It pleased me to see, in one of the figures by which
the Gnostics illustrated the progress of man, that Severity
corresponded to Magnificence.'
* * * * *
'In my quiet retreat, I read Xenophon, and became more
acquainted with his Socrates. I had before known only
the Socrates of Plato, one much more to my mind. Socrates
conformed to the Greek Church, and it is evident with a
sincere reverence, because it was the growth of the _national_
mind. He thought best to stand on its platform, and to
illustrate, though with keen truth, by received forms. This
was his right way, as his influence was naturally private, for
individuals who could in some degree respond to the teachings
of his daemon; he knew the multitude would not understand him.
But it was the other way that Jesus took, preaching in the
fields, and plucking ears of corn on the Sabbath.'
* * * * *
'Is it my defect of spiritual experience, that while that
weight of sagacity, which is the iron to the dart of genius,
is needful to satisfy me, the undertone of another and a
deeper knowledge does not please, does not command me? Even in
Handel's Messiah, I am half incredulous, half impatient,
when the sadness of the second part comes to check, before
it interprets, the promise of the first; and the strain, "Was
ever sorrow like to his sorrow," is not for me, as I have
been, as I am.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128