A truth, even from the strictly scientific
point of view; for is not a great mutual passion the culminating
height of that blind reproductive impulse from which life begins?
Supreme desire; perfection of union. The purpose of Nature
translated into human consciousness, become the glory of the highest
soul, uttered in the lyric rapture of noblest speech.
That, he must renounce. But not thereby was he condemned to a
foolish or base alliance. Women innumerable might be met, charming,
sensible, good, no unfit objects of his wooing; in all modesty he
might hope for what the world calls happiness. But, put it at the
best, he would be doing as other men do, taking a wife for his
solace, for the defeat of his assailing blood. It was the bitterness
of his mere humanity that he could not hope to live alone and
faithful. Five years ago he might have said to himself, "Irene or no
one!" and have said it with the honesty of youth, of inexperience.
No such enthusiasm was possible to him now. For the thing which is
common in fable is all but unknown in life: a man, capable of loving
ardently, who for the sake of one woman, beyond his hope, sacrifices
love altogether. Piers Otway, who read much verse, had not neglected
his Browning. He knew the transcendent mood of Browning's ideal
lover--the beatific dream of love eternal, world after world,
hoping for ever, and finding such hope preferable to every less
noble satisfaction.
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