A Sublime Thought always gives us a greater and more noble Conception of
either the Person speaking; the Person spoken of; or, the Thing spoken
of. I need not instance; but if you apply this to any of the Thoughts of
_Homer_, or _Shakespear_, generally call'd Sublime, you'll find it will
always square.

Here let me make one Observation: That you may never be mistaken in
judging of a Sublime Passage, _Cubbin_, take notice; that there are
some Thoughts so much imaged in the Turn that is given to 'em, by the
figurative Expression, that they lose the name of Thoughts, and commence
Images. I will mention one out of _Shakespear_, (who uses this Method
the most of any Author, and 'tis almost the only thing that raises his
Language) I will mention it, because, being in it self a low and common
Sentiment, he has made it the most Sublime, I think, of any he has.
_Macbeth_'s Lady say's, before the Murther of the King.

--_Come, thick Night.
And pall thee in the dunnest Smoak of Hell,
That my keen Knife see not the Wound it makes
Nor Heav'n peep thro' the Blanket of the Dark,
To cry, Hold! Hold!_

_Macbeth_ Act. 1. Scen. 5.

But I run the Digression too far.




CHAP. II.