THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

64The Harmony of VirtueWe have expanded our description of virtue as the evolutionof the inborn qualities native to our personality, by throwingin the epithet “perfect”, and have interpreted the full flavourof the epithet in words to the effect that qualities in their evolvedperfection must be harmonious one with another and have abeautiful form or expression, and a beautiful colour or revelationof the soul, and a beautiful perfume or justly-attemperedmanner and must subdue all three into a just appropriate harmony.With this conviction in our souls we will journey on, despisingthe censure and alarm of the reputable, and evolve ourinborn qualities and powers into a beautiful and harmonious perfection,until we walk delicately like living poems through a radiantair, and will not stunt the growth of any branch or blossom,but will prefer to the perishable laurels of this world a livingcrown of glory, and hear through the chaotic murmur of theages the solemn question of Christ “What profiteth it a man ifhe own the whole world and lose his own soul?” and will answeraccording to the melodious doctrines of philosophy and acquireby a life of perfect beauty the peace of God that passeth allunderstanding.