March 17. 1832
Genius Feminine — — Pirates
——’s face is almost the only exception I know to the observation, that something feminine—not effeminate, mind—is discoverable in the countenances of all men of genius. Look at that face of old Dampier, a rough sailor, but a man of exquisite mind. How soft is the air of his countenance, how delicate the shape of his temples!
I think it very absurd and misplaced to call Raleigh and Drake, and others of our naval heroes of Elizabeth’s age, pirates. No man is a pirate, unless his contemporaries agree to call him so. Drake said,—“The subjects of the king of Spain have done their best to ruin my country: ergo, I will try to ruin the king of Spain’s country.” Would it not be silly to call the Argonauts pirates in our sense of the word?