Butthoughwefeelnopropersympathywithanattachmentofthiskind，thoughweneverapproacheveninimaginationtowardsconceivingapassionforthatparticularperson，yetasweeitherhaveconceived，ormaybedisposedtoconceive，passionsofthesamekind，wereadilyenterintothosehighhopesofhappinesswhichareproposedfromitsgratification，aswellasintothatexquisitedistresswhichisfearedfromitsdisappointment。Itinterestsusnotasapassion，butasasituationthatgivesoccasiontootherpassionswhichinterestus；tohope，tofear，andtodistressofeverykind:inthesamemannerasinadescriptionofaseavoyage，itisnotthehungerwhichinterestsus，butthedistresswhichthathungeroccasions。Thoughwedonotproperlyenterintotheattachmentofthelover，wereadilygoalongwiththoseexpectationsofromantichappinesswhichhederivesfromit。Wefeelhownaturalitisforthemind，inacertainsituation，relaxedwithindolence，andfatiguedwiththeviolenceofdesire，tolongforserenityandquiet，tohopetofindtheminthegratificationofthatpassionwhichdistractsit，andtoframetoitselftheideaofthatlifeofpastoraltranquillityandretirementwhichtheelegant，thetender，andthepassionateTibullustakessomuchpleasureindescribing；alifelikewhatthepoetsdescribeintheFortunateIslands，alifeoffriendship，liberty，andrepose；freefromlabour，andfromcare，andfromalltheturbulentpassionswhichattendthem。
Evenscenesofthiskindinterestusmost，whentheyarepaintedratheraswhatishoped，thanaswhatisenjoyed。Thegrossnessofthatpassion，whichmixeswith，andis，perhaps，thefoundationoflove，disappearswhenitsgratificationisfaroffandatadistance；butrendersthewholeoffensive，whendescribedaswhatisimmediatelypossessed。Thehappypassion，uponthisaccount，interestsusmuchlessthanthefearfulandthemelancholy。Wetrembleforwhatevercandisappointsuchnaturalandagreeablehopes:andthusenterintoalltheanxiety，andconcern，anddistressofthelover。
Henceitis，that，insomemoderntragediesandromances，thispassionappearssowonderfullyinteresting。ItisnotsomuchtheloveofCastalioandMonimiawhichattachesusintheOrphan，asthedistresswhichthatloveoccasions。Theauthorwhoshouldintroducetwolovers，inasceneofperfectsecurity，expressingtheirmutualfondnessforoneanother，wouldexcitelaughter，andnotsympathy。Ifasceneofthiskindiseveradmittedintoatragedy，itisalways，insomemeasure，improper，andisendured，notfromanysympathywiththepassionthatisexpressedinit，butfromconcernforthedangersanddifficultieswithwhichtheaudienceforeseethatitsgratificationislikelytobeattended。
Thereservewhichthelawsofsocietyimposeuponthefairsex，withregardtothisweakness，rendersitmorepeculiarlydistressfulinthem，and，uponthatveryaccount，moredeeplyinteresting。WearecharmedwiththeloveofPhaedra，asitisexpressedintheFrenchtragedyofthatname，notwithstandingalltheextravaganceandguiltwhichattendit。Thatveryextravaganceandguiltmaybesaid，insomemeasure，torecommendittous。Herfear，hershame，herremorse，herhorror，herdespair，becometherebymorenaturalandinteresting。Allthesecondarypassions，ifImaybeallowedtocallthemso，whicharisefromthesituationoflove，becomenecessarilymorefuriousandviolent；anditiswiththesesecondarypassionsonlythatwecanproperlybesaidtosympathize。
Ofallthepassions，however，whicharesoextravagantlydisproportionedtothevalueoftheirobjects，loveistheonlyonethatappears，eventotheweakestminds，tohaveanythinginitthatiseithergracefuloragreeable。Initself，firstofall，thoughitmayberidiculous，itisnotnaturallyodious；andthoughitsconsequencesareoftenfatalanddreadful，itsintentionsareseldommischievous。Andthen，thoughthereislittleproprietyinthepassionitself，thereisagooddealinsomeofthosewhichalwaysaccompanyit。Thereisinloveastrongmixtureofhumanity，generosity，kindness，friendship，esteem；passionswithwhich，ofallothers，forreasonswhichshallbeexplainedimmediately，wehavethegreatestpropensitytosympathize，evennotwithstandingwearesensiblethattheyare，insomemeasure，excessive。Thesympathywhichwefeelwiththem，rendersthepassionwhichtheyaccompanylessdisagreeable，andsupportsitinourimagination，notwithstandingalltheviceswhichcommonlygoalongwithit；thoughintheonesexitnecessarilyleadstothelastruinandinfamy；andthoughintheother，whereitisapprehendedtobeleastfatal，itisalmostalwaysattendedwithanincapacityforlabour，aneglectofduty，acontemptoffame，andevenofcommonreputation。