taking a strong hold of the mind, occafions a flower fucceffion than when the objects are indifferent grandeur and novelty fix the attention for a confiderable time, excluding all other ideas and the mind thus occupied is fenfible of no vacuity. Some emotions, by hurrying the mind from object to object, accelerate the fucceffion. Where the train is compofed of connected perceptions or ideas, the fucceffion is quick; for if it is fo ordered by nature, that the mind goes eafily and fweetly along connected objects*. On the other hand, the fucceffion must be flow, where the train is compofed of unconnected perceptions or ideas, which find not ready access to the mind; and that an unconnected object is not admitted without a ftruggle, appears from the unfettled ftate of the mind for fome moments after fuch an object is prefented, wavering between it and the former train: during that short period, one or other of the former objects will intrude, perhaps oftener than once, till the attention be fixt entirely upon the new object. The fame obfervations are applicable to ideas fuggefted by language: the mind can bear a quick fucceffion of related ideas; but an unrelated idea, for which the mind is not prepared, takes time to make an impreffion; and therefore a train compofed of fuch ideas, ought to proceed with a flow pace. Hence an

epic

* See Chap. 1.

epic poem, a play, or any story connected in all its parts, may be perused in a shorter time, than a book of maxims or apothegms, of which a quick fucceffion creates both confufion and fatigue.

Such latitude hath nature indulged in the rate of fucceffion: what latitude it indulges with respect to uniformity, we proceed to examine. The uniformity or variety of a train, so far as compofed of perceptions, depends on the particular objects that furround the percipient at the time. The prefent occupation muft alfo have an influence; for one is fometimes engaged in a multiplicity of affairs, fometimes altogether vacant. A natural train of ideas of memory is more circumfcribed, each object being, by fome connection, linked to what precedes and to what follows it: thefe connections, which are many, and of different kinds, afford fcope for a fufficient degree of variety; and at the fame time prevent that degree which is unpleasant by excefs. Temper and conftitution alfo have an influence here, as well as upon the rate of fucceffion: a man of a calm and fedate temper, admits not willingly any idea but what is regularly introduced by a proper connection: one of a roving difpofition embraces with avidity every new idea, however flender its relation be to thofe that preceded it. Neither muft we overlook the nature of the perceptions that compofe the train; for their influence is no lefs with refpećt to uniformity and variety,

U 3

variety, than with respect to the rate of fucceffion. The mind engroffed by any paffion, love or hatred, hope or fear, broods over its object, and can bear no interruption; and in fuch a ftate, the train of perceptions must not only be flow, but extremely uniform. Anger newly inflamed eagerly grafps its object, and leaves not a cranny in the mind for another thought but of revenge. In the character of Hotspur, that ftate of mind is represented to the life; a picture remarkable for likeness as well as for high colouring.

Worcester. Peace, coufin, fay no more.
And now I will unclafp a fecret book,
And to your quick conceiving discontents
I'll read you matter, deep and dangerous;
As full of peril and advent'rous spirit
As to o'erwalk a current roaring loud,
On the unfteadfast footing of a spear.

Hot fpur. If he fall in, good night. Or fink or swim, Send danger from the east into the weft,

So honour cross it from the north to south;

And let them grapple. Oh! the blood more ftirs

To roufe a lion than to ftart a hare.

Worcester. Those fame Noble Scots,

That are your prisoners

Hotfpur. I'll keep them all;

By Heav'n, he fhall not have a Scot of them:

No; if a Scot would fave his foul, he fhall not;

I'll keep them, by this hand.

Worcester. You start away.

And

And lend no ear unto my purposes:
Those pris'ners you shall keep.
Hotfpur. I will, that's flat:

He faid he would not ranfom Mortimer;
Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer :
But I will find him when he lies afleep,
And in his ear I'll holla Mortimer!
Nay, I will have a ftarling taught to speak
Nothing but Mortimer, and give it him,
To keep his anger ftill in motion.

Worcester. Hear you, coufin, a word.

Hotfpur. All ftudies here I folemnly defy, Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke: And that fame fword-and-buckler Prince of Wales, (But that I think his father loves him not, And would be glad he met with fome mifchance), I'd have him poifon'd with a pot of ale.

Worcester. Farewel, my kinfman, I will talk to you When you are better temper'd to attend.

Firft part, Henry IV. A&t 1. Sc. 4.

Having viewed a train of perceptions as directed by nature, and the variations it is fufceptible of from different neceffary causes, we proceed to examine how far it is fubjected to will; for that this faculty hath fome influence, is obferved above. And first, the rate of fucceffion may be retarded by infifting upon one object, and propelled by difmiffing another before its time. But fuch voluntary mutations in the natural course of fucceffion, have limits that cannot be extended by the most painful efforts: which

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1

which will appear from confidering, that the mind circumfcribed in its capacity, cannot, at the fame inftant, admit many perceptions; and when replete, that it hath not place for new perceptions, till others are removed; confequently, that a voluntary change of perceptions cannot be inftantaneous, as the time it requires fets bounds to the velocity of fucceffion. On the other hand, the power we have to arrest a flying perception, is equally limited and the reafon is, that the longer we detain any perception, the more difficulty we find in the operation; till, the difficulty becoming unfurmountable, we are forced to quit our hold, and to permit the train to take its ufual course.

The power we have over this train as to uniformity and variety, is in fome cafes very great, in others very little. A train compofed of perceptions of external objects, depends entirely on the place we occupy, and admits not more nor lefs variety but by change of place. A train compofed of ideas of memory, is still lefs under our power; because we cannot at will call up any idea that is not connected with the train *. But a train of ideas fuggefted by reading, may be varied at will, provided we have books at hand.

The power that nature hath given us over our train of perceptions, may be greatly ftrengthen

*See Chap. I.

ed