enlargement of her
notions, and her liberal way of thinking. This superiority of soul
chiefly manifests itself in the contempt of those minute delicacies and
little decorums, which, trifling as they may be thought, tend at once to
dignify the character, and to restrain the levity of the younger part of
the sex.

PERHAPS the error here complained of, originates in mistaking
_sentiment_ and _principle_ for each other. Now I conceive them to be
extremely different. Sentiment is the virtue of _ideas_, and principle
the virtue of _action_. Sentiment has its seat in the head, principle in
the heart. Sentiment suggests fine harangues and subtile distinctions;
principle conceives just notions, and performs good actions in
consequence of them. Sentiment refines away the simplicity of truth and
the plainness of piety; and, as a celebrated wit[6] has remarked of his
no less celebrated contemporary, gives us virtue in words and vice in
deeds. Sentiment may be called the Athenian, who _knew_ what was right,
and principle the Lacedemonian who _practised_ it.

BUT these qualities will be better exemplified by an attentive
consideration of two admirably drawn characters of Milton, which are
beautifully, delicately, and distinctly marked. These are, Belial, who
may not improperly be called the _Demon of Sentiment_; and Abdiel, who
may be termed the _Angel of Principle_.

SURVEY the picture of Belial, drawn by the sublimest hand that ever held
the poetic pencil.

A fairer person lost not heav'n; he seem'd
For dignity compos'd, and high exploit,
But all was false and hollow, tho' his tongue
Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to perplex and dash
Maturest counsels, for his thoughts were low,
To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds
Tim'rous and slothful; yet he pleas'd the ear.

PARADISE LOST, B. II.

HERE is a lively and exquisite representation of art, subtilty, wit,
fine breeding and polished manners: on the whole, of a very accomplished
and sentimental spirit.

NOW turn to the artless, upright, and unsophisticated Abdiel,

Faithful found
Among the faithless, faithful only he
Among innumerable false, unmov'd,
Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrified;
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal.
Nor number, nor example with him wrought
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,
Though single.

BOOK V.