world, these things may be managed better;—but we must wait for its re-creation; and in the mean time be as comfortable as we can.
"Constancy has nothing virtuous in itself, independently of the pleasure it confers!" Indeed, Mr. Shelley! Such language would only be in character with a selfish boy, who would engross the honey-pot to himself, until it made him sick. Is there nothing virtuous in a constancy, which would sacrifice its own pleasure, to avoid giving pain to a woman, who had placed all her hopes of happiness in that constancy? Is self to be the everlasting, and only thought? Is man never to remember there are other creatures in existence, whose well-being ought to be consulted, as well as his pleasure? The nonsense about "moral defects of magnitude," is puerile in the extreme. Both law, and reason, allow of separation for just cause;—the object of Mr. Shelley's theory is to shew that separation for any cause, or any caprice, is justifiable! This is the point at issue between him and the world.
"To promise for ever to love the same woman, is not less absurd, than to promise to believe the same creed!" Good, now! Mr. Shelley, your reason? Were this pressed hard upon you, you would probably with Falstaff
