human
A desire for happiness is our common heritage,
gpt
But to define what constitutes happiness is very difficult,
human
Not necessarily, he went on;
gpt
For example?
human
The miser is happy when he hoards his gold; the philanthropist when he distributes his. The attainment is identical, but the motives are antipodal.
gpt
Then one possessing sufficient motives could be happy without end?
human
That is my theory. The Niobe of old had happiness within her power.
gpt
The gods thought not, said she;
human
But are her children weeping? he asked.
gpt
I think not. Happiness can bloom from the seeds of deepest woe, and in a tone almost reverential, he continued:
human
I remember a picture in one of our Italian galleries that always impressed me as the ideal image of maternal happiness. It is a painting of the Christ-mother standing by the body of the Crucified. Beauty was still hers, and the dress of grayish hue, nun-like in its simplicity, seemed more than royal robe. Her face, illumined as with a light from heaven, seemed inspired with this thought: 'They have killed Him--they have killed my son! Oh, God, I thank Thee that His suffering is at an end!' And as I gazed at the holy face, another light seemed to change it by degrees from saddened motherhood to triumphant woman! Then came: 'He is not dead, He but sleeps; He will rise again, for He is the best beloved of the Father!'
gpt
Still, fate can rob us of our patrimony,
human
Not while life is here and eternity beyond,
gpt
What if a soul lies dormant and will not arouse?
human
There are souls that have no motive low enough for earth, but only high enough for heaven,
gpt
Then one must come who speaks in nature's tongue,
human
And the soul will then awake,
gpt
But is there such a one?
human
Perhaps,
gpt
I am afraid not, she sighed.
human
I studied drawing, worked diligently and, I hope, intelligently, and yet I was quickly convinced that a counterfeit presentment of nature was puny and insignificant. I painted Niagara. My friends praised my effort. I saw Niagara again--I destroyed the picture.
gpt
But you must be prepared to accept the limitations of man and his work,
human
Annihilation of one's own identity in the moment is possible in nature's domain--never in man's. The resistless, never-ending rush of the waters, madly churning, pitilessly dashing against the rocks below; the mighty roar of the loosened giant; that was Niagara. My picture seemed but a smear of paint.
gpt
Still, man has won the admiration of man by his achievements,
human
Alas, for me, she sighed,
gpt
I have not felt it.
human
Surely you have been stirred by the wonders man has accomplished in music's realm?
gpt
I never have been.
human
But does not the passion-laden theme of a master, or the marvelous feeling of a player awaken your emotions?