'When first I saw you, you
were still young; not every man would have remarked your powers; but
I had not been twice honoured by your conversation ere I had found
my mistress. I have, madam, I believe, some genius; and I have much
ambition. But the genius is of the serving kind; and to offer a
career to my ambition, I had to find one born to rule. This is the
base and essence of our union; each had need of the other; each
recognised, master and servant, lever and fulcrum, the complement of
his endowment. Marriages, they say, are made in heaven: how much
more these pure, alborious, intellectual fellowships, born to found
empires! Nor is this all. We found each other ripe, filled with
great ideas that took shape and clarified with every word. We grew
together - ay, madam, in mind we grew together like twin children.
All of my life until we met was petty and groping; was it not - I
will flatter myself openly - it WAS the same with you! Not till
then had you those eagle surveys, that wide and hopeful sweep of
intuition! Thus we had formed ourselves, and we were ready.'
'It is true,' she cried. 'I feel it. Yours is the genius; your
generosity confounds your insight; all I could offer you was the
position, was this throne, to be a fulcrum. But I offered it
without reserve; I entered at least warmly into all your thoughts;
you were sure of me - sure of my support - certain of justice.
Pages:
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135