475. (11) Men who take a mistress for legitimate, just and real weighty reasons may be at the same time in a state of conjugial love. When we say that they may be at the same time in a state of conjugial love, we mean that they may keep this love concealed within them. For this love does not die in the vessel in which it exists, but becomes dormant. In men who prefer marriage to taking a mistress, and who resort to it for the aforesaid reasons, conjugial love is preserved because of the following considerations: Because taking a mistress in such a circumstance does not stand opposed to conjugial love. Because it does not entail a separation from that love. Because it constitutes only a veiling over of that love. And because this veil is removed from such men after death. 1. That taking a mistress in such a circumstance does not stand opposed to conjugial love. This follows from the points demonstrated above, that when taking a mistress in such a circumstance is done for legitimate, just and real weighty reasons, it is not forbidden (nos. 467-473). [2] 2. That taking a mistress in such a circumstance does not entail a separation from conjugial love. It does not entail a separation from that love, for when legitimate, just or real weighty reasons intervene, persuade, and compel, conjugial love is not separated and the marriage with it, but it is only suspended; and love suspended, and not separated, remains in its vessel. The case here is similar to that of one who is engaged in an occupation he loves, and is kept from it by social functions, theater performances, or travels. He still does not lose his love for his occupation. The case is similar as well to that of one who loves fine wine. When he drinks an inferior kind, he still does not lose his avid taste for the fine kind. [3] 3. That taking a mistress in such a circumstance constitutes only a veiling over of conjugial love. That is because the love in taking a mistress is natural, while the love in marriage is spiritual; and the natural love veils over the spiritual love when the latter is cut off. The man as a lover is not aware of this, because spiritual love is not felt in itself, but expresses itself through some natural love, which is experienced as delight in which there is a blessedness from heaven. But a natural love by itself is experienced simply as delight. [4] 4. That this veil is removed after death. That is because the person from being natural then becomes spiritual, and instead of a material body possesses an essential one, in which natural delight from a spiritual love is felt in its height. I have heard that this is so from communication with some such men in the spiritual world, including kings there, who in the natural world had taken a mistress for real weighty reasons.