‘yet it is plain that we must face this agitation; and beyond the dull clouds overhead hangs in the horizon Venus, as morning-star, no less fair, though of more melting beauty, than the glorious Jupiter, who shares with her the watch.’
‘The full, free expression of feeling must be rare, for
this book of Bettina Brentano’s to produce such an
effect. Men who have lived in the society of women
all their days, seem never before to have dreamed of
their nature; they are filled with wonderment and
delight at these revelations, and because they see the
woman, fancy her a genius. But in truth her inspiration
is nowise extraordinary; and I have letters from various
friends, lying unnoticed in my portfolio, which are quite
as beautiful. For one, I think that these veins of gold
should pass in secret through the earth, inaccessible to
all who will not take the trouble to mine for them. I
do not like Bettina for publishing her heart, and am
ready to repeat to her Serlo’s reproof to Aurelia.’
‘How terrible must be the tragedy of a woman who
awakes to find that she has given herself wholly to a
person for whom she is not eternally fitted! I cannot
look on marriage as on the other experiments of life:
it is the one grand type that should be kept forever
sacred. There are two kinds of love experienced by
high and rich souls. The first seeks, according to
Plato's myth, another half, as being not entire in itself,
but needing a kindred nature to unlock its secret chambers
of emotion, and to act with quickening influence
on all its powers, by full harmony of senses, affections,
intellect, will; the second is purely ideal, beholding in
