the origin of the distinction of ranks-第4章

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for　pleasures　which　he　can　purchase　at　so　easy　a　rate。　He　meets　with　no　difficulties　nor　disappointments　to　enhance　the　value　of　his　enjoyment；　or　to　rouse　and　animate　him　in　the　pursuit　of　it。　He　arrives　at　the　end　of　his　wishes；　before　they　have　sufficiently　occupied　his　thoughts；　or　engaged　him　in　those　delightful　anticipations　of　happiness　which　the　imagination　is　apt　to　display　in　the　most　flattering　colours。　He　is　a　stranger　to　that　long　continued　solicitude；　those　alternate　hopes　and　fears；　which　agitate　and　torment　the　lover；　and　which；　by　awakening　the　sensibility；　while　they　relax　the　vigour　of　his　mind；　render　his　prevailing　inclinations　more　irresistible。　　　　　The　phlegmatic　disposition　of　savages；　in　this　particular；　has　accordingly　been　often　remarked　as　a　distinguishing　part　of　their　character。　There　is　good　reason　to　believe　that；　in　the　state　of　simplicity　which　precedes　all　cultivation　and　improvement；　the　intercourse　of　the　sexes　is　chiefly　regulated　by　the　primary　intention　of　nature；　that　it　is　of　consequence　totally　interrupted　by　the　periods　of　pregnancy；　and　that　the　same　laws；　with　respect　to　the　difference　of　seasons；　which　govern　the　constitution　of　inferior　animals；　have　also　an　influence　upon　the　desires　of　the　human　species。（1*）　　　　　It　is　true；　that；　even　in　early　ages；　some　sort　of　marriage；　or　permanent　union　between　persons　of　different　sexes；　has　been　almost　universally　established。　But　when　we　examine　the　nature　of　this　primitive　alliance；　it　appears　to　have　been　derived　from　motives　very　little　connected　with　those　passions　which　we　are　at　present　considering。　When　a　child　has　been　produced　by　the　accidental　correspondence　of　his　parents；　it　is　to　be　expected　that；　from　the　influence　of　natural　affection；　they　will　be　excited　to　assist　one　another　in　making　some　provision　for　his　maintenance。　For　this　purpose；　they　are　led　to　take　up　their　residence　together；　that　they　may　act　in　concert　with　each　other；　and　unite　their　efforts　in　the　preservation　and　care　of　their　offspring。　　　　　Among　inferior　animals；　we　may　discern　the　influence　of　the　same　principle　in　forming　an　association　between　individuals　of　different　sexes。　The　connexion　indeed；　in　this　case；　is　commonly　of　short　duration；　because　the　young　animal　is　soon　in　a　condition　to　provide　for　its　own　subsistence。　In　some　of　the　species　of　birds；　however；　the　young　which　are　hatched　at　one　time；　are　frequently　incapable　of　procuring　their　own　food　before　the　mother　begins　to　lay　eggs　a…new；　and　the　male　and　female　are；　therefore；　apt　to　contract　a　more　permanent　attachment。　To　this　circumstance　we　may　ascribe　the　imagined　fidelity　of　the　turtle；　as　well　as　the　poetical　honours　that　have　been　paid　to　the　gentleness　of　the　dove；　an　animal　which；　notwithstanding　the　character　it　has　so　universally　acquired；　appears　remarkable　for　its　peevish　and　quarrelsome　temper。　Among　common　poultry；　on　the　contrary；　whose　offspring　is　reared　without　much　assistance　even　from　the　dam；　the　disposition　to　unite　in　pairs　is　scarcely　observable。　　　　　But　the　long　culture　which　is　necessary　in　rearing　the　human　species；　will　generally　afford　to　the　parents　a　second　pledge　of　their　commerce；　before　their　assistance　can　be　withdrawn　from　the　former。　Their　attention；　therefore；　is　extended　from　one　object　to　another；　as　long　as　the　mother　is　capable　of　child…bearing；　and　their　union　is　thus　continued　by　the　same　causes　which　first　gave　rise　to　it。　