The pleasures of the affections are Love, Friendship, Gratitude, and
general Benevolence.
“For the pleasures of the affections,” says Lord Bacon, “we must resort
to the poets, for there affection is on her throne, there we may find
her painted forth to the life.”
Instead of referring us to the poets, he might, according to his own
admonitions, have referred us to the certain mode of discovering truth,
by observing facts around us, and particularly by observing the nature
sought, where it is most conspicuous.
In searching, for any nature, observe it, he says, where it is most
conspicuous; as, in inquiring into the nature of flame, observe the
sudden ignition and expansion of gas--these are what he calls “_glaring
instances_.”
The glaring instance of affection is _Female Affection_; there indeed
she is on her throne, there we may find her painted forth to the life.
It is the nature of woman to be affectionate.
§ I.