BOOK I PART III
To confirm this we may observe, that the as-
sistance is mutual betwixt the judgment and
fancy, as well as betwixt the judgment and pas-
sion; and that belief not only gives vigour to
the imagination, but that a vigorous and strong
imagination is of all talents the most proper to
procure belief and authority. It is difficult for
us to withhold our assent from what is painted
out to us in all the colours of eloquence; and the
vivacity produced by the fancy is in many cases
greater than that which arises from custom and
experience. We are hurried away by the lively
imagination of our author or companion; and
even he himself is often a victim to his own fire
and genius.
Nor will it be amiss to remark, that as a lively
imagination very often degenerates into mad-
ness or folly, and bears it a great resemblance in