As a harp,
made to vibrate to the fingers,
gives some music to every wind,
so the nature of man,
necessarily susceptible to woman,
becomes simultaneously
sensitive to other influences,
and capable of tenderness
toward every object.
琴瑟本應由指尖彈奏,
但微風拂過,亦有妙響。
男子婚娶,旨在家族繁衍;
但秋波顧盼,
戀情的意義已經遠大於此。
此間,
一景一物,一顰一笑,
都能喚起
他的百般沉醉,千種柔情
2.Nature
To go into solitude,
a man needs to retire
as much
from his chamber
as from society.
I am not solitary
whilst I read and write,
though nobody is with me.
But if a man would be alone,
let him look at the stars.
The rays
that come from
those heavenly worlds,
will separate between
him and what he touches.
One might think
the atmosphere was made transparent
with this design,
to give man, in the heavenly bodies,
the perpetual presence
of the sublime.
Seen in the streets of cities,
how great they are!
If the stars should appear
one night
in a thousand years,
how would men
believe and adore;
and preserve for many generations
the remembrance of
the city of God
which had been shown!
The stars awaken a certain reverence,
because though always present,
they are inaccessible;
but all natural objects make
a kindred impression,
when the mind is open
to their influence.