VIII. THE DUCAL PALACE 395

her enemy; and slightly retired behind her immovable shield, which with Giotto is square, and rested on the ground like a tower, covering her up to above the shoulders; bearing on it a lion, and with broken heads of javelins deeply infixed.

Among the Greeks, this is, of course, one of the principal virtues; apt, however, in their ordinary conception of it, to degenerate into mere manliness or courage.

§ 80. Third side. Temperance; bearing a pitcher of water and a cup. Inscription, illegible here, and on the Renaissance copy nearly so, “TEMPERANTIA SUM” (INOM’ L^s)? only left. In this somewhat vulgar and most frequent conception of this virtue (afterwards continually repeated, as by Sir Joshua in his window at New College),¹ temperance is confused with mere abstinence, the opposite of Gula, or Gluttony; whereas the Greek Temperance, a truly cardinal virtue, is the moderator of all the passions, and so represented by Giotto,² who has placed a bridle upon her lips, and a sword in her hand, the hilt of which she is binding to the scabbard. In his system, she is opposed among the vices, not by Gula, or Gluttony, but by Ira, Anger. So also the Temperance of Spenser, or Sir Guyon, but with mingling of much sternness:

“A goodly knight, all armd in harnesse meete,

That from his head no place appeared to his feete.

His carriage was full comely and upright;

His countenance demure and temperate;

But yett so sterne and terrible in sight,

That cheard his friendes, and did his foes amate.”³

The temperance of the Greeks, swqrosunh, involves the idea of Prudence, and is a most noble virtue, yet properly marked by Plato as inferior to sacred enthusiasm, though necessary for its government. He opposes it, under the name “Mortal Temperance” or “the Temperance which is of men,” to divine madness, mania, or inspiration; but he most justly and nobly expresses the general idea of its opposite⁴

¹ [See above, p. 378 n.]

² [In the Arena Chapel.]

³ [Book ii. canto i. 5, 6.]

⁴ [For “its opposite” all previous eds. read “it.” Ruskin notes the correction in his copy for revision.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]