17. There is yet another passion sometimes called _love_, but more properly _good will_ or _charity_. There can be no greater argument to a man, of his own power, than to find himself able not only to accomplish his own desires, but also to _assist_ other men in theirs: and this is that conception wherein consisteth _charity_. In which, first, is contained that _natural affection_ of parents to their children, which the Greeks call Στοργὴ, as _also_, that affection wherewith men seek to _assist_ those that adhere unto them. But the affection wherewith men many times bestow their benefits on _strangers_, is not to be called charity, but either _contract_, whereby they seek to purchase friendship; or _fear_, which maketh them to purchase peace. The opinion of Plato concerning honourable love, delivered according to his custom in the person of Socrates, in the dialogue intituled _Convivium_, is this, that a man full and pregnant with wisdom and other virtues, naturally seeketh out some beautiful person, of age and capacity to conceive, in whom he may, without sensual respects, engender and produce the like. And this is the _idea_ of the then noted _love_ of Socrates wise and continent, to Alcibiades young and beautiful: in which, love is not the sought honour, but the issue of his knowledge; contrary to the common love, to which though issue sometimes follows, yet men seek not that, but to please, and to be pleased. It should be therefore this charity, or desire to assist and advance others. But why then should the wise seek the ignorant, or be more charitable to the beautiful than to others? There is something in it savouring of the use of that time: in which matter though Socrates be acknowledged for continent, yet the _continent_ have the passion they _contain_, as _much_ and more than they that _satiate_ the appetite; which maketh me suspect this _platonic_ love for merely sensual; but with an honourable pretence for the old to haunt the company of the young and beautiful. [Sidenote: Admiration and curiosity.]