صفحة 447 من 734

Similarly in youth the constant growth produces a state much like

that of vinous intoxication, and youth is pleasant. Again, men of

the melancholic temperament constantly need some remedial process

(because the body, from its temperament, is constantly being

worried), and they are in a chronic state of violent desire. But

Pleasure drives out Pain; not only such Pleasure as is directly

contrary to Pain but even any Pleasure provided it be strong: and

this is how men come to be utterly destitute of Self-Mastery,

i.e. low and bad.

But those Pleasures which are unconnected with Pains do not admit

of excess: i.e. such as belong to objects which are naturally

pleasant and not merely as a matter of result: by the latter

class I mean such as are remedial, and the reason why these are

thought to be pleasant is that the cure results from the action

in some way of that part of the constitution which remains sound.

By "pleasant naturally" I mean such as put into action a nature

which is pleasant.