to the woman. She loves without regard to right or wrong,[1] and does not try to gain over a man simply for the attainment of some particular purpose. Moreover, when a man first makes up to her she naturally shrinks from him, even though she may be willing to unite herself with him. But when the attempts to gain her are repeated and renewed, she at last consents. But with a man, even though he may have begun to love, he conquers his feelings from a regard for morality and wisdom, and although his thoughts are often on the woman, he does not yield, even though an attempt be made to gain him over. He sometimes makes an attempt or effort to win the object of his affections, and having failed, he leaves her alone for the future. In the same way when a woman is once gained, he often becomes indifferent about her. As for the saying that a man does not care for what is easily gained, and only desires a thing which cannot be obtained without difficulty, it is only a matter of talk.
The causes of a woman rejecting the addresses of a man are as follows:
- Affection for her husband.
- Desire of lawful progeny.
- Want of opportunity.
- Anger at being addressed by the man too familiarly.
- Difference in rank of life.
- Want of certainty on account of the man being devoted to travelling.
- Thinking that the man may be attached to some other person.
- Fear of the man's not keeping his intentions secret.
- Thinking that the man is too devoted to his friends, and has too great a regard for them.
- The apprehension that he is not in earnest.
- Bashfulness on account of his being an illustrious man.
- Fear on account of his being powerful, or possessed of too impetuous passion, in the case of the deer-woman.
- Bashfulness on account of his being too clever.
- The thought of having once lived with him on friendly terms only.
- Contempt of his want of knowledge of the world.
- Distrust of his low character.
- Disgust at his want of perception of her love for him.
- ↑ On peut tout attendre et tout supposer d'une femme amoureuse — Balzac.
