38 PROSERPINA. 



sonal and human in the " Dove's eyes within thy locks," * 

 and " Dove's eyes by the river of waters" of the Song of 

 Solomon. 



46. " Or Cytherea's breath," the two thoughts of soft- 

 est glance, and softest kiss, being thus together associated 

 with the flower: but note especially that the Island of 

 Cythera was dedicated to Venus because it was the chief, 

 if not the only Greek island, in whicli the purple fishery 

 of Tyre was established ; and in our own minds should 

 be marked not orfly as the most southern fragment of 

 true Greece, but the virtual continuation of the chain of 

 mountains which separate the Spartan from the Argive 

 territories, and are the natural home of the brightest 

 Spartan and Argive beauty which is symbolized in Helen. 



47. And, lastly, in accepting for the order this name 

 of Cytherides, you are to remember the names of Viola 

 and Giulietta, its two limiting families, as those of Shak- 

 speare's two most loving maids the two who love sim- 

 ply, and to the death : as distinguished from the greater 

 natures in whom earthly Love has its due part, and no 

 more ; and farther still from the greatest, in whom the 

 earthly love is quiescent, or subdued, beneath the thoughts 

 of duty and immortality. 



It may be well quickly to mark for you the levels of 



* Septuagint, "the eyes of doves out of thy silence." Vulgate,, 

 " the eyes of doves, besides that which is hidden in them." Meaning 

 the dim look of love, beyond all others in sweetness. 



