CHAP. IV.
Of LOVE.
LOVE is the first Impression that affects the Appetite; proceeding from the Pleasure conceiv’d in a Real or Imaginary GOOD.
IT is the CEMENT of Affections, and the Effect of a certain Congruity of Minds; sympathetically arising from the DIASTOLE and SYSTOLE of affected Hearts.
IT is (as a certain Author defines it) a sacred Frenzy of the Soul, and a Divine Madness, elevating Men to the Pitch of Saints, and rendring them the Care of Benigner Dæmons: so far that they are every where safe, being under the Protection of GODS and Men; as the Poet familiarly expresses it, Quisquis Amore tenetur, eat tutúsq; sacèrq;——
IT is a kind of a wonderful satisfactory Death, and a voluntary Separation of Soul and Body. The Lover’s Mind is in one Place; his Body, in Another; and He himself is No Where, if he be not with the Object of his LOVE: So that (in a manner) it transforms the LOVER into the Object beloved; and all this without any evident Trouble, or if there be any Trouble, still the Trouble is lov’d, with apparent Satisfaction and Delight. As it is ingeniously said, Ubi Amatur, non laboratur; & si laboratur, labor Amatur.
LOVE always springs and blooms with fresh Desires, with young and vigorous Inclinations. It is so riveted in our Natures, that our Blood must first grow cold and be congeal’d by Death, before this FLAME can be extinguish’d: Nay, sometimes it is more fervent, tho’ of shorter Duration, in our latest Hours, than in our Prime. For like as the OIL which feeds a Lamp, when almost spent, the startled Flame begins to rouze itself, and burn afresh, as if it would fain subsist a little longer; tho’ on the very Dregs of its accustomed Fuel, it crackles and flashes with greater Noise and Lustre than before, but presently expires: So does the Amorous Fire, when we are nearest our Dissolution, begin to trouble us most, and makes our Soul to blaze with greater Fevers of Desire and Grief, knowing its Period to be near at hand.
LOVE is like the Palm-Tree, the more oppressed with Weights, the Higher it grows. It always desires to encrease, dilate, and stretch itself farther still, leading to an Harmonious Union of Hearts. Riches cannot purchase Love. Neither Threats nor Violence can either force or restrain it; which being free by Nature, as proceeding from the Freedom of the Will, disdains all Compulsion; subduing all, and unsubdued by any Opposition. In short, it is so generous, that whereas all other Affections and Actions aim at different Rewards; LOVE only is contented with Love, holding nothing else as a sufficient Recompence.
LOVE made Ulysses, rather than forsake his dear Penelope, refuse IMMORTALITY itself at Calipso’s hands.
LOVE is the oldest of our Passions, in that it came into the World with us; and from thence it becomes habitual to a good NATURE, and a brave SOUL.
LOVE is the most noble and generous of our Passions, it soon removes all puny Obstacles in its way. It is ready, prompt, and dexterous to find Excuses or Forgiveness for the greatest FAULTS, and much more to palliate the Peccadillo’s of the Beloved. It does by a peculiar Force and Virtue extirpate all Revenge, and blot out the MEMOIRS of past Unkindnesses.