Selfish in its beginning as its end,[JP]

Except where 't is a mere insanity,

A maddening spirit which would strive to blend

Itself with Beauty's frail inanity,

On which the Passion's self seems to depend;

And hence some heathenish philosophers

Make Love the main-spring of the Universe.

LXXIV.

Besides Platonic love, besides the love

Of God, the love of sentiment, the