262 Of moral Restraint. Bk. iv. 



and contemplates with the fondest regret, and 

 which he would wish to live over again. 



It has been said by Mr. Godwin, in order to 

 shew the evident inferiority of the pleasures of 

 sense, " Strip the commerce of the sexes of all 

 " its attendant circumstances, and it would be 

 " generally despised." He might as well say to 

 a man who admires trees, strip them of their 

 spreading branches and lovely foliage, and what 

 beauty can you see in a bare pole ? But it was 

 the tree with the branches and foliage, and not 

 without them, that excited admiration. It is " the 

 " symmetry of person, the vivacity, the voluptu- 

 " ous softness of temper, the aifectionate kindness 

 " of feeling, the imagination, and the wit "* of a 

 woman, which excites the passion of love, and 

 not the mere distinction of her being a female. 



It is a very great mistake to suppose that the 

 passion between the sexes only operates and in- 

 fluences human conduct, when the immediate 

 gratification of it is in contemplation. The forma- 

 tion and steady pursuit of some particular plan 

 of life has been justly considered as one of the 

 most permanent sources of happiness; but I am 

 inclined to believe, that there are not many of 

 these plans formed, which are not connected in a 

 considerable degree with the prospect of the gra- 

 tification of this passion, and with the support of 

 children arising from it. The evening meal, the 



* Political Justice, vol. i. b. i. c. v. p. 72. 8ro. 



