Be frank with him, tell him of your secret hopes.
He will smile tenderly, and show you how those also are an emanation
from a craving heart, and the innate superstitions of mankind. Indeed
he will laugh and illustrate the absurdity of the whole thing by a few
pungent examples of what would happen if these earthly affections could
be carried beyond the grave. Take what you can _now_ will be the burden
of his song, and for goodness' sake do not waste your precious hours in
dreams of a To Be.
Beatrice, the world does not want your spirituality. It is not a
spiritual world; it has no clear ideas upon the subject--it pays its
religious premium and works off its aspirations at its weekly church
going, and would think the person a fool who attempted to carry theories
of celestial union into an earthly rule of life. It can sympathise with
Lady Honoria; it can hardly sympathise with _you_.
And yet you will still choose this better part: you will still "live and
love, and lose."
"With blinding tears and passionate beseeching, And outstretched arms
through empty silence reaching.
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