Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/310

294 of his income to purchase a modest house in Valladolid in 1801. This dwelling was the only private property he ever owned.

At the date of the grito de Dolores, Morelos was about forty-five years of age. He was strong physically, with plenty of brain power. Not above medium height, thick-set and solid, he was capable at this time of great endurance. His complexion was of a healthy dark brown; eyes clear, dark, and brilliant, with a glance now quick, searching, magnetic, now stern and meditative, and again lapsing into profound reverie. Yet he was no dreamer; he was more man of the world than Hidalgo, though in regard to learning he would be almost called illiterate beside the sage of Dolores. But he had sufficient education to answer every purpose of his genius, which must ever be regarded as among the greatest of his age.

There was a whirlwind of energy in his face; the very atmosphere about him seemed impregnated with the latent force emanating from his form and presence. The eyebrows were heavy, and met, giving the countenance an expression of invincible determination. The shape and size of the head also showed great mental power. About the mouth and lower jaw the character lines were deeply traced, features generally well chiselled, the chin being rounded like Caesar's on a Roman medal, here again displaying the presence of an indomitable will. He was grave and gay at once; if you would dwell upon the former phase of his disposition, let your eyes rest on the upper part of the face; if upon the latter, then look at the lower part. There was about the mouth an expression at times of almost repulsive firmness, yet tempered always by frankness; there was about the whole face a harmony and equilibrium always present in some form and degree in great men. His energy was of the devouring type. In battle his eyes flashed with a sinister light; his voice assumed a depth of tone which his soldiers thought was like the thunder of a god; and he