of, the different forms which all the powers combined in perfect genius affume, and of the different laws by which they are guided, will be neceffary, in order to prepare us for an investigation of the different kinds of genius.

SECT.

SECT. I.

Of the Sources of the Varieties of Genius in the Imagination; particularly of the Qualities of Ideas which produce Affociation.

T has been remarked already, that imagi

nation produces genius chiefly by the tendency which it has to affociate different perceptions, fo that one of them being prefent, it may introduce others to our view without our being conscious of any defign or our needing any effort to call them up. This tendency of imagination has been often taken notice of. Some late philosophers have observed that imagination does not act at random in affociating ideas, and have, with confiderable fuccefs, traced out the laws by which it is governed, or ascertained those qualities of ideas, and those relations fubfifting between ideas, which fit them for being affociated or for introducing each other into the mind (a). In examining this subject, so far as is necessary for unfolding the principles of genius, I shall not fcrupulously avoid repeating what has

(a) See Treatise on Human Nature, vol. i. part 1. fect, Blements of Criticifm, chap. 1.

been

been obferved by others; but shall endeavour to throw all that occurs, into that form which will be most fubfervient to the particular purpofe which I have in view.

IN fearching for the laws of affociation, it is natural to enquire, first, what are the qualities or relations of ideas themselves, which fit them for being affociated; and next, whether there be any principles in the human conftitution, which affect the affociation of ideas, fo as to make fome to unite more readily than others which yet are equally poffeffed of the affociating qualities or relations.

AMONG thofe qualities or relations of ideas, which fit them for being affociated, there is an obvious diftinction: fome of them are fimple, others are compounded. The fimple principles of affociation may be reduced to three, refemblance, contrariety, and vicinity.

PERCEPTIONS may refemble one another in different manners, and in very different degrees; but whenever they at all resemble, one of them being present to the mind, will naturally transport it to the conception of the other. When we look at a picture, we are naturally led by refemblance, to think of the person whom the picture reprefents. Per

ceiving

ceiving any individual, we naturally think of any other individual of the same species, with which we happen to be acquainted. The mention of any phenomenon or event, readily brings into our view another phenomenon or event fimilar in its cause, its nature, its circumstances, or its confequences." It "hath been observed, fays Lord Verulam (b), "by the ancients, that falt water will diffolve "falt put into it, in lefs time than fresh wa

ter will diffolve it.-Try it with fugar put "into water formerly fugared, and into other

water unfugared." Here one fact suggests an analogous or fimilar trial. Shakespearrepresents Northumberland as guided by this affociating quality, when he saw Morton come in hafte from the battle where his fon had been engaged, pale, trembling, agitated, at a loss what to fay; and reprefents him very naturally as led by this occafion to think of a like event:

Thou trembleft, and the whiteness in thy cheek
Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.
Ev'n fuch a man, fo faint, fo fpiritless,

So dull, fo dead in look, fo woe-be-gone,
Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night,
And would have told him half his Troy was burn'd,

(4) Sylva Sylvarum, Cent. 9. Exp. 83.

But

But Priam found the fire, ere he his tongue; And I my Piercy's death, ere thou report'st it (c) Any one quality or circumftance common to two perceptions, forms a resemblance between them, fufficient to connect them in the imagination it is generally fuch an imperfect resemblance as this, that fuggefts fimilitudes and images (d).

CONTRARIETY is a word commonly used with confiderable latitude. There are some perceptions which do not readily introduce their contraries: but in very many inftances a perception does fuggeft another which is in some sense contrary to it; and therefore contrariety may justly be confidered as a principle of affociation. "The fun-beams, faya "Verulam (e), do turn wine into vinegar; "but Qu. Whether they would not sweeten "verjuice?" In this cafe, one effect of the fun-beams leads him to conceive a contrary effect in a contrary subject. When light is perceived, it does not eafily fuggeft the idea of darkness; but the perception of darkness very quickly fuggefts the idea of light. In

(e) Second part of Henry IV. a&t 1. fcene 3.

(d) Non enim res tota toti rei neceffe eft fimilis fit, fed ad ipfum, ad quod conferetur, fimilitudinem habeat oportet. Ad Heren. lib. iv.

(•) Inquifitio de Calore et Frigore.

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