Page:The Spirit of French Music.djvu/12

viii Should it happen that under the action of disturbing or depressing influences it deviates from its natural line or falls into a state of weakness, it will be no remedy to set before it some sort of theoretical or abstract model of itself to which it must studiously conform. It will be far better to bring back to it the contact and sentiment of the works that it created in happier times when it enjoyed the plenitude and lively vigour of its strength. Nothing could be better calculated to renew its lost or wearied vital energy, to kindle again the flame of its activity.