True love makes all things loveable,—except perhaps the chaperon.
Was there ever man or woman yet who was not bettered by a true love?
True love is ever diffident and fearful of its own venturesomeness (3).
But this not every woman understands.
Too often the Phantasm of love and not the Verity wins the day (4).
Women who seek a real lover should beware the overbold one.
(3) Cf. "La volupte Nous rend hardis, l'amour nous rend timides." —Voltaire, La Pucelle, Chant vi.
(4) See Leopardi, "Storia del Genere Humano", where the Verities of Truth and Love and Justice never leave the throne of Jove, but their Phantasms are sent down amongst men.
* * *
To merge the THEE and the ME into one—that is ever the attempt of love.
It is impossible. Yet, perhaps
They are happiest who can longest disbelieve in the impossibility of this amatorial fusion; for it may be that such
Incredulity is favorable to romance.