I have learnt to love you for loving what I love, and to admire you for admiring that which I admire.

Will you not try the same lesson: so easy, and, when learnt, so blissful?
What breeds more close communion between subjects than allegiance to the same queen?
between brothers, than duty to the same father?
between the devout, than adoration for the same Deity?
And shall not worship for the same beauty be likewise a bond of love between the worshippers?
and each lover see in his rival not an enemy, but a fellow-sufferer?
You smile and say in your hearts, that though all may worship, but one can enjoy; and that one man's meat must be the poison of the rest.

Be it so, though I deny it.

Shall we anticipate our own doom, and slay ourselves for fear of dying?
Shall we make ourselves unworthy of her from our very eagerness to win her, and show ourselves her faithful knights, by cherishing envy,--most unknightly of all sins?
Shall we dream with the Italian or the Spaniard that we can become more amiable in a lady's eyes, by becoming hateful in the eyes of God and of each other?
Will she love us the better, if we come to her with hands stained in the blood of him whom she loves better than us?
Let us recollect ourselves rather, gentlemen; and be sure that our only chance of winning her, if she be worth winning, is to will what she wills, honor whom she honors, love whom she loves.

If there is to be rivalry among us, let it be a rivalry in nobleness, an emulation in virtue.