hallowed by the very secresy in which such interest was
indulged. Even where it fails, so unwilling are we to
lose sight of the illusion to which our thoughts have
fondly clung, so loth to destroy the identity of the
semblance with its original, that we throw a veil over
that reason which is then so little in unison with our
wishes, and forgive much in consideration of the very
mystery which first gave a direction to our interest,
and subsequently chained our preference. How is it to
be lamented, that illusions so dear, and images so
fanciful, should find their level with time; or that
intercourse with the world, which should be the means
rather of promoting than marring human happiness, should
leave on the heart so little vestige of those impressions
which characterize the fervency of youth; and which,
dispassionately considered, constitute the only true
felicity of riper life! It is then that man, in all the
vigour and capacity of his intellectual nature, feels
the sentiment of love upon him in all its ennobling force.
It is then that his impetuous feelings, untinged by the
romance which imposes its check upon the more youthful,
like the wild flow of the mighty torrent, seeks a channel
wherein they may empty themselves; and were he to follow
the guidance of those feelings, of which in that riper
life he seems ashamed as of a weakness unworthy his sex,
in the warm and glowing bosom of Nature's divinity--
WOMAN--would he pour forth the swollen tide of his
affection; and acknowledge, in the fullness of his expanding
heart, the vast bounty of Providence, who had bestowed
on him so invaluable--so unspeakably invaluable, a