Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/149

Rh use of quotations—and an apt quotation is like a lamp which flings its light over the whole sentence. I cannot help thinking, though, in her first story (the History of a Modern Corinne) she has fallen into the common and picturesque error, of making her women of genius peculiarly susceptible of love—a fact I greatly doubt. Every body knows that love is made up of vanity and idleness. Now, a successful literary career gratifies the vanity, while it gives employment. Love is not wanted as flattery, nor as occupation—and is therefore cut off from its two strong-holds. Besides, the excitement of a literary career is so great, that most sentiments seem tame by its side. Homage you have from the many,—praise is familiar to your ear; and your lover's compliment seems cold when weighed against that of your reviewer. Besides, a lover is chiefly valued for the consequence he gives; he loses one great charm when you have it without him. If I wanted to inspire an intense devoted attachment, I would scarce seek it from genius: it gives you but a divided heart. Love bears no rival near the throne—and fame is as 'mighty autocrat as he.'"