So silent a reception might have seemed cruel in any other case; though in all cases the candidate for laurels must, in common with the criminal, go through the ordeal of justification.

Men do not heartily bow their heads until they have subjected the aspirant to some personal contest, and find themselves overmatched.

The senses, ready to become so slavish in adulation and delight, are at the beginning more exacting than the judgement, more imperious than the will.

A figure in amber and pale blue silk was seen, such as the great Venetian might have sketched from his windows on a day when the Doge went forth to wed the Adriatic a superb Italian head, with dark banded hair-braid, and dark strong eyes under unabashed soft eyelids! She moved as, after long gazing at a painting of a fair woman, we may have the vision of her moving from the frame.
It was an animated picture of ideal Italia.

The sea of heads right up to the highest walls fronted her glistening, and she was mute as moonrise.
A virgin who loosens a dove from her bosom does it with no greater effort than Vittoria gave out her voice.