184 MARRIAGE AND HEREDITY 



insane, and more will probably become so." ^ We 

 may conclude that had the couple in question married 

 what is commonly called their " opposites " — that is to 

 say, had they given freer play to their elective 

 affinities — they would each have produced a healthy 

 offspring. 



Love-making, as Schopenhauer has pointed out, is 

 mixed up with a deal of romantic nonsense, which 

 disguises from both parties the real question at issue. 

 Probably the dialogue of the most romantic pair of 

 lovers in the world, if divested of its flummery, would 

 take the following shape : — 



He : I want to be the father of a fine boy or girl, 

 and I think you can help me. Will you ? 



She : With all my heart. 



He : You are plump and well-proportioned. 



She : You have fine stature and muscular force. 



He : You are healthy. 



She : So are you. 



He : You are fair, gentle, and trusting. 



She : You are dark, energetic, and firm. 



He : Your features show nobility and pride. 



She : Yours, courage and goodness. 



He : You have delicacy of sentiment and virtue. 



^ Maudsloy's Pathology of Mind. 



