If the reasons so far defined and proved, which cause coldness at inner levels, brought about a similar coldness at the outer levels, then separation would be as common as inner coldness. There are as many cases of inner coldness as there are of marriages between couples accepting false religious beliefs, of different religions, or none, subjects already discussed. Yet it is well known that many couples live together like models of love and mutual friendship; the reasons for this in cases of inward coldness will be given in the next chapter, which is on the reasons for the appearance of love, friendship and good will between married couples.

[2] There are many reasons which link characters, but still not souls, including some of those listed above (183). But there is still coldness lurking within, which allows it in many cases to be noticed and felt. In these cases the affections of each partner diverge from those of the other, but their thoughts, as expressed in speech and behaviour, converge to give the appearance of friendship and good will. As a result they know nothing of the charms and pleasure, much less the happiness and blessings, of truly conjugial love. Such things they regard as hardly more than mythical. These belong to the party who pretend that the origins of conjugial love have the same causes as the nine groups of wise men assembled from different kingdoms, as described above in the account of experiences (103-114).