7, A. Faith, holding cup with cross above it, her accepted
symbol throughout ancient Europe. It is also an enduring
one, for, all differences of Church put aside, the
words, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
Drink His blood, ye have no life in you," remain in
their mystery, to be understood only by those who have
learned the sacredness of food, in all times and places,
and the laws of life and spirit, dependent on its acceptance,
refusal, and distribution.
7, B . Idolatry, kneeling to a monster. The contrary of
Faith—not want of Faith. Idolatry is faith in the
wrong thing, and quite distinct from Faith in No thing
(6, B), the "Dixit Insipiens." Very wise men may be
idolaters, but they cannot be atheists.
8, A. Hope, with Gonfalon Standard and distant crown; as
opposed to the constant crown of Fortitude (6, A).
The Gonfalon (Gund, war, fahr, standard, according
to Poitevin's dictionary), is the pointed ensign of forward
[Pg 120] battle; essentially sacred; hence the constant
name "Gonfaloniere" of the battle standard-bearers of
the Italian republics.
Hope has it, because she fights forward always to her
aim, or at least has the joy of seeing it draw nearer.
Faith and Fortitude wait, as St. John in prison, but unoffended.
Hope is, however, put under St. James,because
of the 7th and 8th verses of his last chapter, ending
"Stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth
nigh." It is he who examines Dante on the
nature of Hope. 'Par.,' c. xxv., and compare Cary's notes.
8, B. Despair, stabbing himself. Suicide not thought heroic
or sentimental in the 13th century; and no Gothic
Morgue built beside Somme.
9, A. Charity, bearing shield with woolly ram, and giving a
mantle to a naked beggar. The old wool manufacture
of Amiens having this notion of its purpose—namely,
to clothe the poor first, the rich afterwards. No
nonsense talked in those days about the evil consequences
of indiscriminate charity.
9, B. Avarice, with coffer and money. The modern, alike
English and Amienois, notion of the Divine consummation
of the wool manufacture.
10, A. Chastity, shield with the Phœnix. [4-24]
10, B. Lust, a too violent kiss.
11, A. Wisdom: shield with, I think, an eatable root; meaning
temperance, as the beginning of wisdom.