927

to appease the anger of Thor and Odin.-But he 912-927 recovered from his waking trance, bestowed additional donations upon Church and Poor, and his body was deposited in the Metropolitan Basilica, Notre Dame of Rouen.

Rollo's grave was dug in the Sacristy, but when Archbishop Maurilius reconstructed the dilapidated Cathedral, the remains were translated by him to the Chapel of Saint Romanus, on the northern or right-hand side of the Nave as you go down from the Choir, in a line with Saint Romanus' tower. The recumbent statue which represents the Danish Jarl, clad in ducal robe, may date from the reign of Saint Louis. The sculptor has happily succeeded in embodying the notion conveyed by tradition and history-the once mighty man of war, thoroughly worn out,—the sunken lips, the furrowed brow,-the strength of fourscore years come to labour and sorrow.

CHAPTER II.

RAOUL AND LOUIS D'OUTREMER. GUILLAUME LONGUE-ÉPÉE.

927-942.

927-942 § 1. HAGIOLOGY, in this our "age of progress"-of progress certainly, yet whither tending?-is an unpopular theme; at best but tolerated. It goes against the grain of our fancy. Popular writers most favourable to the "Acta Sanctorum" treat their glorious company, their goodly fellowship, their noble army-in a patronizing tone, hesitatingly, half ashamed,—making the most of their recommendable qualities or talents, asking excuses for their simplicities, queernesses and superstitions.-Gregory the Great kindly patted on the back by the Essayist,—or Bernard of Clairvaux encouraged to come forward by the Historian, rather afraid of losing caste in the intellectual circles through his owning to such an acquaintance-somewhat after the manner of a fashionable chaperon, introducing a protégée of dubious connexions or questionable style.

The term "Hagiology," however, though none more appropriate can be substituted in its stead, is a mistake, a source of misconception. Turn which way we will, in any mental enquiry, we are confounded by the fallacy of human language. We may be certain that those whose lives and

actions are included under that category, would 927-942 mourn the epithet bestowed upon them. The biography of Saints is but the biography of Sinners; amongst whom, each would contend he was the chiefest. It is the exaggeration of human perfectibility which destroys the edification that such narratives of patience, piety, self-devotion, charity, humility, and fortitude, would otherwise impart. Nothing like this glozing view of human frailty has been taught to us. No veil has been cast upon the prevarication, the lust, the untruth, the blood-guiltiness, the denial, the anger, the incredulity, the weaknesses, failings, transgressions, iniquities and sins of those who have been loved, chosen, called. All these things have been written for our edification, in order to refuse us any excuse for feigning that the holiest servants of God are exempted from the original corruption. We flatly contradict His holy word, if we exhibit the Just as never falling. No miracle fancied in the Golden Legend, could be so utterly incredible as the undeviating perseverance ascribed to Humanity.

The false tenderness of Hagiography has become catholic in the worst sense, as nearly as may be universal: in secular literature it runs riot. Posthumous biography, posthumous memorials, in every variety, guise and form, are pervaded by this debilitating, deluding, and mischievous influence.-To lie like a pedigree might

VOL. II.

F

927-942 be a proverb, to lie like an epitaph is so. Could we imagine the disembodied spirit grieving over the profane adulation bestowed by man upon man, how deep would be the affliction, how poignant the sorrow, sustained by the most humble and lowly-minded amongst Philosophers, becoming cognizant of the inscription upon his tomb:

"Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night:

God said, Let Newton be, and all was light."Every concealment of a blemish detracts from the living verity of the portraiture. No truthful representation of any popular hero can approach the fine ideal of popular fame. The heroic Protector was in the right when he directed courtly Lely to delineate him with every roughness, every pimple, every blemish, every scar: he knew the picture would not be himself without them. Rare, indeed, are the sitters gifted with a Cromwell's contempt of favour-seeking; and the unburthened easel of the artist who should work according to the spirit of his rough injunctions, would testify to their unpalatableness. It is the clever dissimilitude which renders the likeness agreeable. We depreciate the Heliograph because it is honest as the sun.

But the historian need not place himself uuder such coercion, he is not compelled to paint for a patron's pleasure: his primary vocation is to instruct; nor should he blench at the risk of displeasing. Let him not fawn either upon the

living or the departed. He will be thanked in 927-942 the long run.-Let him bide his time. He is in no wise responsible for the defects of his personages, still less is their vindication obligatory upon him. This conventional etiquette of extenuation mars the utility of historical biography by concealing the compensations so mercifully granted in love, and the admonitions given by vengeance. Why suppress the lesson afforded by the depravity of the "greatest, wisest, meanest of mankind"-he whose defilements teach us that the most transcendent intellectuality is consistent with the deepest turpitude? The labours of the panegyrist come, after all, to naught.— You are trying to fill a broken cistern.-You may cut a hole in the stuff, but you cannot wash out the stain.-Forget the worse than meaningless phrase, which represents the stiffened corpse as standing at the bar, and appealing to the "tribunal of posterity." It is not before the judgmentseat of man that the dead will have to plead.

of Guil

Longue

§ 2. Guillaume Longue-épée is one of the Character stereotyped heroes of French history; nay, he laume is included, though unauthorizedly, in a national épée. martyrology. When Rollo said that his son was better fitted in spirit for a monastery than a sovereignty, the old father's judgment was as nearly correct, as any which could be prospectively pronounced concerning the young prince's character. Charity, devotional taste,