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. 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
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
The origin of Natura would perhaps require more time to trace than the benefit of the discovery would attone for: it shall therefore suffice to say, that his ancestors were neither of the highest rank: – that if no extraordinary action had signalized the names of any of them, so none of them had been guilty of crimes to entail infamy on their posterity: and that a moderate estate in the family had descended from father to son for many generations, without being either remarkably improved or embezzled – His immediate parents were in very easy circumstances, and he being their first son, was welcomed into the world with a joy usual on such occasions. – I never heard that any prodigies preceded or accompanied his nativity; or that the planets, or his mother's cravings during her pregnancy, had sealed him with any particular mark or badge of distinction: but have been well assured he was a fine boy, sucked heartily of his mother's milk, and what they call a thriving child. His weaning, I am told, was attended by some little ailments, occasioned by his pining aft er the food to which he had been accustomed; but proper means being found to make him lose the memory of the breast, he soon recovered his flesh, increased in strength, and could go about the room at a year and some few months old, without the help of a leading-string.
Hitherto the passions, those powerful abettors, I had almost said sole authors of all human actions, operated but faintly, and could shew themselves only in proportion to the vigour of the animal frame. Yet latent as they are, an observing eye may easily discover them in each of their diff erent propensities, even from the most early infancy.
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- The Rash Resolve and Life's Progressby Eliza Haywood, pp. 79 - 80Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014