One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight, - The extreme of love seldom arises, except in a mind unoccupied by interesting engagements. "You may observe," Lord Bacon remarks, "that amongst all the great and worthy persons, there is not one that hath been transported to the mad degree of love; which shows that great spirits and great business do keep out this weak passion." 66 Love," as Bayle has observed, "is a very necessary feeling for the preservation of human beings. It is the soul of the world with respect to them. The Supreme Being has annexed to it a thousand charms and pleasures, but he has connected with it a thousand troubles." These disadvantages arise chiefly from imprudence on the one hand, or treachery on the other. Self-interest, in matters of love, sometimes operates in the same disgraceful manner which it does in other pursuits: a person studies his own particular advantage, without any reference to the happiness of others. Matrimony should never be made a speculation for obtaining wealth; nor should it be made a matter of compulsion on either side. Mutual love is the only guide to connubial happiness. If love were disinterested, as some pretend, then the object of a person would be merely the happiness of the other; but if the other were disinclined to an union, the person would cheerfully sacrifice his own comfort, and discontinue his addresses; but so far is love from being disinterested, that in proportion to the strength of the feeling so will be the determinateness to win the lady, whether she be inclined or not. The desire of obtaining what we approve, if it be regulated by reason, is not to be condemned; for it could not be otherwise, according to the arrangements of the Almighty. A person, in marrying, has no right to expect a handsome fortune, if there be none brought to meet it, unless there should be some superior qualities to counterbalance the absence of wealth; and it does not follow that he should marry one who has nothing: for the expenses of a married state require the union of two incomes, instead of a dependence on one only. Love, and a gratification of this feeling, with an elevation in society equal to what a person has been accustomed, will contribute to earthly happiness : but love and poverty, with a continual sinking, will sadden the heart and the countenance of those who are affected by them. Some think of love, and love only, when they enter into matrimony; others think of nothing but money; but love should be the primary influence, while a regard to worldly comfort should not be omitted. The trafficking which sometimes exists among persons desirous of entering into matrimony is laughable to the cynic and disgusting to the sensible man. All kinds of deception are practised with regard to birth, property, accomplishments, dispositions, attachment, and every thing that can affect the mind of a deluded lover. But when the veil of hypocrisy is thrown aside, when the wife and husband have left the altar for their permanent dwelling, then the attractions vanish, as the splendours of a summer's evening are lost among the shadows of night. Amiable dispositions are exchanged for pettishness, suspicion, and sulkiness; ardent attachment for coolness or hatred; soft words for hard language; and thus the hapless pair go onward until one dies, and then the survivor, like an icicle in the sun's rays, is dissolved in tears. Some people, being inclined to make the connubial engagement a complete business-like speculation, keep two or three persons continually under their influence, that if one should slip, another might be chosen ; but this would probably resemble the contention of dogs for a bone, if one leaves, the others depart; for the contest arises from rivalry, not a love to the object, but a feeling of envy and jealousy among those who wish to obtain the prize. If the purpose in entering matrimony be an increase of human happiness, as it should be, -a person should practise no kind of artifice; for a discovery will be much more injurious than any deception will be advantageous: act fairly and honourably, that the remembrance of upright and praiseworthy conduct before marriage may induce esteem after. On this subject I shall make some observations in the next chapter. The human mind is liable to extremes, - to virtue and vice, to love and hatred. It may be adorned by philanthropy, or it may be debased by cynical feelings. Customs, dispositions, passions, and vices may be hated, distinct from the possessors; but we are not allowed to hate any man. We are peremptorily commanded to love even our enemies. Love will generate good will, honour, and friendship; hatred will produce evil surmisings, discord, and disgrace. The best men are the most inclined to cherish benevolent feelings towards their fellow-creatures; the worst are the most disposed to excite hatred. Sometimes this unhappy feeling is shown towards a few, and at other times to many. Some evince their dislike and opposition to persons in high and influential offices; and others hate those who are obscure and poor. Females sometimes dislike males, and males hate females; the ignorant despise the learned, and the learned the ignorant. A dislike to our fellow-creatures is shown by actions, by words, and by the expression of the countenance. Every feeling of gratification or complacency, which arises on the occurrence of disadvantage to others, is a species of hatred. The most pleasing intelligence to some men is an account of murders and battles. “The first part of a newspaper," observes Shenstone," which an ill-tempered man examines, is the list of bankrupts and the bills of mortality." But this feeling should be checked: it will make a man hateful, and it will cause him to be hated. It will introduce discord where only harmony and love should reign, CHAP. XX. ON MATRIMONY AND CELIBACY. MARRIAGE has been almost universal in every country. The first pair were united by the Almighty in Paradise, when the infant world was the temple, and the heavens were the witnesses; and the successors of Adam and Eve are influenced by the same principle, which induces them to leave parents and guardians for the purpose of forming a separate establishment and a companionship for life. No event is more important, and none is conducted, on many occasions, with less prudence. Providence has allowed the passions to exercise a powerful influence in this matter, otherwise the cares and anxieties with which it is attended would deter most persons from launching their bark of earthly happiness on the great ocean of matrimony. But too frequently the passions are the only guide, and these stimulate to bewilder: they exhibit pleasing and attractive imagery, and then the possession destroys the bliss. In most countries a great encouragement has been given to matrimony; but this has arisen partly from political motives-from the desire of increasing the population, that the nation might be more powerful, and more capable of engaging in war. It is rather degrading to human nature that men should be |