OF DELIGHTS AND PASSIONS
" My brother, when thou hast a virtue and it is thy virtue, thou hast it in common with nobody.
It is true thou wilt call it by a name and pet it; thou wilt pull its ear and amuse thyself with it.
And lo ! now thou hast its name in common with the folk and hast become folk and herd with thy virtue !
It would be better for thee to say : Unutterable and nameless is that which maketh my soul's pain and sweetness, and it is a hunger of mine intestines.
Let thy virtue be too high for the familiarity of names : and if thou hast to speak of it, be not ashamed to stammer.
Speak and stammer : ' That is my good, that love I, thus it pleaseth me entirely, thus alone will I the good.
I do not will it as the law of a God, I do not will it as the statute or requirement of man : it shall not be a landmark for me to beyond-earths or para- dises.
It is an earthly virtue that I love : there is little pru- dence in it, and still less the reason common to all.
But that bird hath built its nest with me : that is
41
�� �
