Cause Principle Unity

A general account of bonding
antecedent deliberation, and the opportunity must be quickly seized when
it presents itself, such that he who can bind will act and bind as soon as
possible.
27. The eyes of the bonding agent. Bonds are so subtle, and that which is
bound is so barely sensible in its depths, that it is possible to examine them
only fleetingly and superficially. They change from moment to moment
and are related to the bonding agent like Thetis fleeing from the embraces
of Peleus. It is necessary to study the sequence of the changes and how the
power of a subsequent form is influenced by its predecessor, for although
matter is indeterminate in relation to innumerable forms, still its present
form is not equally distant from all the others. Rather, only one of those
forms is the immediate successor, others follow after many or a few intermediaries,
and one is located the furthest away of all. Thus, just as the form
of blood immediately follows the form of chyle, so do the bonds of anger
follow the bonds of indignation, and the bonds of sadness follow the bonds
of anger, as yellow bile easily becomes dark. Hence, after having carefully
observed the disposition and the present qualities influencing Thetis,
Peleus planned and prepared ahead of time the bond to win her over before
she might change into some other form, knowing full well that a snake and
a lion and a wild boar are captured in different ways.
28. The enticements of the bonding agent. A bonding agent does not easily
bind someone who can be bound, just as a military commander does not
easily capture a well-protected fortress unless entry is provided by an internal
traitor, or by some arrangement with a collaborator, or by surrender or
by some sort of a compliant official. Thus, in her own realm, Venus does
not bind and does not easily capture the fortress when goblets are empty,
when the spirit is disturbed and when anxiety is aflame. But the fortress is
handed over when the goblets overflow, and the soul is at rest, the mind is
quiet and the body is at leisure. Having closely observed the changes of
these guards and custodians, one must suddenly act with boldness, attack
with force, use all resources and never hesitate. This same course of action
must be followed in other acts of binding.
29. The steps in bonding. A bonding agent does not unite a soul to himself
unless he has captured it; it is not captured unless it has been bound; he
does not bind it unless he has joined himself to it; he is not joined to it
unless he has approached it; he has not approached it unless he has moved;
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