ANALYSIS

OF THE

SECOND PART.

THE Memory has hitherto acted only in fubfer

vience to the fenfes, and fo far man is not eminently distinguished from other animals: but, with respect to man, she has a higher province; and is often bufily employed, when excited by no external cause whatever. She preferves, for his ufe, the treasures of art and science, history and philofo

D

phy. She colours all the profpects of life: for

we can only anticipate the future, by conclud

ing what is poffible from what is paft.' On her agency depends every effufion of the Fancy, whose boldest effort can only compound or transpofe, augment or diminish the materials which she has collected and retained.

When the first emotions of despair have fubfided, and forrow has foftened into melancholy, fhe amufes with a retrospect of innocent pleasures, and infpires that noble confidence which refults from the consciousness of having acted well. When fleep has fufpended the organs of fenfe from their office, fhe not only fupplies the mind with images, but affifts in their combination.

And even in madness itself, when the foul is re

figned over to the tyranny of a diftempered imagi

nation, fhe revives paft perceptions, and awakens that train of thought which was formerly moft familiar.

Nor are we pleased only with a review of the brighter paffages of life; events, the most diftreffing in their immediate confequences, are often cherished in remembrance with a degree of enthufiafm.

But the world and its occupations give a mechanical impulse to the paffions, which is not very favourable to the indulgence of this feeling. It is

in a calm and well-regulated mind that the Memory

40

ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND PART.

is moft perfect; and folitude is her best sphere of action. With this fentiment is introduced a Tale, illuftrative of her influence in folitude, ficknefs, and forrow. And the fubject having now been confi. dered, fo far as it relates to man and the animal

world, the Poem concludes with a conjecture, that fuperior beings are bleft with a nobler exercise of this faculty.,