Whilst
This Interregnum Lasts, I Always Perceive My Heart Locked Up, - I
Can Scarce Find In It To Give Misery
A sixpence; and therefore I
always get out of it as fast as I can - and the moment I am
Rekindled, I am all generosity and good-will again; and would do
anything in the world, either for or with any one, if they will but
satisfy me there is no sin in it.
- But in saying this, - sure I am commanding the passion, - not
myself.
A FRAGMENT.
- The town of Abdera, notwithstanding Democritus lived there,
trying all the powers of irony and laughter to reclaim it, was the
vilest and most profligate town in all Thrace. What for poisons,
conspiracies, and assassinations, - libels, pasquinades, and
tumults, there was no going there by day - 'twas worse by night.
Now, when things were at the worst, it came to pass that the
Andromeda of Euripides being represented at Abdera, the whole
orchestra was delighted with it: but of all the passages which
delighted them, nothing operated more upon their imaginations than
the tender strokes of nature which the poet had wrought up in that
pathetic speech of Perseus, O Cupid, prince of gods and men! &c.
Every man almost spoke pure iambics the next day, and talked of
nothing but Perseus his pathetic address, - "O Cupid! prince of gods
and men!" - in every street of Abdera, in every house, "O Cupid!
Cupid!" - in every mouth, like the natural notes of some sweet
melody which drop from it, whether it will or no, - nothing but
"Cupid!
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