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joyment in this case lessens the pleasure * and if often repeated, ends commonly in satiety and disgust.

Constant experi

ence shows, that the emotions created by great beauty become weaker abyfamie liarity. The impressions made fuccef fively by such an object, strong at first and lessening by degrees, constitute ja series opposite to that of the weak and increasing emotions, which grow into a specific habit. But the mind, when accustomed to beauty, contracts a relish for it in general, though often repelled from particular objects by the pain of fatiety. Thus a generic habit is formed, of which inconstancy in love is the necessary confequence. For a generic habit, comprehending every beautiful object, is an invincible obstruction to a specific habit, which is confined to one...

But a matter which is of great import ance to the youth of both sexes, deferves more than a cursory view. Though the pleasant emotion of beauty differs widely from the corporeal appetite, yet both may concur upon the fame object. When this is the cafe, they inflame the imagination; and produce a very strong complex paffion*, which is incapable of increase, because the mind as to pleasure is limited rather more than as to pain. Enjoyment in this cafe must be exquifite, and therefore more apt to produce satiety than in any other cafe whatever. This is a never-failing effect, where confummate beauty on the one fide, meets with a warm imagination and great sensibility on the other. What I am here explaining, is the naked truth without exaggeration. They must be insensible upon whom this doctrine makes no impreffion; and it deserves well to be pondered by the young and the amorous, who in forming a fociety which is not dissolvable, are too often blindly impelled by the animal pleasure merely, inflamed by beauty. It may indeed happen after this pleasure is gone, and go it must with a swift pace, that a new connection is formed upon more dignified and more lafting principles. But

* See chap. 2. part 3.

concur

*See chap. 2. part 4.

this

this is a dangerous experiment. For even fuppofing good sense, good temper, and internal merit of every fort, which is a very favourable fuppofition, yet a new connection upon these qualifications is rarely formed. It generally or rather always happens, that fuch qualifications, the only folid foundation of an indissoluble connection, are rendered altogether invisible by satiety of enjoyment creating disgust.

One effect of custom, different from any that have been explained, must not be omitted, because it makes a great figure in human nature. Custom augments moderate pleasures, and diminishes those that are intense. It has a different effect with respect to pain; for it blunts the edge of every fort of pain and distress great and small. Uninterrupted misery therefore is attended with one good effect. If its torments be incessant, custom hardens us to bear them.

It is extremely curious, to remark the gradual changes that are made in forming habits. Moderate pleasures are augmented gradually by reiteration till they become habitual;

habitual; and then are at their height. But they are not long stationary; for from that point they gradually decay till they vanish altogether. The pain occafioned by the want of gratification, runs a very different course. This pain increases uniformly; and at last becomes extreme, when the pleasure of gratification is reduced to nothing.

It fo falls out

That what we have we prize not to the worth,
Whiles we enjoy it; but being lack'd and loft,
Why then we rack the value; then we find
The virtue that possession would not shew us
Whilft it was ours.

Much ado about nothing, act 4. fc. 2.

The effect of custom with relation to a specific habit, is displayed through all its varieties in the use of tobacco. The taste of this plant is at first extremely unpleasant. Our disgust lessens gradually till it vanish altogether; at which period the plant is neither agreeable nor disagreeable. Continuing the use, we begin to relish it; and our relish increases by use till it come to its utmost extent. From this state it gradually decays, while the habit becomes stronger and

and stronger, and confequently the pain of want. The result is, that when the habit has acquired its greatest vigor, the pleasure yof gratification is gone, And hence it is, that we often smoke and take snuff habitually, without so much as being confcious of the operation. We must except gratification after the pain of want; because gratification in that case is at the height when the habit is strongest. It is of the fame kind with the joy one feels upon being delivered from the rack, the cause of which is explained above *. This pleasure however is but occafionally the effect of habit; and however exquifite, is guarded against as much as poffible, by preventing want.

With regard to the pain of want, I can discover no difference betwixt a generic and specific habit: the pain is the fame in both. But these habits differ widely with refpect to the positive pleasure. I have had Moccafion to observe, that the pleasure of a specific habit decays gradually till it become imperceptible. Not so the pleasure of a ge

Chap. 2. part 1. sect. 2.

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