, in all conscience--we shall not with idle and
questionable sympathy dwell upon the sorrows of their separation. We may
utter a remark, however, which the particular instance before us
occasions, in relation to the singular influence of love upon the mental
and moral character of the man. There is no influence in the world's
circumstance so truly purifying, elevating, and refining. It instils
high and generous sentiments; it ennobles human endeavor; it sanctifies
defeat and denial; it polishes manners; it gives to morals a tincture of
devotion; and, as with the spell of magic, such as Milton describes in
"Comus," it dissipates with a glance the wild rout of low desires and
insane follies which so much blur and blot up the otherwise fair face of
human society. It permits of no meanness in its train; it expels
vulgarity, and, with a high stretch toward perfected humanity, it
unearths the grovelling nature, and gives it aspirations of sand and
sunshine.

Its effect upon Forrester had been of this description. It had been his
only tutor, and had taught him nobly in numberless respects. In every
association with the maiden of his affections, his tone, his language,
his temper, and his thoughts, seemed to undergo improvement and
purification. He seemed quite another man whenever he came into her
presence, and whenever the thought of her was in his heart. Indeed, such
was the effect of this passion upon both of them; though this may have
been partially the result of other circumstances, arising from their
particular situation. For a long time they had known few enjoyments that
were not intimately connected with the image of one another; and thus,
from having few objects besides of contemplation or concern, they
refined upon each other. As the minute survey in the forest of the
single leaf, which, for years, may not have attracted the eye, unfolds
the fine veins, the fanciful outline, the clear, green, and transparent
texture, and the delicate shadowings of innumerable hues won from the
skies and the sunshine--so, day by day, surveying the single object,
they had become familiar with attractions in one another which the
passing world would never have supposed either of them to possess. In
such a region, where there are few competitors for human love and
regard, the heart clings with hungering tenacity to the few stray
affections that spring up, here and there, like flowers dropped by some
kindly, careless hand, making a bloom