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THE HESPERIAN STUDENT.
large idea, when such happens to spring up in a
man's head, generally has trouble in getting itself
expressed and so it is sometimes even good policy
as Carlyle and others long since found out to culti
vate a labored or uncommon style. The business
of the journalist is to grind out a certain amount of
readable matter, the business of the student is to
aquirc the habit of "thinking largely," and if he
can accomplish this he may rest assured that the
English Language will afford him a sufficient means
of making known his thought to others.
ghc student's cray-book.
PORTIA.
The character which wo will now consider is one wors
thy of careful attention and sludy. Everything connected
with the life and surroundings of Portia excites our in
terest; her wealth, her social position, her many suitors
and the peculiar conditions by which her choice was
effected; her home and more especially her character,
that only sure possession. Friends, wealth and home
may disappear but character is always standing by iu
whatever guise we would have it.
Portia was possessed of great personal beauty. Little
is said directly of her appearance, yet much is implied.
Bassauio may not be considered an unprejudiced ob
server in this case, nevertheless he snya of her
"Sho is fair
And fairer than that word of wondrous virtues."
"Her eunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece."
We may imagiuo her as tall and commanding in ap
pearance, yet her maimers marked ever with gentleness
and kindness.
The only child of a fond, though peculiar father, her
every wish was gratified ; however from the part she
takes it would seem that careful training had been ad
ded to indulgence.
With what pride must her father, a man learned in tire
law, have watched the development of thosn powers
which afterwards enabled her to rcscuo her husband's
friend from so strange and terrible a death.
Her maidenly virtues greet us on every page. The
love and obediauce to her father were remarkable, yield
ing to his will even in what seems to us a caprice, yes
even an unkind and ungenerous one. The palace was
literally haunted with suitors, for Portia's hand, for
whom she had no liking and whoso presence, on such an
errand, was positively distasteful to her tho more be
cause her happiness was subject to tho uucertanties of
mere chance. 8ho tells us, in her own way, of her an
uoyauccs the Neapolitan prince ever extolliug tho vir
tues of his colt and of himself in that ho could shoo his
own horse, Count Palatine with his continual frown of
whom Portia says "I had rather be married to a death's
head with a bone in his mouth." A. French Lord who
combined tho qualities of the gentlemen aforesaid with
others innumerable, or as she expressed it was "Every
man in no mail." Then followed an English Baron, a
Scottish Lord, a German Duke, and the long list is ended
with Ba9sanio. Tho manner in which sho spoaks of this
suitor shows plainly tlu favor in which ho is hold and
causes a doubt as to tho disinterestedness of her critU
cism of tho others.
Portia's best nature shines forth in tho trial sccno.
Shakespeare has not created two stronger characters thau
Portia and Shylock, nor can wo concclvo of a moro per
fect contrast. Standing side by side, as they do, their
strong points are tho moro perccptablo. Little realizing
the nature of him she has to deal with, Portia begins by
pleading for mercy in thoso wonderful lines old, yet
showing forth new beauty with each repetition,
"The quality of mercy Is not strained:
It droppcth as the gentlo rain from Heaven
Upon tho placo beneath: it Is twico blessed
It blesscth him that gives, and him that takes;
"Tls mightiest In tho mightiest; It becomes
Tho throned monarch better then his crown.
It is an attribute of God hlmsolf,
And earthly power doth then show llkost God's
Wlwn mercy seasons Justice."
It would seem that such words as these would havo
moved an ordinary man but the very soul of Shylock was
blackened by tho hatred ho bore toward all Christians
and especially Antonio. His determination for revengo
made him blind even to his own interests. She tries in
vain to arouse his avarice appeals to his pity but with
out avail, and as a last resort secures her object by a mere
quibble brought out by her own ingenuity.
Portia was dignified, endowed with high mental power
aud possessed of n remarkably joyous nature such as
naturally goes with strength of character. No brooding
over trouble or signs oi that dull despair which is ever
indicative of weakness.
Women often have a part of the virtues possessed by
Portia. While she seems a natural character and one
which might very possibly exist yet morality, intelli
gence, true sentiment, ia fact all thoqualitics which go
to make up a harmonious character, arc superlative iu
her and truly such characters arc rare.
Shakespeare's noble women are almost universally un
pretentious. They are mtural. Wo often hear them ex
pressing thoughts aud feelings so similar to our own
that it creates a sympathy aud interest which cannot bo
produced by the common heroines of tragedy. Their
words appeal to our better nature and a knowledge of
lliem must result in benefit to us. H. M. H.
MUSIO IN NATURE.
Beauty still walkcth on Earth nid air,
Our purple sunsets aro as rich In gold
As o'er tho Illlnd's Music was out rolled;
Tho roses of Spring are ever fair,
Aud tho deep sea still foams Its music old.
Music is sometimes called the daughter of heavenly
spheres; but if that is her true home, then men must have
como from very different spheres, for in none of the arts
do we fiud a greater variety of tastes. Nature does not
guide us, for the sounds she produces differ mainly in
the greater or lesser regularity with which they .arc re
peated: The patteriugof raln-drops on the roof is a spas
modic explosion of short dissonant notes: iu tho purling
of a brook and the rustling of leaves, tho transitions aro
softer and less sudden, while tho howling of tho wind
presents sounds which change continually, rising and
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