Were there not a natural affinity between Genius and Love, authors and artists would cultivate Love as the source of their deepest inspiration. For if it makes a temporary poet of every peasant, what must be its effect in exalting the poet’s inborn power!
“When beauty fires the blood, how love exalts the mind;”
Love
“Which awakes the sleepy vigour of the soul;”
and first
“Softened the fierce, and made the coward bold.”—Dryden.
“For indeed I knew
Of no more subtle master under heaven
Than is the maiden passion for a maid
Not only to keep down the base in man,