Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Texts
- The Rash Resolve: or, the Untimely Discovery
- Life’s Progress through the Passions: or, The Adventures of Natura
- LIFE'S PROGRESS THROUGH THE PASSIONS: INTRODUCTION
- Book the First
- CHAP. I Shews, in the example of Natura, how from our very birth, the passions, to which the human soul is incident, are discoverable in us; and how far the organs of sense, or what is called the constitution, has an effect over us
- CHAP. II Contains some proofs by what swift degrees the passions gain an ascendant over the mind, and grow up in proportion with our reason
- CHAP. III The early influence which the difference of sex excites, is here exemplified in the fond but innocent affection of Natura and Delia
- CHAP. IV Shews, that till we arrive at a certain age, the impressions made on us are easily erased; and also that when those which bear the name of love are once rooted in the mind, there are no lengths to which we may not be transported by that passion, if great care is not taken to prevent its getting the ascendant over reason
- CHAP. V That to indulge any one fault, brings with it the temptation of committing others, is demonstrated by the behaviour of Natura, and the misfortunes and disgrace, which an ill-judged shame had like to have involved him in
- CHAP. VI Shews the great force of natural affection, and the good effects it has over a grateful mind
- BOOK the Second
- BOOK the Third
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. III - The early influence which the difference of sex excites, is here exemplified in the fond but innocent affection of Natura and Delia
from Book the First
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Texts
- The Rash Resolve: or, the Untimely Discovery
- Life’s Progress through the Passions: or, The Adventures of Natura
- LIFE'S PROGRESS THROUGH THE PASSIONS: INTRODUCTION
- Book the First
- CHAP. I Shews, in the example of Natura, how from our very birth, the passions, to which the human soul is incident, are discoverable in us; and how far the organs of sense, or what is called the constitution, has an effect over us
- CHAP. II Contains some proofs by what swift degrees the passions gain an ascendant over the mind, and grow up in proportion with our reason
- CHAP. III The early influence which the difference of sex excites, is here exemplified in the fond but innocent affection of Natura and Delia
- CHAP. IV Shews, that till we arrive at a certain age, the impressions made on us are easily erased; and also that when those which bear the name of love are once rooted in the mind, there are no lengths to which we may not be transported by that passion, if great care is not taken to prevent its getting the ascendant over reason
- CHAP. V That to indulge any one fault, brings with it the temptation of committing others, is demonstrated by the behaviour of Natura, and the misfortunes and disgrace, which an ill-judged shame had like to have involved him in
- CHAP. VI Shews the great force of natural affection, and the good effects it has over a grateful mind
- BOOK the Second
- BOOK the Third
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
NATURA being much of the same age with Delia (for so I shall call her) and both equally playful, spirituous, and good-natured, it is hard to say which of them took the greatest delight in the society of the other. Natura was never well out of the presence of Delia, nor Delia contented but when Natura was with her.
In walking, dancing, playing at cards, these amiable children were always partners; and it was remarkable, that in the latter of these diversions, Natura was never uneasy at losing his money to Delia, nor resented any little railleries she treated him with on account of his ill luck, or want of skill in the game, as he had been accustomed to do whenever he received the like from any of his companions. – So forcibly does the diff erence of sex operate, even before that difference is considered.
Natura was yet too young by much, to know wherefore he found in himself this complaisance, or how it came to pass, that he so much preferred a beautiful and good-humoured girl, to a boy possessed of the same qualifications; but he was not ignorant that he did so, and has oft en wondered (as he aft erwards confessed) what it was that made him feel so much pleasure, whenever, in innocently romping together, he happened to catch hold of her in his arms; and what strange impulse it was, that rendered him so reluctant to part with her out of that posture, that she was obliged to struggle with all her strength to disengage herself.
Hence it is plain, that the passion of love is part of our composition, implanted in the soul for the propagation of the world; and we ought not, in my opinion, to be too severe on the errors which, meerly and abstracted from any other motive than itself, it sometimes influences us to be guilty of.
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- The Rash Resolve and Life's Progressby Eliza Haywood, pp. 88 - 91Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014