They are only to dress and live to please them: and love-
even innocent love, soon sinks into lasciviousness when the exercise
of a duty is sacrificed to its indulgence.
Personal attachment is a very happy foundation for friendship;
yet, when even two virtuous young people marry, it would, perhaps,
be happy if some circumstances checked their passion; if the
recollection of some prior attachment, or disappointed affection, made
it on one side, at least, rather a match founded on esteem. In that
case they would look beyond the present moment, and try to render
the whole of life respectable, by forming a plan to regulate a
friendship which only death ought to dissolve.
Friendship is a serious affection; the most sublime of all
affections, because it is founded on principle, and cemented by
time. The very reverse may be said of love. In a great degree, love
and friendship cannot subsist in the same bosom; even when inspired by
different objects they weaken or destroy each other, and for the
same object can only be felt in succession. The vain fears and fond
jealousies, the winds which fan the flame of love, when judiciously or
artfully tempered, are both incompatible with the tender confidence
and sincere respect of friendship.
Love, such as the glowing pen of genius has traced, exists not on
earth, or only resides in those exalted, fervid imaginations that have
sketched such dangerous pictures. Dangerous, because they not only
afford a plausible excuse, to the voluptuary who disguises sheer
sensuality under a sentimental veil; but as they spread affectation,
and take from the dignity of virtue.
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