Their enemies smiled at this activity, and asked how it could be possible for such a small city to resist the numerous forces about to march against it. But wiser men were not ignorant that in the world faith often prevails over superstition, wisdom over strength, piety over anger, and that the great mission falls ultimately to the just and the calm. Charles V., who aspired to place his sword in the balance, and other great and ambitious men, have had something gigantic in them; extraordinary ideas have flashed across their minds like lightning, and they have often cast a wide and sombre light over history; but they have founded nothing lasting. All great and solid creations belong to justice, perseverance, and faith. [Sidenote: The Song Of Resurrection.] The spirit of self-sacrifice and firmness with which the Genevans demolished one half of their city was a pledge of victory. At the beginning of 1535 the work was almost ended. A few, however, of the remoter buildings did not come down until 1536, and even 1537. Everything was levelled round the walls, the approaches to the place were free, the artillery could play without obstruction, the lines intended to cover the city were formed, the ramparts were built, and Geneva, witnessing the labors of her children, and her sudden and marvellous transformation, might well exclaim by the mouth of one of her poets:— . . . . . Incepit tentandi causa pudoris Alliciens varios hæc mea forma procos; Qui me cum blandis non possent fallere verbis, Ecce minas addunt, denique vimque parant. Tunc ego non volui pulchrum præponere honesto, Diripui rigida sed mea pulchra manu Templa, domos, hortos, in propugnacula verti, Arcerent stolidos quæ procul inde procos. Diripui pulchrum certe, ut tutarer honestum. _E pulchra et fortis facta Geneva vocor._[668] Geneva was then passing through the arduous ordeal of transformation. Rough blows assailed her, groans burst from her bosom, and on her features was the pallor of death. But in the hour when the sacrifice was thus accomplished on the altar, when riches and beauty were immolated to save independence and faith, when these proud thoughts agitated men’s hearts and made their presence known by a cry of agony or by words of high-mindedness, a mysterious light shone forth, in the midst of the darkness; liberty, morality, and the Gospel had appeared. Hopeful eyes had seen a new edifice, radiant with immortal glory, rising above the ruins of the old. The song then heard was not the song of death, but of resurrection. Footnote 637: It was situated nearly on the spot where the Russian church now stands. Footnote 638: Registre du Conseil du 18 Août, 1534. The expression in the Register is much more energetic. Footnote 639: