AndallPaganandChristianCivilizationthusbecomessubjecttothem。Itdoesnotmatterhowlittle，orhowmuch，anyofushaveread，eitherofHomerorShakespeare;everythingroundus，insubstance，orinthought，hasbeenmouldedbythem。AllGreekgentlemenwereeducatedunderHomer。AllRomangentlemen，byGreekliterature。AllItalian，andFrench，andEnglishgentlemen，byRomanliterature，andbyitsprinciples。OfthescopeofShakespeare，Iwillsayonly，thattheintellectualmeasureofeverymansinceborn，inthedomainsofcreativethought，maybeassignedtohim，accordingtothedegreeinwhichhehasbeentaughtbyShakespeare。Well，whatdothesetwomen，centresofmortalintelligence，delivertousofconvictionrespectingwhatitmostbehovesthatintelligencetograsp？Whatistheirhope——theircrownofrejoicing？whatmannerofexhortationhavetheyforus，orofrebuke？whatliesnexttheirownhearts，anddictatestheirundyingwords？Havetheyanypeacetopromisetoourunrest——anyredemptiontoourmisery？
TakeHomerfirst，andthinkifthereisanysadderimageofhumanfatethanthegreatHomericstory。ThemainfeaturesinthecharacterofAchillesareitsintensedesireofjustice，anditstendernessofaffection。AndinthatbittersongoftheIliad，thisman，thoughaidedcontinuallybythewisestofthegods，andburningwiththedesireofjusticeinhisheart，becomesyet，throughill—
governedpassion，themostunjustofmen：and，fullofthedeepesttendernessinhisheart，becomesyet，throughill—governedpassion，themostcruelofmen。Intensealikeinloveandinfriendship，heloses，firsthismistress，andthenhisfriend;forthesakeoftheone，hesurrenderstodeaththearmiesofhisownland;forthesakeoftheother，hesurrendersall。Willamanlaydownhislifeforhisfriend？Yea——evenforhisDEADfriend，thisAchilles，thoughgoddess—born，andgoddess—taught，givesuphiskingdom，hiscountry，andhislife——castsaliketheinnocentandguilty，withhimself，intoonegulfofslaughter，anddiesatlastbythehandofthebasestofhisadversaries。
Isnotthisamysteryoflife？
Butwhat，then，isthemessagetousofourownpoet，andsearcherofhearts，afterfifteenhundredyearsofChristianfaithhavebeennumberedoverthegravesofmen？ArehiswordsmorecheerfulthantheHeathen’s——ishishopemorenear——histrustmoresure——hisreadingoffatemorehappy？Ah，no！HediffersfromtheHeathenpoetchieflyinthis——thatherecognizes，fordeliverance，nogodsnighathand;andthat，bypettychance——bymomentaryfolly——bybrokenmessage——byfool’styranny——ortraitor’ssnare，thestrongestandmostrighteousarebroughttotheirruin，andperishwithoutwordofhope。Heindeed，aspartofhisrenderingofcharacter，ascribesthepowerandmodestyofhabitualdevotiontothegentleandthejust。Thedeath—bedofKatharineisbrightwithvisionsofangels;andthegreatsoldier—king，standingbyhisfewdead，acknowledgesthepresenceoftheHandthatcansavealikebymanyorbyfew。Butobservethatfromthosewhowithdeepestspirit，meditate，andwithdeepestpassion，mourn，therearenosuchwordsasthese;norintheirheartsareanysuchconsolations。InsteadoftheperpetualsenseofthehelpfulpresenceoftheDeity，which，throughallheathentradition，isthesourceofheroicstrength，inbattle，inexile，andinthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath，wefindonlyinthegreatChristianpoet，theconsciousnessofamorallaw，throughwhich\"thegodsarejust，andofourpleasantvicesmakeinstrumentstoscourgeus;\"andoftheresolvedarbitrationofthedestinies，thatconcludeintoprecisionofdoomwhatwefeeblyandblindlybegan;andforceus，whenourindiscretionservesus，andourdeepestplotsdopall，totheconfession，that\"there’sadivinitythatshapesourends，roughhewthemhowwewill。\"