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We
do not value the courage of the tiger highly! With Luther it was far
otherwise; no accusation could be more unjust than this of mere ferocious
violence brought against him. A most gentle heart withal, full of pity and
love, as indeed the truly valiant heart ever is. The tiger before a
_stronger_ foe--flies: the tiger is not what we call valiant, only fierce
and cruel. I know few things more touching than those soft breathings of
affection, soft as a child's or a mother's, in this great wild heart of
Luther. So honest, unadulterated with any cant; homely, rude in their
utterance; pure as water welling from the rock. What, in fact, was all
that down-pressed mood of despair and reprobation, which we saw in his
youth, but the outcome of pre-eminent thoughtful gentleness, affections too
keen and fine? It is the course such men as the poor Poet Cowper fall
into. Luther to a slight observer might have seemed a timid, weak man;
modesty, affectionate shrinking tenderness the chief distinction of him.


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