ime SENTIMENT. But any
one who has divided Sentiment into Image and Thought would laugh at this
Question; it being so plain that passion is consistent with a Sublime
Thought, and is not with a Sublime Image.

Would not any person who desired to acquire a true and thorough Notion
of a sublime Sentiment, so as to know one, wherever met, be puzzled
at _Longinus_'s telling him, _Homer_'s Sentiment is sublime, where
he make's the _Giant_'s heap Ossa on Olympus, and on Ossa Wood-top'd
Pelion; and a little after telling him that _Alexander_'s to _Parmeno_
is a sublime Sentiment. _Parmeno_ say's, _Were I Alexander, I would
embrace these Proposals of Peace_. _Alexander_ reply'd, _And I, by the
Gods, were I Parmeno_. These Sentiments of _Homer_ and _Alexander_ (tho'
equally sublime) are as different as a Bright and a Tender Sentiment. If
then I have settled one in my Mind, as sublime, How shall I conceive the
other as such?

But there is no other way of avoiding this Confusion, and of being
equally certain of all sublime Sentiments, but by knowing that the
first of these is a sublime Image, and the last a sublime Thought or
Sentiment. And you will find, if you consider the Nature of _Homer_'s
Image, all sublime Images are like it; and the same of _Alexander_'s
sublime Thought. Altho' the sublime Sentiments in general are so
different.

But since we are accidentally engag'd in considering the Sublime; I will
endeavour to show you how to judge infallibly of a Sublime SENTIMENT.
For I think it cannot be gotten from _Longinus_; or at least, I could
never learn it from that most Florid and Ingenious author. And it may be
shown in three Lines, as well as in so many Volumes.

A Sublime Image always dilate's and widen's the Mind, and put's it upon
the Stretch. It comprehends somewhat almost too big for it's Reach;
and where the Mind is most stretch'd, the Image is most Sublime; if we
consider no foreign Assistances. As _Homer_ say's, _The Horses of the
Gods, sprung as far at every Stride, as a Man can see who sit's upon the
Sea-shore_. But foreign Assistances, as a figurative Turn, &c. may raise
a passage to an equal degree of Sublimity, which yet does not so largely
dilate the Mind; as this of _Shakespear_'s is more Sublime than that of
_Homer_'s.

--_Heaven_'s Cherubs, _hors'd
Upon the sightless_ Curriers _of the Air,
Shall blow the horrid Deed in every Eye_.

_Macbeth_. Act. 1. Scen. 7

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