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is fufceptible of a specific habit. Thus the fweet taste of fugar, rendered lefs poignant in a mixture, may, in courfe of time, produce a specific habit for such mixture. As moderate pleasures, by becoming more intenfe, tend to generic habits; fo intense pleasures, by becoming more moderate, tend to specific habits.

The beauty of the human figure, by a special recommendation of nature, appears to us fupreme, amid the great variety of beauteous forms bestowed upon animals. The various degrees in which individuals enjoy this property, render it an object fometimes of a moderate fometimes of an intense paffion. The moderate paffion, admitting frequent reiteration without diminution, and occupying the mind without exhausting it, becomes gradually stronger till it fettle in a habit. So true this is, that instances are not wanting, of an ugly face, at first disagreeable, afterward rendered indifferent by familiarity, and at the longrun agreeable. On the other hand, confummate beauty, at the very firft view, fills the mind fo as to admit no increase. En

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joyment in this cafe leffens the pleasure * ; and if often repeated, ends commonly in fatiety and difguft. Conftant experience shows, that the emotions created by great beauty become weaker by familiarity. The impreffions made fucceffively by fuch an object, ftrong at first and leffening by degrees, conftitute a series oppofite to that of the weak and increafing 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 inconftancy in love is the neceffary 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 importance to the youth of both fexes, deferves more than a curfory view. Though the pleasant emotion of beauty differs widely from the corporeal appetite, yet both may

See chap. 2. part 3.

concur

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 fatiety 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 fenfibility on the other. What I am here explaining, is the naked truth without exaggeration. They must be infenfible upon whom this doctrine makes no impreffion; and it deferves well to be pondered by the young and the amorous, who in forming a fociety which is not diffolvable, 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 muft with a fwift pace, that a new connection is formed upon more dignified and more lafting principles. But

* See chap. 2. part 4.

this

this is a dangerous experiment. For even fuppofing good fenfe, 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 indiffoluble connection, are rendered altogether invisible by fatiety of enjoyment creating disguft.

One effect of cuftom, 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 intenfe. It has a different effect with re- ̈ fpect to pain; for it blunts the edge of every fort of pain and diftrefs great and, fmall. Uninterrupted mifery therefore is attended with one good effect. If its torments be inceffant, cuftom 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 lost,
Why then we rack the value; then we find
The virtue that poffeffion would not fhew us
Whilft it was ours.

Much ado about nothing, alt 4. Sc. 2.

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

and

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