selections kierkegaard

7/27/2019 Selections Kierkegaard

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Ti t l e: Sel ecti ons f r om t he Wr i t i ngs of Ki er kegaar dCr eat or ( s) : Ki erkegaar d, Soren ( 1813- 1855)

CCEL Subj ects: Al l ; Cl assi c;LC Cal l no: PT8142

LC Subj ect s:

Dani sh l i t er at ur e__________________________________________________________________

Sel ect i ons f r om t he Wr i t i ngs of Ki er kegaar d

Transl ated by

L. M. Hol l ander

Adj unct Prof essor of Germani c LanguagesA por t r ai t

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I nt r oducti on

To my Fat her ?i n?LawThe Rever end Geor ge Fi sher ,

A Chr i st i an

Cr edi t abl e as have been the cont r i but i ons of Scandi navi a t o t hecul t ur al l i f e of t he r ace i n wel l ?ni gh al l f i el ds of human endeavor , i thas pr oduced but one t hi nker of t he f i r st magni t ude, t he Dane, Sören A.Ki er kegaar d. [ 1] The f act t hat he i s vi r t ual l y unknown t o us i sascri babl e, on t he one hand t o t he i naccessi bi l i t y of hi s wor ks, bot has t o l anguage and f or m; on t he other , t o t he r egr et t abl e i nsul ar i t y of Engl i sh t hought .

I t i s t he pur pose of t hi s book t o remedy t he def ect i n a measure,and by a sel ect i on f r om hi s most r epr esent ati ve wor ks t o pr ovi de ast i mul us f or a mor e det ai l ed st udy of hi s wr i t i ngs; f or t he pr esentt i mes, r ul ed by mat er i al consi der at i ons, whol l y l ed by soci al i zi ng, andmi sl ed by nat i onal , i deal s are pr eci sel y the most oppor t une t oi nt r oduce t he bi t t er but whol esome ant i dot e of i ndi vi dualr esponsi bi l i t y, whi ch i s hi s message. I n par t i cul ar , st udent s of Nort her n l i t eratur e cannot af f ord to know no more t han t he name of onewho exert ed a potent and energi zi ng i nf l uence on an i mport ant epoch of Scandi navi an t hought . To ment i on onl y one i nst ance, t he gr eat estet hi cal poem of our age, "Br and" not wi t hst andi ng I bsen' s cur t st at ementt hat he "had r ead l i t t l e of Ki er kegaar d and underst ood l ess" undeni abl yowes i t s f undament al t hought t o hi m, whet her di r ect l y or i ndi r ect l y.

Of ver y f ew aut hor s can i t be sai d wi t h t he same l i t eral ness as, of Ki erkegaard that t hei r l i f e i s thei r works: as i f t o f urni sh l i vi ngpr oof of hi s unt i r i ng i nsi stance on i nwar dness, hi s l i f e, l i ke t hat of so many ot her spi r i t ual educat or s of t he race, i s not abl y poor i ni nci dent s; but hi s l i f e of i nwar d exper i ences i s al l t he r i cher wi t nesst he "l i t er at ur e wi t hi n a l i t er at ur e" t hat came t o be wi t hi n a f ew year sand t hat gave t o Dani sh l et t ers a score of i mmort al works.

Ki erkegaar d' s physi cal heredi t y must be pr onounced unf or t unate.Bei ng t he chi l d of ol d par ent s hi s f at her was, f i f t y?seven, hi s mot herf or t y?f i ve years. at hi s bi r t h ( May 5, 1813) , he had a weak physi queand a feebl e consti t ut i on. St i l l wor se, he i nher i t ed f r om hi s f at her abur den of mel anchol y whi ch he t ook a sad pr i de i n maski ng under a show

