Page:The Harveian oration, 1873.djvu/72

 66 again, is the metaphor used by Wordsworth in apostrophising Milton : 'Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart.' ' a Such is the metaphor used by Sir Coutts Lindsay, in his poem on the Black Prince, where a hero ' Stands like a beacon, throwing light far out Over the rippling tides of centuries.' Now all these metaphors strive, and profess, to express but half a truth, and they are imperfect even for this imperfect purpose, as they are borrowed from inorganic nature and the arts, and are unfit to be used as illustrations of the complexities of life and thought. I would venture to suggest a me- taphor which has struck me, during this investigation, as being more appropriate and close-fitting, even if less beautiful, than those which I have quoted. A group of horsemen are attempting to cross an arm of the sea, up which the tide has been running, and obscuring the ridge, or spit of sand, by which it is fordable. They form themselves into a line, and advance slowly : rider after rider flounders off into deep water, and, if wise, retires towards the rear of the cavalcade of