Imaginary Corwersation 27 the course of his remonstrance, particularly when he com- plained to her that the finer and more delicate part of us, the eye, may wander at leisure over what is in its way ; yet that its dependents in the corporeal system must not follow it; that they must hunger and faint in the service of a power so rich and absolute. This being hard^ unjust, and cruel, said he, never can be the ordinance of the gods. Love alone feeds the famishing; Love alone places all things, both of matter and of inind, in perfect harmony ; Love hath less to learn from Wisdom than Wisdom hath to learn from Love. Modest man I said she to herself, there is a great deal of truth in what he says, considerifig he is a philosopher. She then asked him, after a pause, why he had not spoken so in the conversation on love, which appeared to give ani- mation, mirth, and wit to the dullest of the company, and even to make the wines of Chios, Crete, and Lesbos, sparkle with fresh vivacity in their goblets. / who teas placed by the fountain-head, replied he, had no inclination to follow the shallow and slender stream, taking its course toward streets and lanes, and dipt into and muddied by unhallowed and uncleanly hands. After dinner such topics are usually introduced, when the objects that ought to inspire our juster sentiments are gone away. Afi indelicacy worse than Thracian ! The purest gales of heaven, in the most perfect solitudes, should alone lift up the aspiration of our souls to the divinities all men worship. Sensible creature! sighed Thelymnia in her bosom, how rightly he does think! Com.e, fairest of wanderers, whispered he softly and per- suasively, such will I call you, tho the stars hear me, and tho the gods too in a night like this pursue their loves upon earth . . the moon has no little pools filled with her light, under the rock yonder ; she deceives us in the depth of these hollows, like the limpid sea. Besides, we are here among the pinks and sand-roses: do they never prick your ancles with their dry stems and thorns ? Even their leaves at this late season are enough to hurt you. I think they do, replied she. and thanked him, with a tender timid glance, for some fresh security his arm or hand
