As immediately
after looking at the sun we cannot perceive the light of a fire,
while by looking at the fire first and the sun afterwards we
can perceive both; so, after receiving a brilliant, or weighty,
or terrible thought, we cannot appreciate a less brilliant, less
weighty, or less terrible one, while, by reversing the order, we
can appreciate each. In Antithesis, again, we may recognize the
same general truth. The opposition of two thoughts that are the
reverse of each other in some prominent trait, insures an impressive
effect; and does this by giving a momentary relaxation to the
faculties addressed. If, after a series of images of an ordinary
character, appealing in a moderate degree to the sentiment of
reverence, or approbation, or beauty, the mind has presented to it
a very insignificant, a very unworthy, or a very ugly image; the
faculty of reverence, or approbation, or beauty, as the case may
be, having for the time nothing to do, tends to resume its full
power; and will immediately afterwards appreciate a vast, admirable,
or beautiful image better than it would otherwise do.
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