Ithasbeenthewontofsculptors,ancientandmodern,tosetatutelarygeniuswithalightedtorchuponeithersideofatomb。Thosetorchesthatlightupthepathsofdeaththrowlightfordyingeyesuponthespectacleofalife\'smistakesandsins;thecarvedstonefiguresexpressgreatideas,theyaresymbolsofafactinhumanexperience。Theagonyofdeathhasitsownwisdom。Notseldomasimplegirl,scarcelymorethanachild,willgrowwisewiththeexperienceofahundredyears,willgainpropheticvision,judgeherfamily,andseeclearlythroughallpretences,atthenearapproachofDeath。
HereinliesDeath\'spoetry。But,strangeandworthyofremarkitis,therearetwomannersofdeath。
Thepoetryofprophecy,thegiftofseeingclearlyintothefutureorthepast,onlybelongstothosewhosebodiesarestricken,tothosewhodiebythedestructionoftheorgansofphysicallife。Consumptivepatients,forinstance,orthosewhodieofgangrenelikeLouisXIV。,offeverlikePons,ofastomachcomplaintlikeMme。deMortsauf,orofwoundsreceivedinthefulltideoflifelikesoldiersonthebattlefield——allthesemaypossessthissupremeluciditytothefull;
theirdeathsfilluswithsurpriseandwonder。Butmany,ontheotherhand,dieof/intelligential/diseases,astheymaybecalled;ofmaladiesseatedinthebrainorinthatnervoussystemwhichactsasakindofpurveyorofthoughtfuel——andthesediewholly,bodyandspiritaredarkenedtogether。Theformerarespiritsdesertedbythebody,realizingforusourideasofthespiritsofScripture;thelatterarebodiesuntenantedbyaspirit。
Toolatethevirginnature,theepicure-Cato,therighteousmanalmostwithoutsin,wasdiscoveringthePresidente\'srealcharacter——thesacofgallthatdiddutyforherheart。Heknewtheworldnowthathewasabouttoleaveit,andforthepastfewhourshehadrisengailytohispart,likeajoyousartistfindingapretextforcaricatureandlaughterineverything。Thelastlinksthatboundhimtolife,thechainsofadmiration,thestrongtiesthatbindtheartlovertoArt\'smasterpieces,hadbeensnappedthatmorning。WhenPonsknewthatLaCibothadrobbedhim,hebadefarewell,likeaChristian,tothepompsandvanitiesofArt,tohiscollection,toallhisoldfriendshipswiththemakersofsomanyfairthings。OurforefatherscountedthedayofdeathasaChristianfestival,andinsomethingofthesamespiritPons\'thoughtsturnedtothecomingend。InhistenderlovehetriedtoprotectSchmuckewhenheshouldbelowinthegrave。Itwasthisfather\'sthoughtthatledhimtofixhischoiceupontheleadingladyoftheballet。Mlle。Brisetoutshouldhelphimtobafflesurroundingtreachery,andthosewhoinallprobabilitywouldneverforgivehisinnocentuniversallegatee。