CHAPTER IX THE VALUE OF LOVE

" I think that the désire to partake, the désire to merge one's individual identity with another's, remains a necessary élément in ail personal love. It is a way oui of ourselves, a breaking down of our individual séparation, just as hâte is an intensification of that. We cast aside our réserves, our secrecies, our defences ; we open ourselves ; touches that would be intolérable from common people become a mystery of delight, acts of self-abasement and self-sacrifice are charged with symbolical pleasure. We cannot tell which of us is me, which you. Our imprisoned egoism loolcs out through this window, forgets its walls, and is for those brief moments released and universal.'' — H. G. Wells.

ARGUMENT

Love is the universal life become conscious in the individual ; it is the " / Am," the Hère which is Everywhere, the Now which is Eternity. Carpenter never ceases to praise it, and offers many counsels in the Art of Loving.

The questions of Sex and Marriage émerge. Sex is the allegory of Love in the physical world, and the problems associated with it will not be solved until Woman has won her way out of her age-long slavery. A new quality will manifest in the racelife when Woman shares at least an equal part with Man in sexual sélection,

Marriage, usimlly enteredi4pon underthe glamour of physical désire, and made a permanent bond by

176 THE PRDfACY OP LOVE

Church and State, often froves unsuccessful when, with the fading of ardent physical attraction, incampaiibilities of disposition and interest show themselves. Matrimony frequently proves the enemy of both love and life. The instittUion has its valuahîe side, but caUs for reform.

An important social aspect of Love is suggested by the possibility of building up society on a basis of cotnradeship ; and some account is given of the part piayed in social development by individuals of a so-called " intermediate sex " and their association xtfith each other,

IT wonld be misleading if the position of this chapter in the scheme of the présent study were taken to suggest that Carpenter holds Love simply to bë coordinate with Pain and Moral Efîort as givers of freedom, liberators of the souL It does perform this function, but with a différence. Pain and Moral Effort help to op^i up the inmost chamber of personality in order that Something other than themselves may enter and abide there. Love knocks at the door, or storms the heart, that itself may enter. The other two, as they engage in their redemptive labour, continually cast glances, as it were, behind them towards One who, mightier than they, cornes after them to take possession ; Love, on the other hand, comes with eyes that look straight on, as Lord and Master. They are means to an end. Love is the end itseli They are saviours, Love is both saviour and ovation, both king ànd kingdom.