House, and perhaps some of the onlookers felt much like the curious
Florentines, as they wondered what would happen to Savonarola and the
monks in the great Trial by Fire.

_From the Diary. May 7._--This day came in about 100 meetings and
say 200 letters or 250. Worked hard upon the blue book, and
references and notes for speech. House at 4-1/4. For over two
hours I was assaulted from every quarter, except the opposition
bench, which was virtually silent. Such a sense of solitary
struggle I never remember. At last I rose on the main question
nearly in despair as to the result; but resolved at least not to
fail through want of effort. I spoke 2-1/2 hours, voice lasting
well. House gradually came round and at the last was more than
good. It was over at 9.30. Never did I feel weaker and more
wormlike. Dinner at Sir W. James's and H. of C. again
10-3/4-12-3/4. 8.--I am the spoiled child of sleep. This night was
an exception.

The scene began with the question as preconcerted, put by Mr. Trevelyan.
Such moves never fail to provoke some measure of mockery, and this time
both regular opponents and opponents in more or less disguise thought that
they had got the monarch of the forest down. The situation was one that
opened the way for Mr. Gladstone's love of over-precision, and his various
explanations prolonged the wrangle. It lasted until the dinner-hour.
"While many members," says one observer, "were streaming out to dine and
those who remained looked dejectedly at their watches, Mr. Gladstone, who
is sixty-eight years of age, sprang again to his feet, and without any
sign of diminished spirit delivered a noble speech lasting two hours and a
half. It was perhaps the greatest triumph of irrepressible moral and
physical vitality over depressing conditions that was ever won in the
House of Commons."(345)

The record of a distinguished eyewitness, himself one day to be prime
minister, ought not to be omitted:--

There was one of those preliminary parliamentary debates--or series
of debates--which preceded the main business of the evening. In
this Mr. Gladstone had to speak not once or twice, but several
times, and it was not until hour after hour had passed in this
preliminary skirmish in a House hostile, impatient, and utterly
wearied, that he got up to present his case with that conviction
that he was right, which was his great strength a