But then who could have suspected Anthony of being a heroic creature.

There are several kinds of heroism and one of them at least is idiotic.

It is the one which wears the aspect of sublime delicacy.

It is apparently the one of which the son of the delicate poet was capable.
He certainly resembled his father, who, by the way, wore out two women without any satisfaction to himself, because they did not come up to his supra-refined standard of the delicacy which is so perceptible in his verses.

That's your poet.