Page:Vindication Women's Rights (Wollstonecraft).djvu/64

58 This is an obvious truth, and the caue not lying deep, will not elude a light glance of inquiry.

Love, the common paion, in which chance and enation take place of choice and reaon, is, in ome degree, felt by the mas of mankind; for it is not neceary to peak, at preent, of the emotions that rie above or ink below love. This paion, naturally increaed by upene and difficulties, draws the mind out of its accutomed tate, and exalts the affections; but the ecurity of marriage, allowing the fever of love to ubide, a healthy temperature is thought inipid, only by thoe who have not ufficient intellect to ubtitute the calm tendernes of friendhip, the confidence of repect, intead of blind admiration, and the enual emotions of fondnes.

This is, mut be, the coure of nature:—friendhip or indifference inevitably ucceeds love.—And this contitution eems perfectly to harmonize with the ytem of government which prevails in the moral world. Paions are purs to action, and open the mind; but they ink into mere appetites, become a peronal and momentary gratification, when the object is gained, and the atisfied mind rets in enjoyment. The man who had ome virtue whilt he was truggling for a crown, often becomes a voluptuous tyrant when it graces his brow; and, when the lover is not lot in the huband, the dotard, a prey to childih caprices, and fond jealouies, neglects the erious duties of life, and the carees which hould excite confidence in his children are lavihed on the overgrown child, his wife. In&ensp;