[Footnote 57: See account, and careful drawing of it, in Viollet le Duc--article "Christ," Dict. of Architecture, iii. 245.]
"Dominus Virtutum," "Lord of Virtues,"[58] is the best single rendering of the idea conveyed to a well-taught disciple in the thirteenth century by the words of the twenty-fourth Psalm.
[Footnote 58: See the circle of the Powers of the Heavens in the Byzantine rendering. I. Wisdom; II. Thrones; III. Dominations; IV. Angels; V. Archangels; VI. Virtues; VII. Potentates; VIII. Princes; IX. Seraphim. In the Gregorian order, (Dante, Par. xxviii., Cary's note,) the Angels and Archangels are separated, giving altogether nine orders, but not ranks. Note that in the Byzantine circle the cherubim are first, and that it is the strength of the Virtues which calls on the dead to rise ('St. Mark's Rest,' p. 97, and pp. 158-159).]
37. Under the feet of His apostles, therefore, in the quatrefoil medallions of the foundation, are represented the virtues which each Apostle taught, or in his life manifested;--it may have been, sore tried, and failing in the very strength of the character which he afterwards perfected. Thus St. Peter, denying in fear, is afterwards the Apostle of courage; and St. John, who, with his brother, would have burnt the inhospitable village, is afterwards the Apostle of love. Understanding this, you see that in the sides of the porch, the apostles with their special virtues stand thus in opposite ranks.
Now you see how these virtues answer to each other in their opposite ranks. Remember the left-hand side is always the first, and see how the left-hand virtues lead to the right hand:--
Courage to Faith. Patience to Hope. Gentillesse to Charity. Love to Chastity. Obedience to Wisdom. Perseverance to Humility.
38. Note farther that the Apostles are all tranquil, nearly all with books, some with crosses, but all with the same message,--"Peace be to this house. And if the Son of Peace be there," etc.[59]
[Footnote 59: The modern slang name for a priest, among the mob of France, is a 'Pax Vobiscum,' or shortly, a Vobiscum.]
ST. JAMES THE BISHOP, Hope. Patience, ST. ANDREW.
ST. PHILIP, Charity. Gentillesse, ST. JAMES.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, Chastity. Love, ST. JOHN.