as we were talking we entered into a pretty large grove, in the midst of which, i perceived a star formed by most beautiful shrubs. from every part of these shrubs there darted forth a luminous matter, whereon were painted all the colours of the rain-bow. thus the sun, viewed through the boughs of a thick tree, seems crowned with sparkling rays, on which shine the liveliest and most variegated colours.
the first kernel taken from the fatal apple and committed to the ground, (said the prefect of giphantia) produced a shrub of the nature of those thou seest. 216its leaves were like those of the myrtle. its purple blossoms, speckled with white, were raised round their stalks in form of pyramids. its boughs were thick and interwoven with one another in a thousand different ways. it was the most beautiful tree, nature had ever produced, therefore it was her most favorite object. a soft zephyr, gently moving its leaves, seemed to animate them; and never were they ruffled by the impetuous north winds; never was the course of its sap obstructed by winter’s frost, or its moisture exhausted by summer’s scorching heats; an eternal spring reigned around it. this singular tree, was the tree of love.
it is well known what influence the extraneous particles of the air have 217upon us. some accelerate or retard the motions of the blood, others dull or raise the spirits, sometimes they brighten the imagination, and sometimes they cloud it with the gloomy vapours of melancholy. those that were exhaled from the tree of love, and dispersed over the earth, brought the seeds of the most alluring pleasure. till then, men, left to a blind instinct, which inclined them to propagate their species, shared that advantage (if it is one) with the rest of the animals. but, like a flower which opens to the first rays of the sun, their hearts soon yielded to the first impressions of love, and instinct gave place to sentiment.
with that passion they received a new life; the face of nature seemed changed; 218every thing became ingaging; every thing touched them.
the other passions disappeared, or were, in respect of this, like brooks to a river in which they are going to be lost.
superior to all events, love heightened pleasure, asswaged pain, and gave a charm to things the most indifferent. it enlivened the graces of youth, alleviated the infirmities of age, and lasted as long as life.
its power was not confined to the creating a tender and unchangeable attachment to the object beloved; it inspired also a certain sentiment of sweetness, which was infused into all men, and united them together. society was 219then as an endless chain, each link was composed of two hearts joined by love.
the pleasure of others was a torment to none: gloomy jealousy had not possessed the human heart, nor envy shed her venom there. concord multiplied pleasures: a man was not more pleased with his own, than with the happiness of others.
mankind was yet in infancy, and unacquainted with excesses. adversity did not depress them to annihilation, nor prosperity puff them up to the loss of their senses. their wants were few, the arts had not increased them. frightful poverty appeared not among them, because they knew not riches; every one had necessaries, because none had superfluities. utter strangers to the ridiculousness 220of rank, they were not exalted with insolence, nor did they servilely cringe; no man was low, because no man was high. all was in order, and men were as happy as their state would admit of. o nature! why dost thou not still enlighten us with those days of peace, harmony, and love!