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of spr i ght l i ness. Hi s f ather , Mi chael Peder sen Ki er kegaar d, had begunl i f e as a poor cot t er ' s boy i n West J ut l and, where he was set t o t endt he sheep on t he wi l d moor l ands. One day, we ar e t ol d, oppressed byl onel i ness and col d, he ascended a hi l l and i n a passi onat e rage cur sedGod who had gi ven hi m t hi s mi ser abl e exi st ence t he memory of whi ch "s i nagai nst t he Hol y Ghost " he was not abl e to shake of f t o the end of hi sl ong l i f e. [ 2] When sevent een years ol d, t he gi f t ed l ad was sent t o hi suncl e i n Copenhagen, who was a wel l ?t o?do deal er i n wool ens andgr ocer i es. Ki er kegaar d qui ckl y est abl i shed hi msel f i n the t r ade andamassed a consi derabl e f ort une. Thi s enabl ed hi m t o wi t hdr aw f r om

act i ve l i f e when onl y f or t y, and t o devot e hi msel f t o phi l osophi cst udi es, t he l ei sur e f or whi ch l i f e had t i l l t hen deni ed hi m. Mor eespeci al l y he seems t o have st udi ed t he wor ks of t he r at i onal i st i cphi l osopher Wol f f . Af t er t he ear l y deat h of hi s f i r st wi f e who l ef t hi mno i ssue, he mar r i ed a f or mer ser vant i n hi s househol d, al so of J ut i shst ock, who bor e hi m seven chi l dr en. Of t hese onl y t wo sur vi ved hi m, t heol dest son l at er bi shop Peder Chr i st i an, and t he youngest son, Sör enÅbye.

Nowher e does Ki er kegaard speak of hi s mot her , a woman of si mpl e mi ndand cheer f ul di sposi t i on; but he speaks al l t he mor e of t en of hi sf ather , f or whomhe ever expr essed t he gr eat est l ove and admi r at i on andwho, no doubt , devoted hi msel f l argel y to t he educat i on of hi s sons,par t i cul ar l y t o t hat of hi s l at est bor n. Hi m he was t o moul d i n hi s own

i mage. A pi et i st i c, gl oomy spi r i t of r el i gi osi t y per vaded t he househol di n whi ch t he sever e f ather was undi sput ed mast er , and absol ut eobedi ence t he wat chwor d. Li t t l e Sör en, as he hi msel f t el l s us, hear dmore of t he Cr uci f i ed and t he mart yrs t han of t he Chr i st ?chi l d and goodangel s. Li ke J ohn St uar t Mi l l , whose ear l y educat i on bear s a r emar kabl er esembl ance t o hi s, he "never had the j oy t o be a chi l d. " Al t hough l esssyst emat i cal l y hel d down to hi s st udi es, i n whi ch r el i gi on was t hebe?al l and end?al l ( i nst ead of bei ng bani shed, as was t he case wi t hMi l l ) , he was gr ant ed but a mi ni mum of out ?door pl ay and exerci se. And,i nst ead of st r engt heni ng t he f eebl e body, hi s f ather t hr ew t he whol ewei ght of hi s mel anchol y on t he boy.

Nor was hi s home t r ai ni ng, f ormi dabl y abst r act , count erbal anced by anor mal , heal t hy school ?l i f e. Nat ur al l y i nt r ospect i ve and shy, bot h on

account of a sl i ght def ormi t y of hi s body and on account of t heol d?f ashi oned cl othes hi s f ather made hi m wear , he had no boy f r i ends;and when cuf f ed by hi s more robust cont empor ar i es, he coul d def endhi msel f onl y wi t h hi s bi t i ng sar casm. Not wi t hst andi ng hi s ear l ymatur i t y he does not seem t o have i mpr essed ei t her hi s school mates orhi s t eachers by any gi f t s much above t he or di nary. The school heat t ended was one of t hose semi ?publ i c school s whi ch by st r i ctdi sci pl i ne and consi st ent met hods l ai d a sol i d f oundati on of humani t i esi nd mathemat i cs f or t hose who were to ent er upon a pr of essi onal career .The natur al sci ences pl ayed no rôl e whatever .

