His
vast brow shone. His eyes flamed. He was no longer himself. He gave
way utterly to the species of epileptic motion, full of passion, which
was common with him. But in the very midst of it he was struck by the
attitude of the two witnesses; then, as he caught the words of
Chaudieu saying to de Beze, "The Burning Bush!" he sat down, was
silent, and covered his face with his two hands, the knotted veins of
which were throbbing in spite of their coarse texture.
Some minutes later, still shaken by this storm raised within him by
the continence of his life, he said in a voice of emotion:--
"My sins, which are many, cost me less trouble to subdue, than my
impatience. Oh, savage beast! shall I never vanquish you?" he cried,
beating his breast.
"My dear master," said de Beze, in a tender voice, taking Calvin's
hand and kissing it, "Jupiter thunders, but he knows how to smile."
Calvin looked at his disciple with a softened eye and said:--
"Understand me, my friends."
"I understand that the pastors of peoples bear great burdens," replied
Theodore. "You have a world upon your shoulders.
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