BOOK II PART I
and casts a shadow or image of itself, even to
that side, on which it did not settle. By means
of this image the enjoyment seems to approach
nearer to us, and gives us the same lively sat-
isfaction, as if it were perfectly certain and un-
avoidable.
It will now be easy to draw this whole rea-
soning to a paint, and to prove, that when
riches produce any pride or vanity in their pos-
sessors, as they never fail so do, it is only by
means of a double relation of impressions and
ideas. The very essence of riches consists in the
power of procuring the pleasures and conve-
niences of life. The very essence of this consists
in the probability of its exercise, and in its caus-
ing us to anticipate, by a true or false reasoning,
the real existence of the pleasure. This antici-
pation of pleasure is, in itself, a very consider-