Obedi ent t o the wi shes of hi s f ather , Sören chose t he st udy of t heol ogy, as had hi s el dest br ot her ; but , once r el i eved f r om t he gr i ndof school at t he age of sevent een, he r ej oi ced i n t he f ul l l i ber t y of

uni ver si t y l i f e, i ndul gi ng hi msel f t o hi s hear t ' s cont ent i n al l t her ef i ned i nt el l ect ual and æst het i c enj oyment s t he gay capi t al of Copenhagen of f ered. He decl ares hi msel f i n l ater years t o be "one whoi s peni t ent " f or havi ng i n hi s yout h pl unged i nt o al l ki nds of excesses; but we f eel r easonabl y sure t hat he commi t t ed no excessesworse t han "hi gh l i vi ng. " He was f r equent l y seen at t he opera and t het heat r e, spent money f r eel y i n r est aur ant s and conf ect i onary shops,bought many, and expensi ve books, dr essed wel l , and i ndul ged i n suchextr avagances as dr i vi ng i n a car r i age and pai r , al one, f or dayst hr ough t he f i el ds and f or est s of t he l ovel y i sl and of Zeal and. I nf act , he cont r act ed consi der abl e debt s, so t hat hi s di sappoi nt ed f atherdeci ded t o put hi m on an al l owance of 500 r i xdol l ar s year l y- - r at her ahandsome sum, a hundred year s ago.


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Nat ur al l y, l i t t l e di r ect pr ogr ess was made i n hi s st udi es. But whi l e t oal l appearances ai ml essl y di ssi pati ng hi s ener gi es, he showed apr onounced l ove f or phi l osophy and ki ndr ed di sci pl i nes. He l ost nooppor t uni t y then of f er ed at t he Uni ver si t y of Copenhagen t o tr ai n hi smi nd al ong t hese l i nes. He hear d t he st ur di l y i ndependent Si bbern' sl ect ur es on æst het i es and enj oyed a "pr i vat i ssi mum" on t he mai n i ssuesof Schl ei ermacher' s Dogmat i cs wi t h hi s l ater enemy, t he t heol ogi anMar t ensen, aut hor of t he cel ebr at ed "Chr i st i an Dogmat i cs. "

But t her e was no steadi ness i n hi m. Per i ods of i ndi f f er ence t o t hesest udi es al t er nat ed wi t h f ever i sh act i vi t y, and doubt s of t he t r ut h of Chr i st i ani t y, wi t h bur st s of devot i on. However , t he Hebr ai cal l y st er ncast of mi nd of t he exter nal l y gay st udent soon wear i ed of t hi sr udder l ess exi st ence. He si ghs f or an "Ar chi medean" poi nt of supportf or hi s conduct of l i f e. We f i nd t he f ol l owi ng ent r y i n hi s di ar y,whi ch pr ophet i cal l y f oreshadows some of t he f undament al i deas of hi sl at er car eer : " . . . what I r eal l y need i s t o ar r i ve at a c l earcompr ehensi on of what I am t o do, not of what I am t o gr asp wi t h myunder st andi ng, except i nsof ar as t hi s under st andi ng i s necessary f orever y act i on. The poi nt i s, t o compr ehend what I am cal l ed t o do, t osee what t he Godhead r eal l y means t hat I shal l do, t o f i nd a t r ut hwhi ch i s t r ut h f or me, t o f i nd t he i dea f or whi ch I am wi l l i ng t o l i veand t o di e . . . "

Thi s Ar chi medean poi nt was soon t o be f urni shed hi m There came asuccessi on of bl ows, cul mi nat i ng i n t he death of hi s f at her, whosesi l ent di sappr obat i on had l ong been wei ghi ng heavi l y on t he consci enceof t he wayward son. Even more awf ul , per haps, was a r evel at i on made byt he dyi ng f at her t o hi s sons, ver y l i kel y t ouchi ng t hat ver y "si nagai nst t he Hol y Ghost " whi ch he had commi t t ed i n hi s boyhood and t heconsequence of whi ch he now was t o l ay on t hem as a curse, i nst ead of hi s bl essi ng. Ki er kegaar d cal l s i t "t he gr eat ear t hquake, t he t er r i bl eupheaval , whi ch suddenl y f orced on me a new and i nf al l i bl ei nt erpr et at i on of al l phenomena. " He began t o suspect t hat he had beenchosen by Pr ovi dence f or an ext r aor di nary pur pose; and wi t h hi s abi di ngf i l i al pi et y he i nt er pr et s hi s f at her ' s deat h as t he l ast of manysacr i f i ces he made f or hi m; " f or he di ed, not away f r omme, but f or me,

