THE OAK—MANHOOD. 
47 
and that the most difficult victories are only the first attempts of those 
whom God himself trains to war. It was then that he was seen to 
make up, by his own courage, for the inequality of numbers ; to sustain, 
alone, the whole weight of the army; to defend the bridge of Jaillebourg 
with a firmness more wonderful than that of which ancient Rome has 
so boasted; and to perform actions which might be called rash, were 
it not that the Spirit of God sometimes elevates above the rules of common 
virtue and prudence those great minds which He has destined to combat 
the pride and the rebellion of men. 
It was neither the desire to conquer, nor the desire of revenge, 
which kindled this youthful courage; it was the desire of peace and of 
public safety. Besides, the end of the rebellion was the repentance, 
not the ruin, of the rebels. He did not beat down those proud heads, 
he contented himself with having humbled them; he granted them his 
friendship as soon as he had restored them to order; and it might be 
said, that God had prepared these wars for him, and placed arms in his 
hands, in order to give him the glory of conquering and the pleasure 
of pardoning. 
Flechier. 
C gnarled stretch, what depth of shade is his! 
There needs no crown to mark the forest’s king; 
HAT gnarled stretch, what depth of shade 
How in his leaves outshines full summer’s bliss ! 
Sun, storm, rain, dew, to him their tribute bring, 
Which he with such benignant royalty 
Accepts, as overpayeth what is lent; 
All nature seems his vassal proud to be, 
And cunning only for his ornament. 
How towers he, too, amid the billowed snows, 
An unquelled exile from the summer s throne, 
Whose plain, uncinctured front more kingly shows, 
Now that the obscuring courtier leaves are flown! 
His boughs make music of the winter air. 
Jewelled with sleet, like some cathedral front 
Where clinging snow-flakes, with quaint art, repair 
The dents and furrows of Time’s envious brunt. 
