Elements of the philosophy of the human mind. By Dugald Stewart. Rev. and abridged, with critical and explanatory notes, for the use of colleges and schools. By Francis Bowen ...

164 THE ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS.
the finest are suggested by the associating principle of contrast.
Thus, after describing the effeminate and debased Roman, the
poet proceeds to the Swiss: —' "My soul turn from them -turn we to survey
Where rougher climes a nobler race display."
And, after painting some defects in the manners of this gallant
but unrefined people, his thoughts are led to those of the
French: -
"To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign,
I turn - and France displays her bright domain."
The transition which occurs in the following lines, seems to
be suggested by the accidental mention of a word: and is certainly one of the happiest in our language: —
"I-IHeavens! how unlike their Belgic sires of old!
Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold;
War in each breast, and freedom on each brow,
How much unlike the sons of Britain now!
- Fired at the sound, my genius spreads her wing,
And flies, where Britain courts the western spring.'
Numberless illustrations of the same remark might be collected from the ancient poets, more particularly from the
Georgics of Virgil, where the singular felicity of the transitions
has attracted the notice even of those who have been the least
disposed to indulge themselves in philosophical refinement concerning the principles of criticism. A celebrated instance of
this kind occurs in the end of the first book; the consideration
of the weather and of its common prognostics leading the fancy,
in the first place, to those more extraordinary phenomena which,
according to the superstitious belief of the vulgar, are the forerunners of political revolutions; and afterwards to the death of
Caesar, and the battles of Pharsalia and Philippi. The manner
in which the poet returns to his original subject, displays that
exquisite art which is to be derived only from the diligent and
enlightened study of nature.
"Scilicet et tempus veniet chm finibus illis
Agricola, incurvo terram molitus aratro,