BOOK I PART III
to read a book as a romance, and another as
a true history, they plainly receive the same
ideas, and in the same order; nor does the in-
credulity of the one, and the belief of the other
hinder them from putting the very same sense
upon their author. His words produce the same
ideas in both; though his testimony has not the
same influence on them. The latter has a more
lively conception of all the incidents. He enters
deeper into the concerns of the persons: rep-
resents to himself their actions, and characters,
and friendships, and enmities: He even goes
so far as to form a notion of their features, and
air, and person. While the former, who gives
no credit to the testimony of the author, has a
more faint and languid conception of all these
particulars; and except on account of the style
and ingenuity of the composition, can receive
little entertainment from it.