52 



when confined to mere instinct it can scarcely be called love, 

 for this instinct seeks not the happiness of its object, but ra- 

 ther its own selfish gratification, and hence is deservedly stig- 

 matised by the degrading appellation of lust. 



163. But 2dly, in civilized nations and generous minds, en- 

 dowred with sensibility, mental and moral considerations«are 

 superadded to the instinctive. A mild, social and affection- 

 ate disposition, inferred from external appearance, or known 

 by long and intimate acquaintance, intellectual abilities, en- 

 tertaining talents, congenial pursuits not unsuitable to the 

 sex, aiid irreproachable conduct, inspire an eager desire of 

 receiving and bestowing every possible and consequently 

 wholly undivided happiness on the person in whom such ex- 

 cellencies are found, and of exciting a similar reciprocal de- 

 sire in the beloved object. — I say undivided, as this desire is 

 necessarily exclusive of all participation, as pleasure im- 

 parted to any other would amount to a full proof that the 

 mind was not entirely gained, a possession which neverthe- 

 less love, truly so called, essentially requires. In this res- 

 pect it differs from parental and filial affections, which are 

 gratified by the happiness of their respective objects, what- 

 ever source it may proceed from, not incompatible with the 

 share of affection they themselves naturally claim. 



164. Hence polygamy is incompatible with true love, the 

 most refined pleasure of which human i)f\t,i,u-9, is capable and 

 the firmest bond of social union. 



160. Love 



