If in my youth I had realized that the sustaining splendour of beauty of with which I was in love would one day flood back into my heart, there to ignite a flame that would torture me without end, how gladly would I have put out the light in my eyes.

Summary

This quote reflects the painful paradox of longing for a beauty that becomes torturous when experienced. The speaker regrets not knowing in their youth that the intense beauty they were infatuated with would resurface in their heart, causing continuous torment. They express a willingness to have forsaken their ability to perceive this beauty altogether if it meant avoiding the eternal suffering it would bring. The quote encapsulates the bittersweet nature of unfulfilled desires and the unbearable pain that can arise from love or longing.

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