[ 8i 1 
Tears are often too forced from their Recefs by 
Nature, to exprefs an overflowing Joy 5 but then it 
is accidental or conftimtional, and not a true Cha- 
rafter of Joy. The firft Efforts of the Mind to re- 
joice, if moderate and deliberate, caufe the Momen - 
tumoi the Blood to increafe withoutViolence, andthen 
there is no Interruption to that pleafing Tranfition of 
the Minds Dilpofition to the Mufcles of the Face, 
nor of their natural Conformity to it ; but when the 
Joy is received too fuddenly, it amounts to a Shock, 
whereby the Blood is driven, at the firft Onfet, with 
greater Violence to the Extremities, and in greater 
Quantity, than can be Time enough brought back 
to the Heart 5 whence it remains too long contrafted 
before the Vena cava can fupply Blood enough to 
force the Auricles and Ventricles open again, whilft 
in the mean time the Head is loaden with too great 
a Quantity, and the Perfon in Danger of an Apo- 
plexy , or fudden Death. In fuch a Surprize as this 
mention'd. Tears have another noble Ufe; for, by 
flowing plentifully thro' the lacrymal Paflages, the 
Lives of many have been favcd 5 for they leffen the 
Bulk of Humours, and gain Time for the more happy 
Return of the Mafs to its natural Circulation, and, 
at length, draw the Mufcles mention'd into Con- 
fent, whereby this fudden Joy terminates in real 
Weeping. Thus, in vehement Grief too, Shedding 
of Tears in Plenty is known to eafe the Anxiety 
ufually attending it. 
The divine Shakefpear y in his Romeo and Juliet , 
had a true Notion of this kind of Joy, where he 
fays : 
Back , 
M. 
