It
might not be very difficult to go even behind the idea of equality,
and show both how and why it is that the human nature takes pleasure
in it, but such an investigation would, for any purpose now in view,
be supererogatory. It is sufficient that the fact is undeniable- the
fact that man derives enjoyment from his perception of equality. Let
us examine a crystal. We are at once interested by the equality
between the sides and between the angles of one of its faces; the
equality of the sides pleases us, that of the angles doubles the
pleasure. On bringing to view a second face in all respects similar to
the first, this pleasure seems to be squared; on bringing to view a
third it appears to be cubed, and so on. I have no doubt, indeed, that
the delight experienced, if measurable, would be found to have exact
mathematical relation such as I suggest, that is to say, as far as a
certain point, beyond which there would be a decrease in similar
relations.
The perception of pleasure in the equality of sounds is the
principle of Music. Unpractised ears can appreciate only simple
equalities, such as are found in ballad airs. While comparing one
simple sound with another they are too much occupied to be capable
of comparing the equality subsisting between these two simple sounds
taken conjointly, and two other similar simple sounds taken
conjointly.
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