THE WOODPECKER. 229 



died soon afterwards, and the republic endured six centuries 

 longer. 



This is gi-and, not ridiculous. It endured through this noble 

 appeal to the citizen's devotion. It endured through this silent 

 response given to it by a great heart. Such actions are fertile ; they 

 make men and heroes ; they prolong the life of states. 



To return to our bird : this workman, this solitary, this sublime 

 prophet does not escape the universal law. Twice a-year he grows 

 demented, throws off his austerity, and, shaU it be said, becomes 

 ridiculous. Happy he among men who plays the fool but twice 

 a-year ! 



Ridiculous ! He is not so because he loves, but because he loves 

 comically. Gorgeously arrayed, and in his finest plumage, relieving 

 his somewhat sombre garb by his beautiful scarlet grecque, he whirls 

 round his lady-love ; and his rivals do the same. 



But these innocent workers, designed for the most serious labours 

 — strangers to the arts of the fashionable world, to the gi-aces of the 

 humming-birds — know not in what way to manifest their duty, and 

 present their very humble homage but by the most uncouth cur- 

 vettings. Uncouth at least in our opinion ; they are scarcely so in 

 the eyes of the object of these attentions. They please her, and this 

 is all that is needed. The queen's choice declared, no battle can 

 take place. Admirable are the manners of these good and worthy 

 workmen. The others retire aggrieved, but with delicacy cherisli 

 religiously the right of liberty. 



Do the fortunate suitor and his fair one, think you, air their idle 

 loves wandering through the forests ? Not at all. They instantly 

 begin to work. " Show me thy talents," says she, " and let me see 

 that I have not deceived myself." What an opportunity for an 

 artist ! She inspires his genius. From a carpenter he becomes a 

 joiner, a cabinet-maker ; from a cabinet-maker, a geometer ! The 

 regularity of forms, that divine rhythm, appears to him in love. 



It is exactly the renowned history of the famous blacksmith of 

 Anvers, Quintin Matsys, who loved a painter's daughter, and who, to 



