E4P10D
Demonstration — Part IV
Latin
Quatenus enim rem cito affuturam vel non diu præteriisse imaginamur, eo ipso aliquid imaginamur quod rei præsentiam minus secludit quam si ejusdem futurum existendi tempus longius a præsenti distare vel quod dudum præterierit, imaginaremur (ut per se notum) adeoque (per præcedentem propositionem) eatenus intensius erga eandem afficiemur. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
In so far as we conceive a thing as close at hand, or not long passed away, we conceive that which excludes the presence of the object less, than if its period of future existence were more distant from the present, or if it had long passed away (this is obvious) therefore (by the foregoing Prop.) we are, so far, more intensely affected towards it. Q.E.D.
Modern English
Insofar as we imagine something as close at hand or as not having passed away long ago, we thereby imagine something that excludes the thing's presence less than if we imagined its future time of existence to be far removed from the present or that it had long since passed away — this is self-evident. Therefore (E4P9) we are, to that extent, affected more intensely toward it. Q.E.D.