154 WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 



deadly breach ;" but they act under a controlling mastery, 

 and it is that of such a spirit as the Eagle typifies of a 

 broad-pinioned cleaver of the mists, whose far-flashing, sun- 

 defying eye sees beyond the concurrence he has wielded to 

 the results. Such a one was Napoleon whose whole career 

 was the sublimest Heroic Epic the world ever saw. The 

 Eagle was, naturally, his favorite bird, and perched upon his 

 standards, leading his fiery veterans to victory. 



It was his Anti-type, with its whole hungry family of 

 Kaptores, flame-eyed and hook-beaked, clustered around it 

 in his Marshals! 



It has been the bird of victory since time began all the 

 mighty Geniuses of war have loved it 



" The Anarch Chiefs, whose fierce and murderous snares 

 Have founded many a sceptre-bearing line," 



have taken it for a sign, an omen of triumph. The wry- 

 necked, world-conquering Macedonian followed it to the 

 " Ganges golden " and the Temple of Ammon. The nation- 

 yoking, "hook-billed Koman" carried it before his legions. 

 Beneath its wings the grand Wallenstein, with his German 

 cohorts, "blue-eyed, yellow-haired and strong," battled 

 haughtily with his Destiny. " The sterner stuff " of our own 

 daring and hardy Fathers saw in its strong wings and conti- 

 nent-girdling flight, the fittest emblem of the freedom and the 

 boundless Empire they were founding here. 



In a word, it has idealized and glorified all sublimest ac- 

 tion and triumphs of the physical. It is the Epic of earth's 

 heroic Poetry. In it like Homer, the Old Mother has loos- 

 ened from "thunderous brows" her topmost thought of 

 beautiful, fierce, exulting strength, and sent it plumed to 

 float upon her storms. 



That will do Miss Barrett-izing the earth ! But let the 

 Daughter paint for us her bold pencil does it well ! 



When we set up for one of " God's prophets of the beau- 

 tiful," then may we, too, grind down the elements for our 



