§*?i THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XL 



Of Love, 



X HE great intention of Nature, in endowing al-r 

 moft every animal with a fexual attachment, is the multipli- 

 cation and continuation of the refpe£live fpecies. But, with 

 regard to man, and, in an inferior degree, to all pairing ani- 

 mals, love is the fource of many other focial and important 

 advantages. Love, or a ftrong affection for a particular wo- 

 man, is to young men, perhaps, one of the greatefl incen- 

 tives to virtue and propriety of condu^l. In northern coun^ 

 tries, it feldom rifes to that degree of frensy, which, in warm- 

 er climates, not only engrofTes the whole attention, but often 

 totally unhinges the powers of the mind. In northern re- 

 gions, however, it occupies more gently the imagination, 

 gives a chearfulnefs and alacrity to the bufinefs or fludies of 

 life, and, if reciprocal, difFufes over the mind and body a pla- 

 cid happinefs, and a tranquility of difpofition, which greatly 

 contribute to the health and vigour of both. A young man 

 in love, thinks that the eyes of his favourite continually be- 

 hold him. Through this amiable medium he views all his 

 actions, and even his thoughts. Llis afFe£tion and venera- 

 tion are fo great, that he is in fome meafure, deterred from 

 regarding any other woman, and, what is of more import- 

 ance, from indulging any loofe or irregular appetite. The 

 difpofitions and afFedlions of the female are the fame with 

 thofe of the male. Her attention is com.pletely engrofled ; 

 and fhe never thinks or dreams of any man, but of him who 

 is the objedl of her afFedlion. A young man and a young 

 woman in love exhibit the moft innocent and the moft amia- 

 ble picture of human nature. Actjiated by no interefted 



