BOOK II PART I
tune have never past through any female. Let
us endeavour to explain these phaenomena by
the foregoing system.
It is evident, that when any one boasts of the
antiquity of his family, the subjects of his van-
ity are not merely the extent of time and num-
ber of ancestors, but also their riches and credit,
which are supposed to reflect a lustre on him-
self on account of his relation to them. He first
considers these objects; is affected by them in
an agreeable manner; and then returning back
to himself, through the relation of parent and
child, is elevated with the passion of pride, by
means of the double relation, of impressions
and ideas. Since therefore the passion depends
on these relations, whatever strengthens any
of the relations must also encrease the passion,
and whatever weakens the relations must di-