Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/155

Rh beautiful, affluent earth, it was no longer remarkable for the attractiveness of its beauty. Every object seemed so miserably small, and human beings as mere nothings. The landscape lay there, immovable and lifeless, like a map. It is true, that many places might be pointed out which were celebrated as the scenes of great battles and heroic achievements, but the greatness of these vanished, as it were, in the pettiness of the causes for which they were sometimes undertaken. The man athirst for conquest, should behold the earth from heights such as those of Rhigi. Methinks he would then ask himself whether it were worth while to steep it in blood for a few foot-breadths of land. It is only when war has reference to higher interests, that its exploits become great and important, even though achieved on a mere point of space.

During the forenoon, Penchaud and I read the Epistle to the Romans. The various chapters ought to be taken collectively, in relation to the whole epistle, of which they are a part. Thus only can they be rightly understood. We also read portions of P.'s treatise on the conscience. He regards this innermost principle in man, as the highest truth, in its development from the most elementary condition, to its full, concrete form, in the Christian consciousness. I stated my objections to various parts, but I cannot sufficiently express my opinion of the excellence and importance of the work in its purport and execution. Such works are of great value at the present time; but the author's conscientiousness prevents him from finishing “The Conscience.”

We spent the afternoon in contemplating the Alpine