He left to others to do what hundreds of others
could do well enough. He contributed largely to the Government
of his country, in the most trying period of our history,
its motive and its direction. That is a pretty practical
contribution to the voyage which furnishes to the steamship
its engine and its compass. His figure will abide in history
like that of St. Michael in art, an emblem of celestial purity,
of celestial zeal, of celestial courage. It will go down
to immortality with its foot upon the dragon of Slavery, and
with the sword of the spirit in its hand, but with a tender
light in its eye, and a human love in its smile. Guido and
Raphael conceived their "inviolable saint,"
Invulnerable, impenetrably armed:
Such high advantages his innocence
Gave him above his foe; not to have sinned,
Not to have disobeyed. In fight he stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained
By wounds.
The Michael of the painters, as a critic of genius akin to
their own has pointed out, rests upon his prostrate foe light
as a morning cloud, no muscle strained, with unhacked sword
and unruffled wings, his bright tunic and shining armor without
a rent or stain.
Pages:
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391