mately connected with it than any of the reft, will need to be confidered, but are to be regarded only in a fecondary view. SECT. III. How Genius arifes from the Imagination. W HEN memory prefents ideas, it annexes to them a conviction that the ideas themselves, or the objects from which they are copied, were formerly perceived; and it exhibits the ideas in the fame form and order in which the things themselves appeared. In time remembrance fails, ideas are perceived without being referred to any prior fenfations of their originals, the order of the parts is forgotten. But even then, ideas do not lie in the mind without any connexion or dependence. Imagination can connect them by new relations. It knits them together by other ties than what connected the real things from which they are derived; and often beftows an union upon ideas whofe archetypes had no relation. In this operation, it is far from being capricious or irregular, but for the most part obferves general and established rules. There are certain qualities which either really belong, or at least are supposed to belong to all the ideas that are affociated by the imagination. Thefe qualities must be confidered as, by the conftitution of our nature, rendering ideas fit to be affociated. It is impoffible to give a reason, why these qualities unite ideas: it is not neceffary at prefent to explain particularly what they are. Experience informs us, that the influence of affociation is very great. By means of it, multitudes of ideas originally diftinct and unconnected, rife always in company, fo that one of them cannot make its appearance, without introducing all the reft. On this account, human thought is perfectly restless. It requires no labour to run from one idea to others. We have fo great a propensity to do it, that no refolution has force enough to reftrain us from it, nor will the strongest efforts be able to confine us long to the contemplation of a single idea. We are incessantly looking round to every fide, without intending it; we employ ourselves about many objects, almost at the fame inftant (). Nay, () Natura humani ingerii ita eft agilis et velox, fic in omnem partem, ut ita dixerim, spectat, ut ne poffit quidem aliquid agere, tantum unum, in plura vero, non eodem die affociation ) affociation is often so strong, that it bestows a ASSOCIATION being an operation of fancy, common to all men, fome of its effects are univerfal. In every individual, it displays itself in many inftances. Not to mention fuch cases as are totally unconnected with our prefent fubject, fcarce any perfon is so stupid, as not to have fometime in his life, produced a bright flash of imagination, though furrounded, it may be, with a wide extent of darkness. But fuch tranfient blazes do not neceffarily imply real genius. It is something more permanent and uniform. It requires a peculiar vigour of affociation. In order to produce it, the imagination must be comprehenfive, regular, and active. modo, fed eodem temporis momento vim fuam impendat. QUINT, Inft. Orat, lib. i. cap. 20. 3 GENIUS GENIUS implies fuch comprehenfiveness of imagination as enables a man, on every occafion, to call in the conceptions that are neceffary for executing the defigns or compleating the works in which he engages. This takes place, when the affociating principles are ftrong, and fit for acting in an extenfive sphere. If they be weak, they will call in memory to their aid. Unable to guide our steps in an unknown country, they keep in the roads to which we have been accustomed; and are directed in suggesting ideas, by the connexions which we remember. Every production of a man who labours under this debility of mind, bears evident marks of barrenhess, a quality more oppofite to true genius. than any other. Nothing appears in it uncommon or new; every thing is trite and unoriginal. Or, if he attempts to quit the beaten path, and ftart new game, he can find out but a few ideas, he is exhausted by a fhort excurfion, and muft either make a stop, or return to the tracks of memory. Industry endeavouring, in this manner, to fupply the want of a copious imagination, by accurate remembrance or diligent obfervation, will produce, instead of a philosopher, a devoted follower, follower, or a dull laborious commentator;: instead of a poet, a fervile imitator, or a painful translator. But when the associating principles are vigorous, imagination, conscious as it were of its own ftrength, fallies forth, without needing fupport or asking affiftance, into regions hitherto unexplored, and penetrates into their remotest corners, unfatigued with the length of the way. In a man of genius, the power of affociation is fo great, that when any idea is present to his mind, it immediately leads him to the conception of those that are connected with it. No fooher almoft is a defign formed, or the hint of a subject started, than all the ideas which are requifite for compleating it, rush into his view as if they were conjured up by the force of magic. His daring imagination traverses all nature, and collects materials fit for his purpose, from all the most distant corners of the univerfe; and presents them at the very inftant when they become useful or neceffary. In confequence of this, he takes in a comprehenfive view of every subject to which his genius is adapted, THUS, when the affociating principles are Atrong and have an extensive influence, they naturally |