Even　after　this　period；　they　will　naturally　be　disposed　to　remain　in　a　society　to　which　they　have　been　so　long　accustomed：　more　especially；　as　by　living　at　the　head　of　a　numerous　family；　they　enjoy　a　degree　of　ease；　respect；　and　security；　of　which　they　would　otherwise　be　deprived；　and　have　reason；　in　their　old　age；　to　expect　the　assistance　and　protection　of　their　posterity；　under　all　those　diseases　and　infirmities　by　which　they　are　rendered　incapable　of　providing　for　themselves。（2*）　　　　　These　were　in　all　probability　the　first　inducements　to　marriage　among　the　rude　and　barbarous　inhabitants　of　the　earth。　As　it　appears　to　have　taken　its　origin　from　the　accidental　and　unforeseen　exertions　of　parental　affection；　we　may　suppose　that　it　would　be　commenced　without　any　previous　contract　between　the　parties；　concerning　the　term　or　duration　of　their　correspondence。　Thus；　among　the　Romans；　it　should　seem　that　the　most　ancient　marriage　was　formed　merely　by　use；　that　is；　by　the　parties；　living　constantly　together　for　the　space　of　a　year；　a　period　which；　in　the　ordinary　course　of　things；　was　sufficient　to　involve　them　in　the　care　of　a　family。（3*）　It　is　believed　that　the　early　Greeks　were　accustomed　to　marry　in　the　same　simple　manner。（4*）　The　Kalmuck　Tartars　have；　at　present；　a　similar　practice。　Among　them；　it　is　usual　for　a　young　pair　to　retire；　and　live　together　as　man　and　wife　for　one　year；　and　if；　during　this　time；　the　woman　has　produced　a　child；　their　marriage　is　understood　to　be　completed；　but　if　not；　they　either　separate　at　pleasure　or　agree　to　make　another　year's　trial。　Traces　of　this　primitive　custom　may　still　be　discovered　in　the　law　of　Scotland；　according　to　which；　a　marriage　dissolved　within　a　year　and　day；　and　without　a　child；　has　no　legal　consequences；　but　restores　the　property　of　either　party　to　the　same　situation　as　if　no　such　alliance　had　ever　existed。　　　　　Time　and　experience　gradually　improved　this　connexion；　and　discovered　the　many　advantages　of　which　it　is　productive。　The　consideration　of　those　advantages；　together　with　the　influence　of　fashion　and　example；　contributed　to　promote　its　universal　establishment。　The　anxiety　of　parties；　or　of　their　relations；　to　avoid　those　disputes　and　inconveniences　with　which　it　was　frequently　attended；　made　them　endeavour；　by　an　express　stipulation；　to　settle　the　conditions　of　their　union；　and　produced　a　solemn　and　formal　celebration　of　marriage。　The　utility　of　this　contract；　as　it　makes　a　regular　provision　for　multiplying　the　inhabitants　of　a　country；　gave　rise　to　a　variety　of　public　regulations　for　promoting　the　institution　in　general；　for　directing　its　particular　forms；　and　for　discouraging　the　vague　and　irregular　commerce　of　the　sexes。　　　　　The　marriages；　however；　of　rude　people；　according　to　all　accounts；　are　usually　contracted　without　any　previous　attachment　between　the　parties；　and　with　little　regard　to　the　gratification　of　their　mutual　passions。　A　savage　is　seldom　or　never　determined　to　marry　from　the　particular　inclinations　of　sex；　but　commonly　enters　into　that　connexion　when　he　arrives　at　an　age；　and　finds　himself　in　circumstances；　which　render　the　acquisition　of　a　family　expedient　or　necessary　to　his　comfortable　subsistence。　He　discovers　no　preference　of　any　particular　woman；　but　leaves　it　to　his　parents；　or　other　relations；　to　make　choice　of　a　person　whom　it　is　thought　proper　that　he　should　marry：　He　is　not　even　at　the　trouble　of　paying　her　a　visit；　but　allow　them　to　begin　and　finish　the　bargain；　without　concerning　himself　at　all　in　the　matter：　If　his　proposals　are　rejected；　he　hears　it　without　the　least　disturbance；　or　if　he　meets　with　a　favourable　reception；　he　is　equally　unmoved；　and　the　marriage　is　completed；　on　both　sides；　with　the　most　perfect　indifference。（5*）　　　　　From　th