Page:Symbolical Methods of Study.djvu/37

8 by far than anything, any material fact, in the world. And yet other people, who stand in a different relation to our idol, who are nearer, perhaps, and therefore in some respects in a better position to judge, cannot see what we see—cannot see anything, in fact, but a very commonplace specimen of humanity. We are angry at first, and think those others stupid and blind. By-and-by our own position with respect to the object of our adoration shifts; we come nearer, and seem to lose sight of all the special goodness, of all that seemed so divine. What has become of it? "It never was," we are tempted to fancy; "we have grown wiser with age; we had 'imagined' the heroic 'ideal;' now we see what is."

Ah! rather was not what we saw the Lord's bow set in a cloud?

doggie! Human beings have decided that it is selfish to wag one's tail for bread or money, for favours or legacies; but not selfish to be grateful for the pleasure given by beauty, or talents, or grace, or genius, or courage, or by what we mistake for them. I wonder whether the tamed