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 ...

230 THE INFLUENCE OF CASUAL- ASSOCIATIONS.
the different productions of the fine arts begin to degenerate
from that simplicity, which they had attained in their state of
greatest perfection. One reason of this decline is suggested by
the foregoing observations.
From the account which has been given of the natural progress of taste, in separating the genuine principles of beauty
from superfluous and from offensive concomitants, it is evident,
that there is a limit, beyond which the love of simplicity cannot
be carried. No bounds, indeed, can be set to the creations of
genius; but as this quality occurs seldom in an eminent degree,
it commonly happens, that after a period of great refinement of
taste, men begin to gratify their love of variety, by adding
superfluous circumstances to the finished models exhibited by
their predecessors, or by making other trifling alterations on
them, with a view merely of diversifying the effect. These
additions and alterations, indifferent perhaps, or even in some
degree offensive in themselves, acquire soon a borrowed beauty,
from the connection in which we see them, or firom the influence
of fashion: the same cause which at first produced them, continues perpetually to increase their number; and taste returns
to barbarism, by almost the same steps which conducted it to
perfection.
The truth of these remarks will appear still more striking to
those who consider the wonderful effect which a writer of
splendid genius, but of incorrect taste, has in misleading the
public judgment. The peculiarities of such an author are
consecrated by the connection in which we see them, and even
please, to a certain degree, when detached from the excellences
of his composition, by recalling to us the agreeable impressions
with. which they have been formerly associated. How many
imitations have we seen of the affectations of Sterne, by men:who were unable to copy his beauties! And yet these imitations of his defects; of his abrupt manner; of his minute
specification of circumstances; and even of his dashes, produce,
at first, some effect on readers of sensibility, but of uncultivated
taste, in consequence of the exquisite strokes of the pathetic,
and the singular vein of humor, with which they are united in
the original.