so t hat t her e mi ght yet , per chance, become somet hi ng of me. " Cr ushed byt hi s t hought , and t hr ough t he "new i nt er pr etat i on" despai r i ng of happi ness i n t hi s l i f e, he cl i ngs t o t he t hought of hi s unusuali nt el l ect ual powers as hi s onl y consol at i on and a means by whi ch hi ssal vat i on, mi ght be accompl i shed. He qui ckl y absol ved hi s exami nat i onf or ordi nat i on ( t en year s af t er mat r i cul at i on) and deter mi ned on hi smagi st er i al di sser t at i on. [ 3]

Al r eady some years bef ore he had made a not very successf ul debut i nt he worl d of l et t ers wi t h a pamphl et whose queer t i t l e "Fr omt he MSS.of One St i l l Li vi ng" r eveal s Ki er kegaar d' s i nbor n l ove of myst i f i cat i onand i nnuendo. Li ke a Puck of phi l osophy, wi t h somewhat awkward boundsand a cal l ow manner , he had t here teased t he wor t hi es of hi s t i mes;and, i n par t i cul ar , t aken a good f al l out of Hans Chr i st i an Ander sen,

t he poet of t he Fai r y Tal es, who had aroused hi s i ndi gnat i on bydescr i bi ng i n somewhat l achr ymose f ashi on t he st r uggl es of geni us t ocome i nt o i t s own. Ki erkegaar d hi msel f was soon t o show t he t r ut h of hi s own di ct um t hat " geni us does not whi ne but l i ke a t hunders t orm goesst r ai ght count er t o the wi nd. "

Whi l e cast i ng about f or a subj ect wort hy of a more sust ai nedef f or t - - he marks out f or s t udy t he l egends of Faust , Of t he Wanderi ngJ ew, of Don J uan, as r epr esent at i ves of cer t ai n basi c vi ews of l i f e;t he, Concept i on of Sat i r e among t he Anci ent s, et c. , et c. , - - he at l astbecomes awar e of hi s af f i ni t y wi t h Socr at es, i n whom he f ound that r ar eharmony between theor y and the conduct of l i f e whi ch he hoped t o at t ai nhi msel f .


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Though not by Ki erkegaar d hi msel f counted among t he works bear i ng ont he " I ndi r ect Communi cat i on"- - pr esent l y t o be expl ai ned- - hi smagi st er i al di sser t at i on, ent i t l ed "The Concept i on of I r ony, wi t hConst ant Ref erence t o Socrat es, " a book of 300 pages, i s of cr uci ali mport ance. I t shows t hat , hel ped by t he sage who woul d not di r ect l yhel p any one, he had f ound t he mast er key: hi s own i nterpr etat i on of l i f e. I ndeed, al l t he f ol l owi ng l i t er ar y out put may be r egar ded as t heconsi st ent devel opment of t he si mpl e di r ect i ng t hought s of hi sf i r st l i ng work. And we must devote what may seem a di sproport i onate

amount of space t o t he expl anat i on of t hese thought s i f we woul d ent eri nt o the wor l d of hi s mi nd.

