He knew that well.

He protected his friend now without effort.

Could he not protect him more certainly with effort?
Can a soul be beautiful that never strives consciously after beauty?
A child's nature is beautiful in its innocence because it has never striven to be innocent.

But is not an innocent woman more wonderful, more beautiful, than an innocent child?
Valentine felt within him that night a distinct aspiration, and he vaguely connected it with the drooping Christ, who touched with wan, rewarding lips the ardent face of the merciful knight.
And he no longer had the desire to know desire of sin.

He no longer sought to understand the power of temptation or the joy of yielding to that power.