Ossian Collection > Fingal of Ossian

154 F I N G A L. Book III.
Its blufliing Side when early Sun-beams flreak,
And blue beneath extends the glafTy Lake.
The Eye may Pleafure in fuch Profpe(3:s find,
10 But Songs like yours with Tranfports fill the Mind.
Oh
near Relation or Connexion in the Fancy. What that Relation ought to
be, cannot be precifely defined. For various, almoft numberlefs, are the
Analogies formed among Objedls, by a fprightly Imagination. The Rela-
tion of adual Similitude, or likewife of Appearance, is far from being the
only Foundation of poetical Comparifon. Sometimes a Refemblance in
the EfFcd produced by two Objedls, is made the connecting Principle :
fometimes a Refemblance in one diftinguifhing Property or Circumftance.
Very often two Objeds are brought together in a Simile, though they re-
femble one another, ftriftly fpeaking, in nothing, only becaufe they raife
in the Mind a Train of fimilar, and what may be called, concordant Ideas ;
fo that the Remembrance of the one, when recalled, ferves to quicken and
heighten the ImprefTion made by the other. Thus in the preient Compa-
rifon, a Hill gliflening with Dew, as foon as the Morning Sun firfl: glances
upon it, with a fmooth Lake winding about the Foot of it, is a Landfcape
both extremely pi6lurefque in itfelf, and well fuited to give the fame Plea-
fure to the Eye, as the Incidents of a pathetic Story do to the Mind.
Such Analogies and Aflbciations of Ideas as thefe, are highly pleafing to
the Fancy. They give Opportunity for introducing many a fine poetical
Pidlure. They diverfify the Scene-, they aggrandize the Subjed; they
keep the Imagination awake and fprightly. For as the Judgment is prin-
cipally exercifed in diftinguifhing Objefts, and remarking the Differences
among thofe which feem like; fo the higheft Amufement of the Imagination
is to trace Likenefles and Agreements among thofe whicli feem different.
V. 13.