THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GENIUS 141 



abysses of infinity; that of Renan, respectful 

 towards science, complimentary, witty and per- 

 meated with a serene and subtle philosophy. 



Louis Pasteur was listened to with a re- 

 ligious attention, and something like a shiver 

 passed over his hearers when he read, in a voice 

 which, while not strong, was animated by an 

 ardent conviction, this celebrated passage : 



"Above and beyond the starry vault, what is 

 there? Other new star-lit skies. So be it! 

 And above and beyond them? The human 

 mind, urged on by an invincible force, will 

 never cease to ask itself, What is there beyond? 

 What if the mind should try to stop at some 

 point, either in time or space? Since, that point 

 where it stops marks only a finite greatness, 

 merely greater than those which preceded it, 

 the mind has scarcely begun to contemplate it 

 when the implacable question returns, and 

 never can its curiosity be silenced. It does no 

 good to answer, Above and beyond, are space, 

 time, greatness without limit. No one compre- 

 hends these words. Whoever proclaims the ex- 



