DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0257
LECT. VII.] OF EXPRESSION-. 171
of the body, in whole, or in part; for the mind is
well assured, that, would it receive what it desires,
the hand must be employed as the organ of recep-
tion ; would it advance towards an object, an exer-
tion of the foot is indispensable : or would it escape
from what seems dangerous, that is not to be accom-
plished by standing still, but by vigorous alacrity.
Now, as it is certain that bodily motions are the re-
sult of mental passions, in examining this subject,
we desire to know what motions of the body, or of
any part, is the constant result of (i. e. is peculiar to)
any certain passion : that some are constant and pe-
culiar is evident, since, otherwise, they might be
understood in a contrary sense from what they in-
tend, or at least they might be interpreted at random;
which we have just observed they are not. This ra-
ther relates to the expression of the figure than to
that of the countenance ; we shall therefore reserve a
consideration of it to its proper place : but I appre-
hend a few slight hints, and very slight they must
be, on the subject of the passions, may not impro^
perly be introduced here.
When the philosopher Simonides was desired to
_give a definition of Deity, he requested a day to
consider of it; at the expiration of that time, being
pressed for his answer, he requested two days, and
then four ; For I find," says he, " that the more
I contemplate, the less I approach to any satisfactory
idea, or conception, of the ineffable subject." And
much the same situation is he in, who inquires,
" What is the human mind ? What are its proper-
ties, and its laws ? How is it united to the body ?
Z 2 How
of the body, in whole, or in part; for the mind is
well assured, that, would it receive what it desires,
the hand must be employed as the organ of recep-
tion ; would it advance towards an object, an exer-
tion of the foot is indispensable : or would it escape
from what seems dangerous, that is not to be accom-
plished by standing still, but by vigorous alacrity.
Now, as it is certain that bodily motions are the re-
sult of mental passions, in examining this subject,
we desire to know what motions of the body, or of
any part, is the constant result of (i. e. is peculiar to)
any certain passion : that some are constant and pe-
culiar is evident, since, otherwise, they might be
understood in a contrary sense from what they in-
tend, or at least they might be interpreted at random;
which we have just observed they are not. This ra-
ther relates to the expression of the figure than to
that of the countenance ; we shall therefore reserve a
consideration of it to its proper place : but I appre-
hend a few slight hints, and very slight they must
be, on the subject of the passions, may not impro^
perly be introduced here.
When the philosopher Simonides was desired to
_give a definition of Deity, he requested a day to
consider of it; at the expiration of that time, being
pressed for his answer, he requested two days, and
then four ; For I find," says he, " that the more
I contemplate, the less I approach to any satisfactory
idea, or conception, of the ineffable subject." And
much the same situation is he in, who inquires,
" What is the human mind ? What are its proper-
ties, and its laws ? How is it united to the body ?
Z 2 How