"I believe it will be found that those who marry late are best
pleased with their children, and those who marry early with their
partners."
"The union of these two affections," said Rasselas, "would produce
all that could be wished. Perhaps there is a time when marriage
might unite them--a time neither too early for the father nor too
late for the husband."
"Every hour," answered the Princess, "confirms my prejudice in
favour of the position so often uttered by the mouth of Imlac, that
'Nature sets her gifts on the right hand and on the left.' Those
conditions which flatter hope and attract desire are so constituted
that as we approach one we recede from another. There are goods so
opposed that we cannot seize both, but by too much prudence may
pass between them at too great a distance to reach either. This is
often the fate of long consideration; he does nothing who
endeavours to do more than is allowed to humanity. Flatter not
yourself with contrarieties of pleasure. Of the blessings set
before you make your choice, and be content. No man can taste the
fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers
of the spring; no man can at the same time fill his cup from the
source and from the mouth of the Nile.
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