What is it that in youth sheds a dewy light
round the evening star? That makes the daisy look so bright? That
perfumes the hyacinth? That embalms the first kiss of love? It is
the delight of novelty, and the seeing no end to the pleasure that
we fondly believe is still in store for us. The heart revels in the
luxury of its own thoughts, and is unable to sustain the weight of
hope and love that presses upon it.--The effects of the passion of
love alone might have dissipated Mr. Wordsworth's theory, if he
means anything more by it than an ingenious and poetical allegory.
THAT at least is not a link in the chain let down from other worlds;
'the purple light of love' is not a dim reflection of the smiles of
celestial bliss. It does not appear till the middle of life, and
then seems like 'another morn risen on midday'. In this respect the
soul comes into the world 'in utter nakedness'. Love waits for the
ripening of the youthful blood. The sense of pleasure precedes the
love of pleasure, but with the sense of pleasure, as soon as it is
felt, come thronging infinite desires and hopes of pleasure, and
love is mature as soon as born. It withers and it dies almost as
soon!
This play presents a beautiful coup d'oeil of the progress of human
life. In thought it occupies years, and embraces the circle of the
affections from childhood to old age. Juliet has become a great
girl, a young woman since we first remember her a little thing in
the idle prattle of the nurse. Lady Capulet was about her age when
she became a mother, and old Capulet somewhat impatiently tells his
younger visitors:
--I've seen the day,
That I have worn a visor, and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone.
Thus one period of life makes way for the following, and one
generation pushes another off the stage. One of the most striking
passages to show the intense feeling of youth in this play is
Capulet's invitation to Paris to visit his entertainment.
At my poor house, look to behold this night
Earth-treading stars that make dark heav'n light;
Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
When well-apparel'd April on the heel
Of limping winter treads, even such delight
Among fresh female-buds shall you this night
Inherit at my house.
The feelings of youth and of the spring are here blended together
like the breath of opening flowers. Images of vernal beauty appear
to have floated before the author's mind, in writing this poem, in
profusion. Here is another of exquisite beauty, brought in more by
accident than by necessity. Montague declares of his son smit with a
hopeless passion, which he will not reveal:
But he, his own affection's counsellor,
Is to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,
As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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