Not onl y di d Ki er kegaar d f eel ki nshi p wi t h Socrat es. I t di d notescape hi m t hat t here was an omi nous si mi l ar i t y between Socrat es' t i mesand hi s own- - bet ween t he per i od of f l our i shi ng At t i ca, emi nent i n t hear t s and i n phi l osophy, when a l i t t l e f ami l i ar i t y wi t h t he shal l owphr ases of t he Sophi st s enabl ed one t o have an opi ni on about everyt hi ngon ear t h and i n heaven, and hi s own Copenhagen i n t he thi r t i es of t hel ast cent ur y, when J ohan Ludvi g Hei berg had popul ari zed Hegel i anphi l osophy wi t h such ast oni shi ng success t hat t he ver y cobbl ers wereusi ng t he Hegel i an t er mi nol ogy, wi t h "Thesi s, Ant i t hesi s, andSynt hesi s, " and one coul d get i nst r uct i ons f r om one' s bar ber , whi l ebei ng shaved, how t o "harmoni ze t he i deal wi t h r eal i t y, and our wi shes

wi t h what we have att ai ned. " Ever y di f f i cul t y coul d be "medi at ed, "accor di ng t o t hi s r eci pe. And j ust as t he gr eat quest i oner of At hensgave pause t o hi s more naï ve cont emporar i es by hi s "know t hysel f , " soKi er kegaard i nsi st ed t hat he must r ouse hi s cont empor ar i es f r omt hei rphi l osophi c compl acency and unwar r ant ed opt i mi sm, and move t hem t or eal i ze t hat t he spi r i t ual l i f e has bot h mount ai n and val l ey, t hat i ti s no f l at pl ai n easy t o tr avel . He i nt ended t o show di f f i cul t i es wher et he road had been supposedl y smoot hed f or t hem.

Cent r al , bot h i n t he t heor y and i n t he pr act i ce of Socrates( accor di ng t o Ki er kegaar d) , i s hi s i r ony. The anci ent sage woul d st opol d and young and qui zz t hem ski l f ul l y on what t hey regarded as commonand uni ver sal l y est abl i shed pr oposi t i ons, unt i l hi s i nt er l ocut or becameconf used by some consequence or cont r adi ct i on ar i si ng unexpect edl y, and

unt i l he who had been sur e of hi s knowl edge was made t o conf ess hi si gnor ance, or even t o become di st r ust f ul of t he possi bi l i t y of knowl edge. Dest r oyi ng supposedl y posi t i ve val ues, t hi s method woul dseem t o l ead t o a negat i ve resul t onl y.

Ki er kegaar d makes l ess ( and r at her t oo l i t t l e) of t he posi t i ve si de of Socr ates' method, hi s mai eut i c, or mi dwi f ery, by whi ch we are l edi nducti vel y f r om t r i vi al i nst ances t o a new def i ni t i on of a concept i on,a met hod whi ch wi l l f i t al l cases. Gui ded by a l of t y per sonal i t y, t hi sSocrat i c i r ony becomes, i n Ki er kegaar d' s def i ni t i on, mer el y "t henegat i ve l i ber at i on of subj ecti vi t y"; t hat i s, not t he f ami l y, norsoci ety, nor t he st at e, nor any r ul es super i mposed f r om out si de, butone' s i nner most sel f ( or subj ect i vi t y) i s t o be t he det er mi ni ng f act ori n one' s l i f e. And under st ood thus, i r ony as a negat i ve el ement bor der s

on t he et hi cal concept i on of l i f e.

Romant i c i r ony, on t he other hand, l ayi ng mai n st r ess on subj ect i vel i ber t y, r epr esent s t he æst heti c conduct of l i f e. I t was, we r emember ,t he gr eat demand of t he Romant i c peri od t hat one l i ve poet i cal l y. Thati s , af t er havi ng reduced al l real i t y t o possi bi l i t i es, al l exi stence t of r agment s, we ar e to choose ad l i bi t um one such possi bl e exi st ence, t oconsi der t hat one' s pr oper spher e, and f or t he r est t o l ook i r oni cal l yon al l ot her r eal i t y as phi l i st i ne. Undeni abl y, t hi s l i cense, t hr ought he i nf i ni t ude of possi bi l i t i es open t o hi m, gi ves t he i r oni st anent husi ast i c sense of i r r esponsi bl e f r eedom i n whi ch he "di spor t shi msel f as does Levi athan i n t he deep. " Agai n, t he "æst het i cali ndi vi dual i s i l l at ease i n t he wor l d i nt o whi ch he i s bor n. Hi s


