BOOK II PART III
passions are presented at once, beside the en-
crease of the predominant passion (which has
been already explained, and commonly arises
at their first shock or rencounter) it sometimes
happens, that both the passions exist succes-
sively, and by short intervals; sometimes, that
they destroy each other, and neither of them
takes place; and sometimes that both of them
remain united in the mind. It may, therefore,
be asked, by what theory we can explain these
variations, and to what general principle we
can reduce them.
When the contrary passions arise from ob-
jects entirely different, they take place alter-
nately, the want of relation in the ideas separat-
ing the impressions from each other, and pre-
venting their opposition. Thus when a man is
afflicted for the loss of a law-suit, and joyful