The more refined feelings which we are now considering are mainly the following two: noble feelings and beautiful feelings.
Both of these emotions are pleasurable, but in very different ways. A snow-capped, towering mountainscape, a description of a storm or a Description of hell by Milton inspires joy but fear; on the contrary, a landscape of flowers blooming wilderness, a valley with its meandering streams and herds, the description of Irisum or Homer's depiction of Venus' girdle, also gives a pleasant feeling, but it is joyful and smiling. In order for the former to have a strong force for us, we must have a noble feeling; and in order to enjoy the latter properly, we must have a beautiful feeling.
Tall oak trees, lonely shadows in the sacred jungle are sublime, flower beds, low hedges, and well-manicured trees are beautiful; night is sublime and day is beautiful. The way of the mind that has feelings for the sublime, in the silence of a summer night, when the twinkling starlight pierces through the dim shadow of the night and the lonely moon is injected into the curtain, it is slowly drawn into the higher feelings of friendship, of contempt for the world, of eternity. The glorious daylight promotes our tireless longing and joyful feelings.
The sublime makes people move, and the beauty makes people fascinated. A man who has experienced a full sense of sublimeness, his demeanor is sincere, and sometimes strong and terrible. On the other hand, the lively feeling of beauty is expressed through the radiant happiness in the eyes, through the smiling expression and often through loud joy.
The sublime also has a variety of different ways. The feeling itself sometimes carries a certain fear, or also a melancholy, and in some cases it is accompanied only by a quiet surprise, while in others it is accompanied by a grace pervaded by a sublime plan. The first I call the fearsome sublime, the second I call the noble sublime, and the third I call the magnificent sublime. Deep loneliness is sublime, but it comes out in a form of intimidation.
The sublime must always be great, but the beautiful can be small. The sublime must be simple, while the beautiful can be deliberately dressed and decorated. The height of the great and the depth of the great are equally sublime, except that the latter is accompanied by a feeling of war, while the former is accompanied by a feeling of consternation. Thus the latter feeling can be the feared sublime, while the former is the noble sublime.
The sight of the pyramids of Egypt, as Haselquist reported, is far more moving than what one can form according to all descriptions, yet its architecture is simple and noble. St. Peter's Church in Rome is ornate. For in its great and simple planning, the beauty (such as metalwork and inlays, etc., etc.) unfolds in such a way that the sense of the sublime is the most effective, and this object is called magnificence. An arsenal must be noble and simple, a palace must be gorgeous, and a pleasure palace must be beautiful and well decorated.
The long ages are sublime. If it belongs to the past epoch, then it is noble; if it looks to the future which cannot be glimpsed, then it has something to fear. One of the most ancient buildings is admirable, Halle's depiction of the future of eternity stirs up a gentle fear, while the depiction of the past provokes stunned astonishment.
Understanding is sublime and wit is beautiful. Bravery is sublime and great, ingenuity is small but beautiful. Cromwell said that prudence is a virtue of the mayor. Sincerity and integrity are simple and noble, jokes and happy compliments are subtle and graceful. Politeness is the grace of morality. Selfless dedication is noble, grace and humility are graceful. The sublime nature inspires respect, while the beautiful nature inspires admiration. Their affection is mainly of people from beautiful things, and they seek out their honest, reliable, and zealous friends only when they need them; but they choose to associate with joyful, funny, and courteous companions. There are many people who are overrated and cannot be loved. He arouses our admiration, but He is too high above us to approach Him with gracious love.
Those who combine these two feelings with them will see that the sublime sentiment is stronger and more powerful than the beautiful sentiment, but without the beautiful sentiment to replace and accompany, the sublime sentiment will make the person tired and unable to feel satisfied for a long time.
[The above excerpt is from "On the Sense of Beauty and Sublime"]
