Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/481

 THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE COURTIER be thought which springs from the fountain of supreme and true beauty! — which is the source of every other beauty, which never waxes nor wanes: ever fair, and of its own self most simple in every part alike; like only to itself, and partaking of none other; but fair in such wise that all other fair things are fair because they derive their beauty from it. " This is that beauty identical with highest good, which by its light calls and attracts all things to itself, and not only gives in- tellect to the intellectual, reason to the rational, sense and desire for life to the sensual, but to plants also and to stones communi- cates motion and that natural instinct of their quality, as an imprint of itself. " Therefore this love is as much greater and happier than the others, as the cause that moves it is more excellent; and hence, just as material fire refines gold, so does this most sacred fire in our souls destroy and consume that which is mortal there, and quickens and beautifies that celestial part which at first, by reason of the senses, was dead and buried in them. This is the Pyre whereon the poets write that Hercules was burned on the crest of Mount (Eta, and by such burning became divine and immortal after death."' This is the Burning Bush of Moses, the Cloven Tongues of fire, the Fiery Chariot of Elias,*" which doubles grace and felicity in the souls of those who are worthy to behold it, when they leave this earthly baseness and take flight towards heaven. " Let us, then, direct all the thoughts and forces of our soul to this most sacred light, which shows us the way that leads to heaven; and following after it, let us lay aside the passions wherewith we were clothed at our fall, and by the stairway that bears the shadow of sensual beauty on its lowest step, let us mount to the lofty mansion where dwells the heavenly, lovely and true beauty, which lies hidden in the inmost secret recesses of God, so that profane eyes cannot behold it. Here we shall find a most happy end to our desires, true rest from our toil, cer- tain cure for our miseries, most wholesome medicine for our diseases, safest refuge from the boisterous storms of this life's tempestuous sea. 70.—" What mortal tongue, then, O most holy Love, can praise 305