Page:George Eliot and Judaism.djvu/107

 Rh ion still subjects Judaism, its glorious exaltation in 'Deronda' is most healthy and beneficial. Where calumny and obtuseness see nothing but disjecta membra, the prophetic eye of the poetess perceives a complete and perfect body destined to a renewed life of fresh and manly vigour. The march of universal history has verified Lessing's predictions, and when another century shall have passed away, time will show what genius has to say of Deronda's grandchildren. But this is certain in the meantime—As Gotthold Ephraim Lessing has endeared himself for ever to the hearts of the Jewish race, so, too, will it always be gratefully declared that George Eliot has deserved right well of Judaism.