LOVE. 
181 
being persuaded that the tree of Venus is fa¬ 
vourable to beauty. If the ancients had that 
idea,—if the tree so consecrated to Venus 
were to them the tree of love,—it was from 
the true analogy between its power and that 
of love; for wherever the myrtle grows it 
spreads itself around to the exclusion of all 
other shrubs. So love, once master of a 
heart, leaves no room for any other senti¬ 
ment. Scott has borne his testimony to the 
universality of love : 
In peace, love tunes the shepherd’s reed; 
In war, he mounts the warrior’s steed; 
In halls, in gay attire is seen ; 
In hamlets, dances on the green ; 
Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, 
And men below, and saints above, 
For love is heaven, and heaven is love. 
