Page:Letters of Mlle. de Lespinasse.djvu/56

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NOTES.
41


from the standpoint of our present phase of human nature, which a century has changed from hers. There are many judgments and countless criticisms that might be made upon her; but the essential thing is that here is a human soul laid bare in the fierce light of the fire of passion, and fit to stand by the great ones of her class, Sappho, Héloise, and the unknown souls whose genius never passed to words ; for this passion of loving is a form of genius.