Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/124

 106 THE CLASSICAL HERITAGE [chap, v with what was symbolized. Habits of allegorical in- terpretation disposed learned men toward the mirac- ulous ; while the ignorant, universally superstitious crowd expected miracles everywhere. These interests and assumptions were also to be potent in moulding literature and art. Under their influence the artist's imagination will not be busied with creations which represent facts as they visibly occur ; but will evolve such facts and series of facts as most fittingly symbolize the unseen. In painting, in sculpture, and finally in architecture, the artist will endeavor to shadow forth in symbols things of the spirit ; his work shall be a work of love for truths veiled in their symbols. And likewise in literature, the interest, the truth, the reality of the poem shall lie in its mystic meaning. The full new blood of the young northern peoples will wrestle mightily against this tendency ; will produce tales of wonderful adven- ture, of unimaginable bravery and strife, of earthly love quite sufficiently animal. But time and again, and in most typical productions, this tendency shall triumph both in the earthly interests of human life and, in humanity's sublimer spiritual strainings. It will produce at last, on one hand, the Roman de la Rose, and on the other, the Divina Commedia ; while, as it were between these two, swing and waver or circle like starlings strange tales of sinful love and holy striv- ing, whereof Arthur's knights shall be the heroes, and wherein across the stage pass on to final purity Lancelot and Guinevere as well as Galahad and Parcival.