New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-12-02
Rev. Henry CHESS Lecture.

The closing lecture OF Mr.. Giles course
before the Mercantile Library Association, was de.
livered last night at Clinton Hail. 1t was ono Of the
most brilliantly sustained efforts Of the eloquent
lecturer, and was received with enthusiastic APP
plause by large and discriminating audience
! The subject was announced as The Man OF the
Middle Ages. or the Man of Force" In introducing
! his remarks, Mr.. Giles said that the medieval man
held local and isolated position. The serf lived 10
the small circle in which he was born Unless
swept away by war; he also died and was buried
there. His wants were few. Thoy supplied
by his toll. His master had position nearly
limited. He was inclosed within the sphere OF fam
lily and home lie had few social relations Space
was thnly inhabited Dwellings distant from
each other, and not easy OF access. Roads were
Few. and often impossible. Hence the life Of the
mdcle ages was essentially life on the land.
The baron was tho highest type Of the period.
Ills home Vas q fortress. His most frequent amuse-
ment, hunting. His most serious occupation, fight
ne. Within this sOmber structure, he was ABSOLUTE.
Master OF all around him, he was at once ding.
Judge and exccutioner. His castle was palace, couIt
and prison. Al the func;iors OF government were
carried on by his energy. Ills authority was never
far from his person. Hence, he had NJ wan, OF ex-
eTcise for his intellect lie no, man OF letter.,
a philosopher, artist, but he could no. have
been idle, ignorant, or indolent withol. ruin.
The essence of the barOn's character was militant
lie was ever ready to fight, and he WAS ever ia
danger OF attack. A state oil warfare ths
condition OF his lie lie obtained his domain by
conquest he held 1t by military service. It wasa
micrccosm under martial Law, always in a state
VI battle, state Of siege But nature ayh0rs per-
potual antagonisms Association is permanen.
law Of our being. Hence the baroaia leagues,
VII Oh form such striking feature in the middle
ages.
Mr. Giles then considered the seplmen,s with
which the life Of the middle ages was inspired as
modified by prevailing Institutions. The domestic
sentiment, the religious sentiment, the romantic
sentiment were discussed with grea, sp,ness and
beauty Of illustration, as well as yigor Of thought
We regret that our crowded columns prevent Us
from giving an outline ofthis portion Of the lecture,
but car only present the noble burs, Of eloquencs
with which it closed If should look, SAID Mr. G.,
for tie indicating genius Of those ages IN l.crsture
would IottGm to Ariosto uncurbed in his ca,n-
cious and brilliant witcbenes--nor to PetTach.
varbliEg IN lmpid sonncts his imaginary lore sick.
ress-norto Boccaccio telling beautiful bat oftsn
lad and Idle s.onesnor 10 Chaucer, gay, cheerful,
with cxuberant nature, sad only enough FOR pashos
70 relieve tho humorous ever kindly in heart, but
rot always on the right side Of vn.ue I would turn
10 Dante, grand, gloomy, proud comoa.iye and
strong behold him in the vague mysteriOusnese Of
the Past, awful in FORM and terrible soul more
lhan human IN his gnefs moIe than human IN his
anger | behold him amid the darh deeds aud pas
SONS Of the time, and marking them with anathemas
tina. stu Alright the world hear him in has i'm.
measurable scng rising from the diyge Of hell into
Tie hymn Of heaven see HIM in his boundloss
vIflon, fearless amlts. tue spec.eTs Of the damned
G. 10. glatcered in The company OF the Dles, tOs
cling through the shades Of agee he stands before
me az their mgh,ies, spiritual INCORPORATION Like
thcm fierce, personal, arrogant defiant Ike them N
his Sohola,ic intellect like them IN me mu1sy huge
Jesse o. his phaplcm-liled imasirsion,-i them n
LIS feelings OF passionate hatred and unconGuer bic
love IN this poten, soul behold thcgenus 81 those
strong ctniuriesin MS gisanticaly earnest sraa
lear their voice