E3DA13
Definition of an Emotion — Part III
Latin
Metus est inconstans tristitia orta ex idea rei futuræ vel præteritæ de cujus eventu aliquatenus dubitamus. Vide de his scholium II propositionis 18 hujus.
Explicatio: Ex his definitionibus sequitur non dari spem sine metu neque metum sine spe. Qui enim spe pendet et de rei eventu dubitat, is aliquid imaginari supponitur quod rei futuræ existentiam secludit atque adeo eatenus contristari (per propositionem 19 hujus) et consequenter dum spe pendet, metuere ut res eveniat. Qui autem contra in metu est hoc est de rei quam odit eventu dubitat, aliquid etiam imaginatur quod ejusdem rei existentiam secludit atque adeo (per propositionem 20 hujus) lætatur et consequenter eatenus spem habet ne eveniat.
English (Elwes 1883)
Fear is an inconstant pain arising from the idea of something past or future, whereof we to a certain extent doubt the issue (cf. III. xviii. note).
Explanation: From these definitions it follows, that there is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope. For he, who depends on hope and doubts concerning the issue of anything, is assumed to conceive something, which excludes the existence of the said thing in the future; therefore he, to this extent, feels pain (cf. III. xix.); consequently, while dependent on hope, he fears for the issue. Contrariwise he, who fears, in other words doubts, concerning the issue of something which he hates, also conceives something which excludes the existence of the thing in question; to this extent he feels pleasure, and consequently to this extent he hopes that it will turn out as he desires (III. xx.).
Modern English
Fear is an inconstant sadness arising from the idea of a past or future thing about whose outcome we are to some degree in doubt. See the second scholium of Proposition 18 of this Part (E3P18S2).
Explanation: From these definitions it follows that there is no hope without fear and no fear without hope. For someone who hangs on hope and doubts the outcome of a thing is supposed to imagine something that excludes the future existence of that thing, and so is to that extent made sad (E3P19), and consequently, while hanging on hope, fears that the thing will not come to pass. Someone who, conversely, is in a state of fear, that is, doubts about the outcome of something he hates, also imagines something that excludes the existence of that same thing, and so (E3P20) rejoices, and consequently to that extent hopes that it will not come to pass.