CHAPTER LIII. THE BURIAL.
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mighthavebeenthestrifeandstruggleofthesoulonceimprisonedinthatform,therewasstampeduponthesombrefaceanexpressionofmajesticandmournfultranquillity,asifthatlong-sufferingandgraciousGod,towhosejudgmenthehadmadehislastappeal,hadrenderedthatjudgmentinmercy.Whenthestatesmenandmightymenofourracedie,thoughtheyhadtheweaknessesandsinsofhumanity,theywantnotoratorsinthechurchtodrawtheveilgently,tospeaksoftlyoftheirerrorsandloudlyoftheirgood,andtopredictforthem,ifnotanabundantentrance,yetatleastasafeasylumamongtheblessedandsomethingnottoberebukedinourcommonnatureinclinestojoininahopefulamen.ItisnoteasyforustobelievethatagreatandpowerfulsoulcanbelosttoGodanditselfforever.
Buthewholiesheresostillandmournfullyinthisflickeringtorch-lighthadstrugglingwithinhimtheenergieswhichmakethepatriotandtheprophet.Crushedbeneathamountainofignorance,theyroseblindanddistortedyethadknowledgeenlightenedandsuccesscrownedthem,hisnamemighthavebeen,withthatofToussaint,celebratedinmournfulsonnetbythedeepestthinkingpoetoftheage:—
"Thouhastleftbehind
Powersthatwillworkfortheeair,earth,andskies
There'snotabreathingofthecommonwind
Thatwillforgettheethouhastgreatallies
Thyfriendsareexaltations,agonies,
Andlove,andman'sunconquerablemind."
Theweightofsogreatanafflictionseemedtohaverepressedtheusualvivacitywithwhichthenegroiswonttoindulgetheexpressionofgrief.Whenthebodywaslaiddownbythesideofthegrave,therewasforatimeasilencesodeepthattherustlingoftheleaves,andthewild,dolefulclamorofthefrogsandturtlesintheswamps,andthesu
