Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/225

So much has been written and said about Love, that, were not his beautiful features ever varying and ever new, the subject must have been ere this exhausted. One of the peculiar attributes of Love is his perpetual juvenility—his immortal youth. He was created with the Creation: he was the favourite boy of Eve: Eve was remarkably fond of Love; and he has been ever since the first favourite of her daughters. From the Creation he lived till the Deluge: he was in the Ark with Noah, and welcomed back the dove. From the Deluge he lived till the commencement of the Christian Era, and in the whole of the proceedings of the eventful period which intervened took an active and a most conspicuous part. From the commencement of the Christian Era he continued to live; and he is alive now, and full of health, joy, and beauty, and, albeit six thousand years old, doesn't look more than six.

This, however, may be said to be a painter's view of Love. Let us view Love philosophically. Stop!—Philosophically? No: that is impracticable—quite. Love repudiates Philosophy, and Philosophy repudiates Love. They are, and ever have been, at war: they are, in fact, the greatest enemies that ever had existence—each breathes destruction to the other: they are very inveterate foes. Love frequently upsets Philosophy, even in the very streets; which is very incorrect of Love certainly; but then Philosophy is constantly endeavouring to upset Love! Sometimes, however, Love—in his most amiable moments—will meet Philosophy calmly, and try to effect something like a reconciliation; but Philosophy will not be propitiated, conceiving that Love can never love Philosophy. Nor can he; nor can Philosophy ever love Love. Love may be beloved by millions dearly; but never can Philosophy be a lover of Love.

It being, therefore, impossible to take a philosophical view of Love, suppose we take a common sense view—and yet, what on earth has Love to do with Common Sense? Absolutely nothing. Love doesn't even know Common Sense. We cannot, therefore, take a common sense view of Love. No; if we view him at all, we must view him as he is—a monarch reigning in the hearts of his people: a mighty monarch—the King of Hearts: a king without revenues sufficient to find him even in shirts—an absolute and a naked king!—a king, moreover, glorying in his nakedness, of which, being pure, he is never ashamed: a king whose dominion is illimitable, and whose prime minister is so impartial, that he strikes the light of Love into the souls of all, without reference to either cast, colour, or creed.