254 REMARKS ON THE PHILOSOPHY 



tion of the poet's life. Song is the language of passion, and passion 

 is the incubation of love. The poet's deity is love, not, like the 

 ancient lares, a visible appellative and domestic ornament, but an 

 idol enshrined within the heart. 



This play contains little philosophy ; there is little to describe, 

 for the mere inconsistencies of passion are inseparable from the 

 person. Speed preaches better on love than all the metaphysicians 

 in the world. Julia, the doating Julia, forsaken by Proteus, de- 

 termines on pursuing him : 



" Luc I do not seek to quench your love's hot fire ; 



But qualify the fire's extreme rage, 



Lest it should burn above the bounds of reason. 



« Jul. — The more thou dam'st it up the more it burns ; 

 The current that with gentle murmur glides, 

 Thou know'st, being stopp'd, impatiently doth rage, 

 But when his fair course is not hindered 

 He makes sweet music with the enamel'd stones, 

 Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge 

 He overtaketh in his pilgrimage ; 

 And so by many winding nooks he strays, 

 With willing sport, to the wide ocean. 

 Then let me go, and hinder not my course : 

 I'll be as patient as a gentle stream, 

 And make a pastime of each weary step, 

 Till the last step have brought me to my love ; 

 And there I'll rest as, after much turmoil, 

 A blessed soul doth in elysium." 



This is quaint and comical, but might be advantageously applied. 

 Compulsion and resistance are two of the greatest evils in propa- 

 gating evils in the whole conduct of mankind. The child obeys 

 when he should prefer, is compelled when he should be induced, 

 resisted when he should be removed. 



The discovery of Valentine's plot by the Duke is cleverly manag- 

 ed — evasion was impossible : the Duke advises with Proteus in fa- 

 vour of Thurio — 



Duke — What might we do to make the girl forget 

 The love of Valentine, and love Sir Thurio. 



Prot. — The best way is to slander Valentine 

 With falsehood, cowardice, and poor descent ; 

 Three things that women highly hold in hate." 



This aristocratic-looking passage may be a little offensive to timo- 

 cratic eyes, for it is evident that falsehood is so associated with cow- 



