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men indeed may shun the deepest abyss, yet cannot attain the glory of heavenly hope and love. Dante saw how such men-even the best-may not know the joy that is perfect. Moving in the divided splendour merely of under earth, on sward whose “fresh verdure,” eternally changeless, expects neither in patient waiting nor in sacred hope the early and the latter rain,* “Sembianza avevan nè trista nè lieta.”¹

This maiden, then, is an incarnation of spiritual life, mystically crowned with all the virtues. But their diviner meaning is yet unrevealed, and following the one legible command, she goes down to such a death for her people, vainly. Only by help of the hero who slays monstrous births of nature, to sow and tend in its organic growth the wholesome plant of civil life, may she enter into that liberty with which Christ makes His people free.

240. The coronet of the princess is clasped about a close red cap which hides her hair. Its tresses are not yet cast loose, inasmuch as, till the dragon be subdued, heavenly life is not secure for the soul, nor its marriage with the great Bridegroom complete. In corners even of Western Europe, to this day, a maiden’s hair is jealously covered till her wedding. Compare now this head with that of St. George. Carpaccio, painting a divine service of mute prayer and acted prophecy, has followed St. Paul’s law concerning vestments. But we shall see how, when prayer is answered and prophecy fulfilled, the long hair-“a glory to her,” and given by Nature for a veil-is sufficient covering upon the maiden’s head, bent in a more mystic rite.

* Epistle of James, v., Dante selects (and Carpaccio follows him) as heavenly judge of a right hope that apostle who reminds his reader how man’s life is even as a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. For the connection-geologically historic-of grass and showers with true human life, compare Genesis ii. 5-8, where the right translation is, “And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb yet sprung up or grown,” etc.

¹ [Inferno, iv. 84.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]