Conjugial Love (Acton) n. 319

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319. II. THAT AFTER THE DEATH OF THE PARTNER, AGAIN To CONTRACT MATRIMONY DEPENDS ALSO ON THE STATE OF MARRIAGE IN WHICH THEY HAD LIVED. Here, by the state of marriage is not meant the state of the love spoken of in the preceding article, for this produces an internal inclination for or against marriage. What is meant here is the state of marriage which produces an external inclination towards it or away from it. This state with its inclinations is manifold. For example: 1. If there are small children in the house and a new mother must be provided for them. 2. If more children are desired. 3. If the house is large and provided with servants of both sexes. 4. If continual forensic occupations withdraw the mind from domestic affairs at home, so that without a new mistress there is fear of trouble and misfortune. 5. If mutual aid and mutual services are required, as in various kinds of business and occupations. 6. Moreover, it depends on the native genius of the partner who is left, whether after the first marriage he or she can or cannot live alone, that is, without a consort. 7. Furthermore, the preceding marriage causes either a fear of married life or a favoring of it. 8. I have heard that the animi of some are led to a desire for repeated marriages by polygamous love and love of the sex, also by the lust of defloration and the lust of variety; and the animi of others, by fear of the law and their reputation if they commit adultery. Besides many other causes which move the external inclinations to matrimony.


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