We have already seen the Influence that one Man has over the Fancy of another, and with what Ease he conveys into it a Variety of Imagery; how great a Power then may we suppose lodged in him, who knows all the ways of affecting the Imagination, who can infuse what Ideas he pleases, and fill those Ideas with Terrour and Delight to what Degree he thinks fit?  He can excite Images in the Mind, without the help of Words, and make Scenes rise up before us and seem present to the Eye without the Assistance of Bodies or Exterior Objects.  He can transport the Imagination with such beautiful and glorious Visions, as cannot possibly enter into our present Conceptions, or haunt it with such ghastly Spectres and Apparitions, as would make us hope for Annihilation, and think Existence no better than a Curse.  In short, he can so exquisitely ravish or torture the Soul through this single Faculty, as might suffice to make up the whole Heaven or Hell of any finite Being.

This Essay on the Pleasures of the Imagination having been published in separate Papers, I shall conclude it with a Table of the principal Contents in each Paper.

  The CONTENTS.

PAPER I. [No. 411, Volume 2.]

The Perfection of our Sight above our other Senses.  The Pleasures of the Imagination arise originally from Sight.  The Pleasures of the Imagination divided under two Heads.  The Pleasures of the Imagination in some Respects equal to those of the Understanding.  The Extent of the Pleasures of the Imagination.  The Advantages a Man receives from a Relish of these Pleasures.  In what Respect they are preferable to those of the Understanding.

PAPER II. [No. 412, Volume 2.]

Three Sources of all the Pleasures of the Imagination, in our Survey of outward Objects.  How what is Great pleases the Imagination.  How what is New pleases the Imagination.  How what is Beautiful in our own Species, pleases the Imagination.  How what is Beautiful in general pleases the Imagination.  What other Accidental Causes may contribute to the heightening of these Pleasures.

PAPER III. [No. 413, Volume 2.]

Why the Necessary Cause of our being pleased with what is Great, New, or Beautiful, unknown.  Why the Final Cause more known and more useful.  The Final Cause of our being pleased with what is Great.  The Final Cause of our being pleased with what is New.  The Final Cause of our being pleased with what is Beautiful in our own Species.  The Final Cause of our being pleased with what is Beautiful in general.

PAPER IV. [No. 414, Volume 2.]

The Works of Nature more pleasant to the Imagination than those of Art.  The Works of Nature still more pleasant, the more they resemble those of Art.  The Works of Art more pleasant, the more they resemble those of Nature.  Our English Plantations and Gardens considered in the foregoing Light.

PAPER V. [No. 415, Volume 2.]