Explore "Mornings in Florence" by John Ruskin on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
I promised some note of Sandro's Fortitude, before whom I asked you to sit and read the end of my last letter; and I've lost my own notes about her, and forget, now, whether she has a sword, or a mace; -- it does not matter. What is chiefly notable in her is -- that you would not, if you had to guess who she was, take her for Fortitude at all. Everybody else's Fortitudes announce themselves clearly and proudly. They have tower-like shields, and lion-like helmets -- and stand firm astride on their legs, -- and are confidently ready for all comers. Yes; -- that is your common Fortitude. Very grand, though common. But not the highest, by any means.
Ready for all comers, and a match for them, -- thinks the universal Fortitude; -- no thanks to her for standing so steady, then!