HKB
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Often appears with: the passions and the emotions · romance vs reality · pleasure, pain, and the good life · marriage and immorality · marriage and betrothal · malice and resentment · justice as a virtue · honor, shame, and reputation · happiness and imagination · charinus monologue · broken promises · anger, revenge, and forgiveness
Usually: reflection (1) · speech or oration (1) · ambition and its cost (1) · rivalry (1) · the test or trial (1) · censure (1) · detachment (1) · indignation (1) · wonder (1)
“Can then such inbred malice live in man, To joy in ill, and from another's woes To draw his own delight?” Terence, The Comedies of Terence · insight
Maria and Darnford experience love mixed with instability, and the narration contrasts romantic dreams with real social and emotional happiness, culminating in her view that marriage as constituted leads to immorality yet may be needed for social recognition.
[13] The name in the manuscript is by mistake written Caesar. EDITOR. [Godwin’s note] With Darnford she did not taste uninterrupted felicity; there was a volatility in his manner which often distressed her; but love gladdened the scene; besides, he was the most tender, sympathizing creature in the world. A fondness for the sex often gives an appearance of humanity to the behaviour of men, who have small pretensions …
Charinus delivers a moral monologue condemning treacherous men who share in others’ suffering, then debates confronting his rival; he concludes anger can be used to embitter the other’s pleasure.
*CHARINUS alone.* Is this to be believ'd, or to be told? Can then such inbred malice live in man, To joy in ill, and from another's woes To draw his own delight?--Ah, is't then so? --Yes, such there are, the meanest of mankind, Who, from a sneaking bashfulness, at first Dare not refuse; but when the time comes on To make their promise good, then force perforce Open themselves and fear: yet must deny. Then too, oh sh…