E5P9D
Demonstration — Part V
Latin
Affectus eatenus tantum malus seu noxius est quatenus mens ab eo impeditur quominus possit cogitare (per propositiones 26 et 27 partis IV) adeoque ille affectus a quo mens ad plura simul objecta contemplandum determinatur, minus noxius est quam alius æque magnus affectus qui mentem in sola unius aut pauciorum objectorum contemplatione ita detinet ut de aliis cogitare nequeat, quod erat primum. Deinde quia mentis essentia hoc est (per propositionem 7 partis III) potentia in sola cogitatione consistit (per propositionem 11 partis II) ergo mens per affectum a quo ad plura simul contemplandum determinatur, minus patitur quam per æque magnum affectum qui mentem in sola unius aut pauciorum objectorum contemplatione occupatam tenet, quod erat secundum. Denique hic affectus (per propositionem 48 partis III) quatenus ad plures causas externas refertur, est etiam erga unamquamque minor. Q.E.D.
English (Elwes 1883)
An emotion is only bad or hurtful, in so far as it hinders the mind from being able to think (IV. xxvi. xxvii.); therefore, an emotion, whereby the mind is determined to the contemplation of several things at once, is less hurtful than another equally powerful emotion, which so engrosses the mind in the single contemplation of a few objects or of one, that it is unable to think of anything else; this was our first point. Again, as the mind's essence, in other words, its power (III. vii.), consists solely in thought (II. xi.), the mind is less passive in respect to an emotion, which causes it to think of several things at once, than in regard to an equally strong emotion, which keeps it engrossed in the contemplation of a few or of a single object: this was our second point. Lastly, this emotion (III. xlviii.), in so far as it is attributable to several causes, is less powerful in regard to each of them. Q.E.D.
Modern English
An affect is bad or harmful only insofar as it prevents the mind from being able to think (E4P26). An affect by which the mind is determined to contemplate many objects simultaneously is therefore less harmful than another equally strong affect that keeps the mind fixed on the contemplation of only one or a few objects such that it cannot think of others. This was the first point. Again, since the mind's essence, that is, its power (E3P7), consists solely in thought (E2P11), the mind suffers less from an affect by which it is determined to contemplate many things simultaneously than from an equally strong affect that keeps the mind occupied with the contemplation of only one or a few objects. This was the second point. Finally, this affect (E3P48), insofar as it is referred to many external causes, is also weaker with respect to each one. Q.E.D.