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t ypi cal ai l ment i s a Byronesque Wel t schmerz. He woul d f ai n moul d t heel ement s of exi st ence t o sui t hi msel f ; t hat i s, "compose" not onl yhi msel f but al so hi s sur r oundi ngs. But wi t hout f i xed task and pur pose,l i f e wi l l soon l ose al l cont i nui t y ( "except t hat of bor edom") and f al lapart i nt o di sconnect ed moods and i mpul ses. Hence, whi l e supposi nghi msel f a superman, f r ee, and hi s own mast er , t he æst het i c i ndi vi duali s, i n r eal i t y, a sl ave t o t he mer est acci dent s. He i s notsel f ?di rect ed, sel f ?propel l ed; but - - dr i f t s .

Over agai nst t hi s at t i t ude Ki er kegaar d now set s t he et hi cal , Chr i st i an

l i f e, one wi t h a def i ni t e pur pose and goal beyond i t sel f . "I t i s onet hi ng t o compose one' s own l i f e , anot her , t o l et one' s l i f e becomposed. The Chr i st i an l ets hi s l i f e be composed; and i nsof ar a si mpl eChr i st i an l i ves f ar mor e poet i cal l y t han many a geni us. " I t woul dhar dl y be possi bl e t o char act er i ze t he cont ent s of Ki er kegaar d' s f i r stgr eat book, Ent en?El l er "Ei t her ?Or , " mor e i ncl usi vel y and t er sel y.

Very wel l , t hen, t he Chr i st i an l i f e, wi t h i t s cl ear di r ect i ve, i ssuper i or t o the aest het i c exi st ence. But how i s t hi s: ar e we not al lChr i st i ans i n Chr i st endom, chi l dr en of Chr i st i ans, bapt i zed andconf i r med accor di ng to t he regul at i ons of t he Chur ch? And ar e we notal l t o be saved accordi ng to t he pr omi se of Our Lor d who di ed f or us?At a ver y ear l y t i me Ki erkegaar d, hi msel f desper at el y st r uggl i ng t omai nt ai n hi s Chr i st i an f ai t h agai nst doubt s, had hi s eyes opened t o,

t hi s enormous del usi on of modern t i mes and was pr epar i ng t o bat t l eagai nst i t . The gr eat i dea and t ask f or whi ch he was t o l i ve and t odi e- - her e i t was: humani t y i s i n appar ent possessi on of t he di vi net r ut h, but ut t er l y per ver t s i t and, t o cap i nj ur y wi t h i nsul t , pr ot ectsand i nt r enches t he decept i on behi nd st at e sanct i on and i nst i t ut i ons.Mor e appal l i ng evi l conf r ont ed not even t he ear l y pr otagoni st s of Chr i st i ani t y agai nst heat hendom. How was he, si ngl e?handed,magni f i cent l y gi f t ed t hough he was, t o cl eanse t he templ e and r est orei ts pr i s t i ne s i mpl i ci ty?

Cl ear l y, t he ol d mi st ake must not be r epeat ed, t o t r y t o i nf l uenceand r ef or m t he masses by a vul gar and f ut i l e "r evi val , " preachi ng t ot hem di r ect l y and gai ni ng di sci pl es i nnumer abl e. I t woul d onl y l eadagai n, t o the abomi nat i on of a l i p servi ce. But a f erment must be

i nt r oduced whi ch- - he hoped- - woul d gr adual l y rest or e Chr i st i ani t y to i t sf or mer vi gor ; at l east i n i ndi vi dual s. So f ar as t he f or m of hi s ownworks i s concerned he was t hus bound t o use t he " i ndi r ect met hod" of Socrates whom he regar ds as hi s t eacher. I n consci ous opposi t i on t o t heSophi st s who sol d t hei r boast ed wi sdom f or money, Socrat es not onl ymade no char ges f or hi s i nst r uct i on but even warned peopl e of hi si gor ance, i nsi st i ng t hat , l i ke a mi dwi f e, he onl y hel ped peopl e t o gi vebi r t h t o thei r own t hought s. And owi ng t o hi s i r ony Socrat es' r el at i ont o hi s di sci pl es was not i n any posi t i ve sense a per sonal one. Least of al l di d he wi sh to f ound a new "school " or er ect a phi l osophi c"syst em. "

