In some places of
worship, such as the tawdry church of the 'Annunziata' in Florence
that protest seems to reach its climax. When one sees the unwashen
priests expectorating every five minutes or so [Footnote: A fact] on
the very altars where they perform Mass;--when one notes the dirt,
the neglect, the gim-crackery;--the sickening and barbarous
superstition everywhere offered as being representative of sublime
Deity,--the Force which has raised the heaven above us with its
endless star-patterns of living universe,--then the cry of 'Why
persecutest thou Me?' seems to roll through the arches like the
thunder which sometimes precedes a general earthquake!"
Leigh's clear penetrating voice, artistically modulated to the
perfectly musical expression of thought, was not without its usual
effect, even on a mind so callous as that of Gherardi. He moved
uneasily in his chair,--he was inwardly fuming with indignation, and
for one moment was inclined to assume the melodramatic pose of the
irate Churchman, and to make himself into the figure of an approved
"stage" dignitary of religion, with out stretched arm, menacing
eyes, and words that were as darts to wound and sting. But looking
under his eye lids at the cold, half satirical tranquillity of
Aubrey's pale clear-cut features, he felt that any attempt at
"acting" his part would be seen through in a second by a man who was
so terribly in earnest.
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