Non-Fiction > Books > London, 1878 - Inland voyage

Noyon Cathedral. 169
it made a cathedral ; a thing as single and
specious as a statue to the first glance, and
yet, on examination, as lively and interesting
as a forest in detail. The height of spires
cannot be taken by trigonometry; they measure
absurdly short, but how tall they are to the
admiring eye ! And where we have so many
elegant proportions, growing one out of the
other, and all together into one, it seems as if
proportion transcended itself and became some-
thing different and more imposing. I could
never fathom how a man dares to lift up his
voice to preach in a cathedral. What is he to
say that will not be an anti-climax ? For
though I have heard a considerable variety of
sermons, I never yet heard one that was so
expressive as a cathedral. 'Tis the best preacher
itself, and preaches day and night ; not only
telling you of man's art and aspirations in the
past, but convicting your own soul of ardent