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A general account of bonding<br />
the mouth or the complexion, nevertheless it is clear that it is not found in<br />
them alone, nor does it arise from them alone. For the eyes, considered separately<br />
and by themselves, do not have the same force when they are not<br />
united with the other parts of the face. The same is true of the mouth, the<br />
nose and the complexion, which are not beautiful when depicted separately<br />
by a painter. As a result, the nature of beauty is indefinite and quite indescribable,<br />
and the same is true of the nature of goodness and cheerfulness.<br />
The complete nature of a bond is to be found not just in the object itself,<br />
but also in another equally important place, i.e., in the one who is bound.<br />
Whether food is greedily consumed or is returned uneaten after a meal,<br />
this makes no difference at all as far as the substance and quality of the food<br />
is concerned. And the bonds of love, which were intense before sexual<br />
intercourse, become relaxed when the seed is ejaculated and the fire<br />
becomes moderated, even though the beautiful object remains the same.<br />
Therefore, the whole nature of a bond cannot be found in the object.<br />
18. The predispositions of the bonding agent. The bonding agent is said to be<br />
predisposed to bonding in three ways: by its order; by its measure; and by<br />
its type. The order is the interrelation of its parts; the measure is its quantity;<br />
and its type is designated by its shapes, its outlines and its colours. For<br />
example, in a bonding of sounds the order consists of a rising and falling<br />
through high, low and intermediate notes; the measure is the use of thirds,<br />
fourths, fifths, sixths, etc., and the progression of tones and semitones; the<br />
type is the harmony, softness and clarity. In all things which are predisposed<br />
to bonding, whether they be simple or composite, all three of these<br />
factors are present in a proportional way.<br />
19. The diversity of predispositions. Regarding the bonds themselves, there<br />
is another predisposition: the signs and vestiges which reveal how well<br />
developed the soul is. These move the soul to seek out only the enjoyment<br />
of another soul, to which it becomes attached and united. And also because<br />
of this predisposition, when there is a suitable ordering of the body and of<br />
its parts and of the garments which clothe it, the soul is then bound to reach<br />
out for the enjoyment of the body. When this predisposition is present in<br />
both the soul and the body, it impels each more strongly to the enjoyment<br />
of the other, or each is attracted by the other principle. Furthermore, there<br />
are some people who are so bound by the soul that they also desire the very<br />
same body which contains the soul. There are even a few people who are<br />
so focused on the soul that they look down upon certain features of the<br />
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