and there most where our sympathy is most wanted,-in the distresses of others.If this passion was simply painful,we would shun with the greatest care all persons and places that could excite such a passion;as some,who are so far gone in indolence as not to endure any strong impression,actually do.But the case is widely different with the greater part of mankind;there is no spectacle we so eagerly pursue,as that of some uncommon and grievous calamity;so that whether the misfortune is before our eyes,or whether they are turned back to it in history,it always touches with delight.This is not an unmixed delight,but blended with no small uneasiness.The delight we have in such things,hinders us from shunning scenes of misery;and the pain we feel prompts us to relieve ourselves in relieving those who suffer;and all this antecedent to any reasoning,by an instinct that works us to its own purposes without our concurrence.
XV
Of The Effects Of Tragedy It is thus in real calamities.In imitated distresses the only difference is the pleasure resulting from the effects of imitation;for it is never so perfect,but we can perceive it is imitation,and on that principle are somewhat pleased with it.And indeed in some cases we derive as much or more pleasure from that source than from the thing itself.But then I imagine we shall be much mistaken,if we attribute any considerable part of our satisfaction in tragedy to the consideration that tragedy is a deceit,and its representations no realities.
The nearer it approaches the reality,and the farther it removes us from all idea of fiction,the more perfect is its power.But be its power of what kind it will,it never approaches to what it represents.Choose a day on which to represent the most sublime and affecting tragedy we have;appoint the most favourite actors;spare no cost upon the scenes and decorations,unite the greatest efforts of poetry,painting,and music;and when you have collected your audience,just at the moment when their minds are erect with expectation,let it be reported that a state criminal of high rank is on the point of being executed in the adjoining square;in a moment the emptiness of the theatre would demonstrate the comparative weakness of the imitative arts,and proclaim the triumph of the real sympathy.I believe that this notion of our having a simple pain in the reality,yet a delight in the representation,arises from hence,that we do not sufficiently distinguish what we would by no means choose to do,from what we should be eager enough to see if it was once done.The delight in seeing things,which,so far from doing,our heartiest wishes would be to see redressed.This noble capital,the pride of England and of Europe,I believe no man is so strangely wicked as to desire to see destroyed by a conflagration or an earthquake,though he should be removed himself to the greatest distance from the danger.But suppose such a fatal accident to have happened,what numbers from all parts would crowd to behold the ruins,and amongst many who would have been content never to have seen London in its glory!Nor is it,either in real or fictitious distresses,our immunity from them which produces our delight;in my own mind I can discover nothing like it.I apprehend that this mistake is owing to a sort of sophism,by which we are frequently imposed upon;it arises from our not distinguishing between what is indeed a necessary condition to our doing or suffering anything in general,and what is the cause of some particular act.If a man kills me with a sword,it is a necessary condition to this that we should have been both of us alive before the fact;and yet it would be absurd to say,that our being both living creatures was the cause of his crime and of my death.So it is certain,that it is absolutely necessary my life should be out of any imminent hazard,before I can take a delight in the sufferings of others,real or imaginary,or indeed in anything else from any cause whatsoever.
But then it is a sophism to argue from thence,that this immunity is the cause of my delight either on these or on any occasions.No one can distinguish such a cause of satisfaction in his own mind,I believe;nay,when we do not suffer any very acute pain,nor are exposed to any imminent danger of our lives,we can feel for others,whilst we suffer ourselves;and often then most when we are softened by affliction;we see with pity even distresses which we would accept in the place of our own.
XVI
Imitation The second passion belonging to society is imitation,or,if you will,a desire of imitating,and consequently a pleasure in it.This passion arises from much the same cause with sympathy.For as sympathy makes us take a concern in whatever men feel,so this affection prompts us to copy whatever they do;and consequently we have a pleasure in imitating,and in whatever belongs to imitation,merely as it is such,without any intervention of the reasoning faculty,but solely from our natural constitution,which Providence has framed in such a manner as to find either pleasure or delight,according to the nature of the object,in whatever regards the purposes of our being.It is by imitation far more than by precept,that we learn everything;and what we learn thus,we acquire not only more effectually,but more pleasantly.This forms our manners,our opinions,our lives.It is one of the strongest links of society;it is a species of mutual compliance,which all men yield to each other,without constraint to themselves,and which is extremely flattering to all.
