What made the poet proclaim Ernest was the Stone Face?

When Ernest was addressing the inhabitants of the valley, the poet realised that the life and character of Ernest were nobler than his works of poetry. At a distance high up in the golden light of the setting sun, the Great Stone Face appeared with white mists around it, similar to the white hairs around the brow of Ernest. At that moment, Ernest’s face took on an expression so grand that the poet proclaimed that Ernest was the Stone Face.