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32 duty forgotten. The new impulse will awaken new desires, and to satisfy them she must break through all engagements. Her husband may not have exchanged his affections. He may not have seen a "lovelier object;"—and may be left broken-hearted and despairing, at the wreck of his happiness. Nevertheless, the male Shelley, heedless of the happiness he destroys, has a right to consult his own. His own wife he is tired of, and seeing a "lovelier object," his soul expands, and his arms are outstretched to receive her. His wife is left to wait also "for a lovelier object," and to hopeless misery, if her affections remain undiminished. To be sure the lovely beings who thus desert all duties, may leave their families behind them, for the consolation of those who are deserted; as they may have a fresh offspring to provide for, from their newer loves! And thus double adultery would be the remedy for prostitution! It is easy to perceive that such a picture might be much heightened. Instead of the two loveliest objects of the species meeting, while entangled with single engagements, it might be after a series of transfers from lovely, to lovelier, and lovelier, and lovelier still; until the embraces of a moderately decorous courtezan of the present age, would