That which belongs to all men is least prized; The thing most common is least understood. That which is deep and silent is divine; And there is nought on earth so craved, so common, So misunderstood, or so divine, as Love. When meted in proportion to man’s need, “Measure for measure” it doth purify, Exalt, and make him equal with the gods. He feeds upon ambrosia, and his drink Is nectar; high Olympus cannot yield Delights more grateful to his soul and sense. Parnassus fails his rapture to express, And Helicon hath less of inspiration. But, prithee, should he chance to drink too deep Of the exhilarating draught,--should plunge Him head and ears into this ’wildering flood,-- Mark, then, what marvellous diversions From the centre of his gravity ensue. Judgment is scouted--sober common sense Yields to imagination’s airy flights; Upon a swift-winged hippogriff he mounts, To seek the fair Arcadia of his dreams. He builds him castles--basks in moonshine--feeds Among the lilies--pours his passion forth In amorous canticles and burning sighs-- Makes him a bed of roses, and lies down To revel in his rainbow-colored dreams-- Until some turn, some ill-begotten chance, Most unexpectedly invades his peace, And castles, moonshine, roses, rainbows fly, And leave him to the stern realities of life. Alas, poor Human Nature! Even fools Must learn through sad experience to grow wise. Love is the highest attribute of Deity; And he who loves divinely is most blest. It purgeth passion from the soul and sense, And makes the man a unit in himself; Head, eyes, hands, heart, all work in unison, And beasts, and savages, and rudest hinds, All feel alike its exercise of power. Ambition cannot walk with it; for he Who learns to live and love aright, loves all, And finds preferment in the general weal. Though, Proteus like, it takes a thousand forms, It doth o’ercome all evil with its good, Casteth out devils--sensuality, and sin, And green-eyed jealousy, and hate; and like Chrysostom, golden-mouthed, it doth attune The words of common speech to sweet accord, And gives significance to simplest things.