Volume Iii Part 41 (1/2)
This Pa.s.sion towards each other, when once well fixed, enters into the very Const.i.tution, and the Kindness flows as easily and silently as the Blood in the Veins. When this Affection is enjoy'd in the most sublime Degree, unskilful Eyes see nothing of it; but when it is subject to be chang'd, and has an Allay in it that may make it end in Distaste, it is apt to break into Rage, or overflow into Fondness, before the rest of the World.
_Uxander_ and _Viramira_ are amorous and young, and have been married these two Years; yet do they so much distinguish each other in Company, that in your Conversation with the Dear Things you are still put to a Sort of Cross-Purposes. Whenever you address your self in ordinary Discourse to _Viramira_, she turns her Head another way, and the Answer is made to the dear _Uxander_: If you tell a merry Tale, the Application is still directed to her Dear; and when she should commend you, she says to him, as if he had spoke it, That is, my Dear, so pretty--This puts me in mind of what I have somewhere read in the admired Memoirs of the famous _Cervantes_, where, while honest _Sancho Panca_ is putting some necessary humble Question concerning _Rozinante_, his Supper, or his Lodgings, the Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance is ever improving the harmless lowly Hints of his Squire to the poetical Conceit, Rapture and Flight, in Contemplation of the dear _Dulcinea_ of his Affections.
On the other side, _Dictamnus_ and _Moria_ are ever squabbling, and you may observe them all the time they are in Company in a State of Impatience. As _Uxander_ and _Viramira_ wish you all gone, that they may be at freedom for Dalliance; _Dictamnus_ and _Moria_ wait your Absence, that they may speak their harsh Interpretations on each other's Words and Actions during the time you were with them.
It is certain that the greater Part of the Evils attending this Condition of Life, arises from Fas.h.i.+on. Prejudice in this Case is turn'd the wrong way, and instead of expecting more Happiness than we shall meet with in it, we are laugh'd into a Prepossession, that we shall be disappointed if we hope for lasting Satisfactions.
With all Persons who have made good Sense the Rule of Action, Marriage is describ'd as the State capable of the highest human Felicity. _Tully_ has Epistles full of affectionate Pleasure, when he writes to his Wife, or speaks of his Children. But above all the Hints of this kind I have met with in Writers of ancient date, I am pleas'd with an Epigram of _Martial_ [1] in honour of the Beauty of his Wife _Cleopatra_.
Commentators say it was written the day after his Wedding-Night. When his Spouse was retir'd to the Bathing-room in the Heat of the Day, he, it seems, came in upon her when she was just going into the Water. To her Beauty and Carriage on this occasion we owe the following Epigram, which I shew'd my Friend WILL. HONEYCOMB in _French_, who has translated it as follows, without understanding the Original. I expect it will please the _English_ better than the _Latin_ Reader.
'When my bright Consort, now nor Wife nor Maid, Asham'd and wanton, of Embrace afraid, Fled to the Streams, the Streams my Fair betray'd; To my fond Eyes she all transparent stood, She blush'd, I smil'd at the slight covering Flood.
Thus thro' the Gla.s.s the Lovely Lilly glows, Thus thro' the ambient Gem s.h.i.+nes forth the Rose.
I saw new Charms, and plung'd to seize my Store, Kisses I s.n.a.t.c.h'd, the Waves prevented more.'
My Friend would not allow that this luscious Account could be given of a Wife, and therefore used the Word _Consort_; which, he learnedly said, would serve for a Mistress as well, and give a more Gentlemanly Turn to the Epigram. But, under favour of him and all other such fine Gentlemen, I cannot be persuaded but that the Pa.s.sion a Bridegroom has for a virtuous young Woman, will, by little and little, grow into Friends.h.i.+p, and then it is ascended to [a [2]] higher Pleasure than it was in its first Fervour. Without this happens, he is a very unfortunate Man who has enter'd into this State, and left the Habitudes of Life he might have enjoy'd with a faithful Friend. But when the Wife proves capable of filling serious as well as joyous Hours, she brings Happiness unknown to Friends.h.i.+p itself. _Spencer_ speaks of each kind of Love with great Justice, and attributes the highest Praise to Friends.h.i.+p; and indeed there is no disputing that Point, but by making that Friends.h.i.+p take [Place [3]] between two married Persons.
'Hard is the Doubt, and difficult to deem, When all three kinds of Love together meet, And to dispart the Heart with Power extreme, Whether shall weigh the Ballance down; to wit, The dear Affection unto Kindred sweet, Or raging Fire of Love to Womenkind, Or Zeal of Friends combin'd by Virtues meet.
But, of them all, the Band of virtuous Mind Methinks the gentle Heart should most a.s.sured bind.
For natural Affection soon doth cease, And quenched is with_ Cupid's _greater Flame; But faithful Friends.h.i.+p doth them both suppress, And them with mastering Discipline does tame, Through Thoughts aspiring to eternal Fame.
For as the Soul doth rule the Earthly Ma.s.s, And all the Service of the Body frame; So Love of Soul doth Love of Body pa.s.s, No less than perfect Gold surmounts the meanest Bra.s.s.'
T.
[Footnote 1: Lib. iv. ep. 22.]
[Footnote 2: an]
[Footnote 3: its Place]
No. 491. Tuesday, September 23, 1712. Steele.