e
rays of an evening sun, his look fell at once upon the tall figure of
the Counsellor Erast who was waiting for his daughter. He wished to
pass on with a polite bow, but Erast stopped him with the friendly
inquiry as to how the reformed service had pleased the Papist.
"Monotonous melodies badly sung," said the Italian evasively. He felt
he was not called upon to preach the gospel to the heathen. But the
Counsellor was in his own waters. "Ah so," said he, "you do not know
our musical canon. We observe Calvin's Institutio in this matter.
'Attention is to be paid', says the Genevese teacher, 'that the ear
does not strive more after the melody than the spirit after the meaning
of the words. Songs, which are calculated only to produce a pleasing
impression and to delight the ear are not suitable to the Majesty of
the Church and must be displeasing to God.'"

"Quite the contrary," answered the Italian dryly, "if the Almighty only
possesses the slightest ear for music, he will exclude these people
from the celestial choirs if only on account of their inharmonious
shrieks. The singing is only fit for Hell."

Erast laughed. "And the Magister's sermon, did that find grace in your
sensitive ears?"

"Had the House of God been left as our forefathers built it," said
Felix, "no excessive oratory would be needed to lead souls to God."

"We are accustomed to be edified by the word, not by pictures, symbols,
and all kinds of singsong," rejoined Erast smiling.

"By the word," cried Felix angrily. "Do you then believe that the
chanted word is not the word of God? And the question remains still the
same whether the Maestro of Palestrina does not rather disclose to me
the meaning of the word and imprints it deeper in my heart, or whether
Parson Neuser, Suter, or whatever these gentlemen are called whom I
lately met sitting round the table at the Hirsch do so. Perhaps you
also have seen at St. Mark's in Florence the picture by Fra Angelico of
the two disciples inviting the Saviour disguised as a pilgrim to tarry
with them, for the day is far spent and night is at hand. You could
hear many sermons on the disciples at Emmaus from your celebrated
Church divines before obtaining a conception of the text, which Fiesole
places before you in so impressive a manner. He who has seen the look
of the Saviour in that picture, will be accompanied through life by
this look, as by the best text out of the Bible."

"I also have spent many a profitab