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Page 6
He spent the hours of exile in a constant effort to commune with the
Father; in humble prayer and supplication for strength to resist the
power of sin. For he feared the Evil which lurked in the land. He
examined the springs of his own actions, analyzed his motives, and
tortured himself lest any of the evils denounced in the Book should lurk
in the folds of his own soul. In contemplating the awful justice of the
Father, he sometimes forgot that He is Love. He feared close commune
with the children of the earth, for Evil dwelt among them; he looked not
into the winecup, nor danced with the maidens under the caressing
tendrils of the vine or the luxuriant branches of the myrtle--nay, the
rose cheek of the maiden was a terror to him, for lo! Evil might lurk
under its brilliant bloom. The Dread of Evil sapped the Joy of Life!
He turned from all the lovely Present, to catch faint traces of the dim
Past, to picture the unseen Future, about which it is vain to disquiet
ourselves, since, like everything else, it rests upon the heart of God!
His life was holy, innocent, and self-sacrificing. He sought to serve
his fellow men, yet feared to give them his heart, lest he should rob
the Father of His just due. He knew not from his own experience that
Love is infinite, and grows on what it gives. He bore religious
consolation to the afflicted, aid to the needy, sympathy to the
suffering. He was universally esteemed, but the spirit of his brethren
broke not into joy at his approach, for the _trusting_ heart of genial
humanity throbbed not in his sad breast. He was no Pharisee, but he
dined not with the Publican, and the precious ointment of the Magdalen
never bathed his weary head. His language was: 'All is fleeting and
evil, save Thee, O my Father; in Thee alone can rest be found!'
Solace for human anguish can only be found upon the heart of love. 'Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with
all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself!' Blessed Son of Mary! Thou
alone hast fully kept these _two_ commandments!
'For wisdom is justified of her children!'
* * * * *
Angelo, Zophiel, and Jemschid also resolved to avoid the Evil spoken of
in the Book of Life. But the far country into which the Father had sent
them was lovely in their eyes, and they were charmed with the Beauty
with which He had surrounded them. They dreamed by the shady fountains,
with their silver flow and gentle ripples; roamed by the darker rivers
as they hurry on to plunge themselves into the sea; gazed on the
restless ocean breakers when the dying sun fringes their crest with
rainbow hues, and the flushing sky, to cool her burning blushes, flings
herself into the heart of the restless waters. They loved to breathe the
'difficult air' of mountain tops, so softly pillowed and curtained by
the fleecy vapors, which they win again from heaven in limpid streams,
leading them in wild leaps through gloomy chasms fringed by timid
harebells, whose soft blue eyes look love upon the rocks, while the
myriad forest leaves musically murmur above their flinty couch. They
watched the fitful shadow-dance of clouds over the green earth. They
loved to see these heaven tents where Beauty dwells chased by the young
zephyrs, or, driven on in heavy masses by the bolder winds, blush under
the fiery glances of the sun, and melt into the sky upon his nearer
approach. Ah! these clouds and vapors had more than human tenderness,
for had they not seen them throng around the ghastly disc of the
star-deserted moon, weaving their light webs into flowing veils to
shadow the majestic sorrow written upon her melancholy but lovely face,
shielding the mystic pallor of the virgin brow from the desecrating gaze
of the profane?
The three brothers were happy upon earth, for they looked into the heart
of their fellow mortals, and felt the genial feeling beating there; and
so luxuriantly twined its vivid green around, that the evil core was
hidden from their charmed eyes, and they ceased not to bless the Father
for a gift so divine as Human Love! They could not weep and pray the
long night through, as did the saintly Anselm, for their eyes were
fastened upon the wildering lustre of the thronging stars as they wove
their magic rings through the dim abysses of distant space, yet the
incense of constant praise rose from their happy souls to the
Beauty-giving Father.
They struggled to awake the sleeping powers of men to a perception of
the glories of creation; to lead them 'through nature up to nature's
God.' The Artist-Brothers were closely united in feeling, striving
through different mediums to refine the soul of man.
For the spirit of Beauty always awakens the spirit of Love, sent by God
to elevate and consecrate the heart of man!
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