levated as symbols of nobility and
greatness, because the world is loath to believe that those who can
express high sentiments with force, can themselves feel ignobly. The
objects of this benevolent prejudice, this favorable presumption, are
expected to justify such suppositions by the high course of life which
they are required to lead. When it is seen that the poet feels with such
exquisite delicacy all that which it is so sweet to inspire; that he
divines with such rapid intuition all that pride, timidity, or weariness
struggles to hide; that he can paint love as youth dreams it, but as
riper years despair to realize it; when such sublime situations seem
to be ruled by his genius, which raises itself so calmly above the
calamities of human destiny, always finding the leading threads by which
the most complicated knots in the tangled skein of life may be proudly
and victoriously unloosed; when the secret modulations of the most
exquisite tenderness, the most heroic courage, the most sublime
simplicity, are known to be subject to his command,--it is most natural
that the inquiry should be made if this wondrous divination springs
from a sincere faith in the reality of the noble feelings portrayed,
or whether its source is to be found in an acute perception of the
intellect, an abstract comprehension of the logical reason.

The question in what the life led by men so enamored of beauty differs
from that of the common multitude, is then earnestly asked. This high
poetic disdain,--how did it comport itself when struggling with material
interests? These ineffable emotions of ethereal love,--how were they
guarded from the bitterness of petty cares, from that rapidly growing
and corroding mould which usually stifles or poisons them? How many of
such feelings were preserved from that subtle evaporation which robs
them of their perfume, that gradually increasing inconstancy which lulls
us until we forget to call the dying emotions to account? Those who felt
such holy indignation,--were they indeed always just? Those who exalted
integrity,--were they always equitable? Those who sung of honor,--did
they never stoop? Those who so admired fortitude,--have they never
compromised with their own weakness?

A deep interest is also felt in ascertaining how those to whom the task
of sustaining our faith in the nobler sentiments through art has
been intrusted, have conducted themselves in external affairs, where
pecuniary gain is only to