Puslapio vaizdai
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to understand this language, is a point of fome intricacy: it cannot be by fight merely; for upon the most attentive infpection of the human vifage, all that can be difcerned are figure, colour, and motion, which fingly or combined, never can reprefent paffion, nor a fentiment: the external fign is indeed vifible; but to understand its meaning, we must be able to connect it with the paffion that causes it, an operation far beyond the reach of eye-fight. Where then is the instructor to be found, that can unveil this fecret connection? If we apply to experience, it is yielded, that from long and diligent obfervation, we may gather, in fome meafure, in what manner thofe we are acquainted with exprefs their paffions externally but with respect to ftrangers, of whom we have no experience, we are left in the dark; and yet we are not puzzled about the meaning of thefe external expreffions in a ftranger, more than in a bofom-companion. Further, had we no other means but experience for understanding the external figns of paffion, we could not expect any uniformity nor any degree of fkill in the bulk of individuals: yet matters are fo much better ordered, that the external expreffions of paffion form a language understood by all, by the young as well as the old, by the ignorant as well as the learned : I talk of the plain and legible characters of this language; for undoubtedly we are much indebted to experience, in deciphering the dark and more delicate expreffions. Where then fhall we

apply

apply for a folution of this intricate problem, which feems to penetrate deep into human nature? In my mind it will be convenient to fufpend the inquiry, till we be better acquainted with the nature of external figns, and with their operations. Thefe articles therefore fhall be premised.

The external figns of paffion are of two kinds, voluntary and involuntary. The voluntary figns are alfo of two kinds: fome are arbitrary, and fome natural. Words are obviously voluntary figns; and they are alfo arbitrary, excepting a few fimple founds expreffive of certain internal emotions and thefe founds, being the fame in all languages, must be the work of nature: thus the unpremeditated tones of admiration, are the fame in all men; as alfo of compaffion, refentment, and despair. Drainatic writers ought to be well acquainted with this natural manner of expreffing paffion: the chief talent of fuch a writer, is a ready command of the expreffions that nature dictates to every perfon, when any vivid emotion ftruggles for utterance; and the chief talent of a fine reader, is a ready command of tones fuited to thefe expreffions.

The other kind of voluntary signs, comprehends certain attitudes and geftures that naturally accompany certain emotions with a furprising uniformity exceffive joy is expreffed by leaping, dancing, or fome elevation of the body: exceffive grief, by finking or depreffing it: and proftration, and kneeling, have been employ'd by all na

tions, and in all ages, to fignify profound veneration. Another circumftance, ftill more than uniformity, demonstrates these geftures to be natural, viz. their remarkable conformity or refemblance to the paffions that produce them *. Joy, which produceth a chearful elevation of mind, is expreffed by an elevation of body: pride, magnanimity, courage, and the whole tribe of elevating paffions, are expreffed by external gestures that are the fame as to the circumftance of elevation, however diftinguishable in other refpects; and hence an erect posture is a fign or expreffion of dignity:

Two of far nobler fhape, erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native honour clad,
In naked majesty, feem'd lords of all.

Paradife Loft, book 4.

Grief, on the other hand, as well as refpect, which deprefs the mind, cannot for that reafon be expreffed more fignificantly than by a fimilar depreffion of the body; and hence, to be cast down, is a common phrafe, fignifying to be grieved or difpirited †.

* See chap. 2. part 6.

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+ Instead of a complimental fpeech in addreffing a, fuperior, the Chinese fashion is, to deliver the compliment in writing, the fmallness of the letters being proportioned to the degree of refpect; and the highest compliment is, to make the letters fo fmall as not to be legible. Here is a clear evidence of a mental connection be

tween

One would not imagine, who has not given peculiar attention, that the body. fhould be fufceptible of fuch variety of attitude and motion, as readily to accompany every different emotion with a correfponding gefture. Humility, for example, is expreffed naturally by hanging the head; arrogance, by its elevation; and languor or defpondence, by reclining it to one fide. The expreffions of the hands are manifold: by different attitudes and motions, they exprefs defire; hope, fear; they affift us in promising, in inviting, in keeping one at a distance; they are made inftruments of threatening, of fupplication, of praife, and of horror; they are employ'd in approving, in refufing, in queftioning; in fhowing our joy, our forrow, our doubts, our regret, our admiration. Thefe geftures, fo obedient to paffion, are extremely difficult to be imitated in a calm ftate: the ancients, fenfible of the advantage as well as difficulty of having these expreffions at command, beftow'd much time and care, in collecting them from obfervation, and in digesting them into a practical art, which was taught in their schools as an important branch of education.

The foregoing figns, though in a strict fenfe voluntary, cannot however be reftrained but with the utmost difficulty, when they are prompt

tween respect and littlenefs: a man humbles himself before his fu perior, and endeavours to contract himself and his hand-writing within the fmallest bounds.

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ed by paffion. Of this we fcarce need a stronger. proof, than the geftures of a keen player at bowlso only how he writhes his body, in order to restore a ftray bowl to the right track. It is one article of good breeding, to fupprefs, as much as poffible, thefe external figns of paffion, that we may not in company appear too warm, or too interested. The fame observation holds in speech: a paffion, it is true, when in extreme, is filent*; but when lefs violent, it must be vented in words, which have a peculiar force, not to be equalled in a fedate compofition. The cafe and fecurity we have in a confident, may encourage us to talk of ourselves, and of our feelings: but the caufe is more general; for it operates when we are alone as well as in company. Paffion is the caufe; for in many inftances it is no flight gratification, to vent a paffion externally by words as well as by geftures. Some paffions, when at a certain height, impel us fo ftrongly to vent them in words, that we speak with an audible voice even where there is none to liften. It is that circumstance in paffion, which juftifies foliloquies; and it is that circumstance which proves them to be naturalt. The mind

* See chap. 17.

Though a foliloquy in the perturbation of paffion is undoubtedly natural, and indeed not unfrequent in real life; yet Congreve, who himself has penned feveral good foliloquies, yields, with more candor than knowledge, that they are unnatural; and he only pre

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