ld me that all we of the Old World, from Calcutta to Dublin, are
of the same stock, and were originally of the same language, and--"

"All of one religion," I put in.

"All of one religion," said the man in black; "and now follow different
modifications of the same religion."

"We Christians are not image-worshippers," said I.

"You heretics are not, you mean," said the man in black; "but you will be
put down, just as you have always been, though others may rise up after
you; the true religion is image-worship; people may strive against it,
but they will only work themselves to an oil; how did it fare with that
Greek Emperor, the Iconoclast, what was his name, Leon the Isaurian? Did
not his image-breaking cost him Italy, the fairest province of his
empire, and did not ten fresh images start up at home for every one which
he demolished? Oh! you little know the craving which the soul sometimes
feels after a good bodily image."

"I have indeed no conception of it," said I; "I have an abhorrence of
idolatry--the idea of bowing before a graven figure."

"The idea, indeed," said Belle, who had now joined us.

"Did you never bow before that of Shakespear?" said the man in black,
addressing himself to me, after a low bow to Belle.

"I don't remember that I ever did," said I, "but even suppose I did?"

"Suppose you did," said the man in black; "shame on you, Mr. Hater of
Idolatry; why, the very supposition brings you to the ground; you must
make figures of Shakespear, must you? then why not of St. Antonio, or
Ignacio, or of a greater personage still? I know what you are going to
say," he cried, interrupting me as I was about to speak. "You don't make
his image in order to pay it divine honours, but only to look at it, and
think of Shakespear; but this looking at a thing in order to think of a
person is the very basis of idolatry. Shakespear's works are not
sufficient for you; no more are the Bible or the legend of Saint Anthony
or Saint Ignacio for us that is for those of us, who believe in them; I
tell you, Zingaro, that no religion can exist long which rejects a good
bodily image."

"Do you think," said I, "that Shakespear's works would not exist without
his image?"

"I believe," said the man in black, "that Shakespear's image is looked at
more than his works, and will be looked at, and perhaps adored, when they
are forgotten. I am surprised that they have not been forgotten long
ago; I am no admirer of them.