Part 22 (1/2)

31.

”When reflection has become too one-sided and too domineering over a deeply feeling heart, it is apt to lead us into errors in our treatment of others.”

And all that follows-very wise! for the want of this reflection leaves us stranded and wrecked through feeling and perception merely.

32.

Very curious and interesting, as a trait of character and feeling, is the pa.s.sage in which he represents himself, in the dangerous confinement of his second wife, as praying to his first wife for succour. ”In my terrible anxiety,” he says, ”I prayed most earnestly, and entreated my Milly, too, for help. I comforted Gretchen by telling her that Milly would send help. When she was at the worst, she sighed out, 'Ah, cannot your Amelia send me a blessing?'”

This is curious from a Protestant and a philosopher. It shows that there may be something nearly allied to our common nature in the Roman Catholic invocation to the saints, and to the souls of the dead.

33.

Niebuhr, speaking of a lady (Madame von der Recke, I think,-the ”Elise”

of Goethe) who had patronised him, says, ”I will receive roses and myrtles from female hands, but no laurels.”

This makes one smile; for most of the laurels which Niebuhr will receive in this country will be through female hands-through the admirable translation and arrangement of his life and letters by Susanna Winkworth.

34.

The following I read with cordial agreement:-”While I am ready to adopt any well-grounded opinion” (regarding, I suppose, mere facts, or speculations as to things), ”my inmost soul revolts against receiving the judgment of others respecting persons; and whenever I have done so I have bitterly repented of it.”

35.

He says, ”I cannot wors.h.i.+p the abstraction of Virtue. She only charms me when she addresses herself to my heart, and speaks thus the love from which she springs. I really love nothing but what actually exists.”

What _does_ actually exist to us but that which we believe in? and where we strongly love do we not believe sometimes in the _unreal_? is it not _then_ the existing and the actual to us?

36.

”A faculty of a quite peculiar kind, and for which we have no word, is the recognition of the incomprehensible. It is something which distinguishes the seer from the ordinary learned man.”

But in religion this is _faith_. Does Niebuhr admit this kind of faith, ”the recognition of the incomprehensible,” in philosophy, and not in religion? for he often complains of the want in himself of any faith but an historic faith.

37.

”In times of good fortune it is easy to appear great-nay, even to act greatly; but in misfortune very difficult. The greatest man will commit blunders in misfortune, because the want of proportion between his means and his ends progressively increases, and his inward strength is exhausted in fruitless efforts.”

This is true; but under all extremes of good or evil fortune we are apt to commit mistakes, because the tide of the mind does not flow equally, but rushes along impetuously in a flood, or brokenly and distractedly in a rocky channel, where its strength is exhausted in conflict and pain.

The extreme pressure of circ.u.mstances will produce extremes of feeling in minds of a sensitive rather than a firm cast.

38.