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It was strange to hear in that lonely waste, a handful of men, bent on a deadly task, singing a low chant of penitence a Kyrie eleison. Afterwards came the benediction upon this buccaneering expedition, behind which was one man's personal enmity, a merchant company's cupidity, and a great nation's lust of conquest! Iberville stole across the shore and up the hill with his handful of men.
There was a little air of hurry in his movements, as if he hasted to drown all contention in singing; but he had reached his usual grave composure before the end of the verses, and the benediction fell like the final satisfying chords of the melody. Matilda was dumfounded by such a cutting short of the case, but even she dared not interrupt functions so holy as praise and prayer.
We stopped once to ask a priest the road; when he had told us, he shook hands with us and gave us a parting benediction. At the common inns, where we stopped, we always met with civil treatment, though, indeed, as we only slept in them, there was little chance of practising imposition.
"Collect yourself, my dear Madame, collect yourself," and assuming a serious look I bestowed my benediction upon her. The Countess sought to collect herself, but I saw very well that her troubled spirit vainly strove to recover itself. By a singular phenomenon I could see into her brain, and her thoughts appeared to me one after the other.
She could not, while her brother's fate was wrapped in uncertainty and gloom. One Sunday evening, after Mr. Somerville had dismissed the congregation with the usual benediction, Julian led Edith to the altar, and her mother stood by her side till the solemn words were uttered that made them one. So simple and holy were the nuptial rites of the wealthy and beautiful heiress of Grandison Place.
The dreary night for, oh, how dreary seems its haunted waste, behind us gives place to a fresh, transparent cloudless morn. Blest, blest radiance! The day-beam even what little of it finds its way into this always dusky parlor seems part of the universal benediction, annulling evil, and rendering all goodness possible and happiness attainable. Will Judge Pyncheon now rise up from his chair?
I cal'late there's some here to-night that feel like they'd been overhauled and set adrift." Without announcing the usual closing hymn, Mr. McGowan very quietly pronounced the benediction, and left the church by the rear door. The only move that followed his leaving was made by the members of the Athletic Club.
For the first time those grim walls, which had been thrice overthrown and had arisen thrice from their ashes, impressed him with the triumphant service they had rendered in the culture of his kind. He saw it as it was a sacred skeleton, an honourable decay. The long line of illustrious hands that had procured its ancient charter seemed to wave a ghostly benediction over its ancient learning.
A few days afterwards, a deputation waited upon their general in chief, with this reply, "Our banners have already been consecrated by the blood of our enemies at Marengo; the benediction of a priest cannot render them more sacred in our eyes, nor more animating in the time of battle."
Hard indeed must it be for any Englishman whose heart is quick within his bosom not to feel it beat faster with thanksgiving and pride as he reads the flawless periods of this glorious speech. As the final word of consolation, sanctification, and benediction, closing the awful agony of the greatest of all wars, preserve, Antony, this magnificent threnody in your memory imperishable.
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