Ki er kegaar d, wi t h Chr i st i ani t y as hi s goal , adopt ed the same t act i cs.By an at t r act i ve æst het i c begi nni ng peopl e wer e t o be "l ur ed" i nt o

envi sagi ng t he di f f i cul t i es t o be unf ol ded pr esent l y, t o t hi nk f ort hemsel ves, t o f or m t hei r own concl usi ons, whet her f or or agai nst . Thei ndi vi dual was t o be appeal ed t o, f i r st and l ast - - t he i ndi vi dual , nomat t er how humbl e, who woul d take t he t r oubl e to f ol l ow hi m and be hi sr eader , "my onl y reader , t he si ngl e i ndi vi dual . " "So the rel i gi ousaut hor must make i t hi s f i r st busi ness t o put hi msel f i n t ouch wi t hmen. That i s t o say, he must begi n aest het i cal l y. The mor e br i l l i anthi s per f ormance, t he bet t er . " And then, when he has got t hem t o f ol l owhi m "he must pr oduce t he r el i gi ous cat egori es so t hat t hese same menwi t h al l t he i mpet us of t hei r devot i on t o aest heti c 4hi ngs are suddenl ybr ought up sharp agai nst t he rel i gi ous aspect . " The wr i t er ' s ownpersonal i t y was t o be ent i r el y el i mi nated by a syst em of pseudonyms;f or t he ef f ect of hi s t eachi ng was not t o be j eopar di zed by a


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di st r act i ng knowl edge of hi s per sonal i t y. Accor di ngl y, i n consci ousi mi t at i on of Socrat es, Ki er kegaar d at f i r st kept up a sembl ance of hi spr evi ous st udent l i f e, posi ng as a f r i vol ous i dl er on t he st r eet s of Copenhagen, a wi t t y dog i ncapabl e of pr ol onged ser i ous act i vi t y; t husanxi ousl y guar di ng t he secret of hi s f ever i sh act i vi t y dur i ng t hel onel y hour s of t he ni ght .

Hi s campai gn of t he "i ndi r ect communi cat i on" was t hus f ul l ydet er mi ned upon; but t here was st i l l l acki ng the i mpetus of anel ement al passi on t o star t i t and gi ve i t dr i vi ng f or ce and conquer i ng

per si st ence. Thi s al so was t o be f ur ni shed hi m.Shor t l y bef ore hi s f at her ' s death he had made the acquai nt ance of

Regi ne Ol son, a beaut i f ul young gi r l of good f ami l y. Ther e f ol l owed oneof t he saddest i magi nabl e engagement s. The mel anchol y, and essent i al l yl onel y, t hi nker may not at f i r st have ent er t ai ned t he t hought of al ast i ng at t achment ; f or had he not , on t he one hand, gi ven up al l hopeof worl dl y happi ness, and on the ot her , begun t o t hi nk of hi msel f as achosen t ool of heaven not t o be bound by t he ordi nary t i es of humanaf f ect i on? But t he nat ur al desi r e to be as happy as other s and t o l i veman' s common l ot , f or a moment hushed al l anxi ous scr upl es. And t hel ove of t he br i l l i ant and pr omi si ng young man wi t h the deep, sad eyesand t he f l ashi ng wi t was ar dent l y retur ned by her .

Di f f i cul t i es ar ose ver y soon. I t was not so much t he ext r eme yout hand i mmat ur i t y of t he gi r l - - she was bar el y si xt een- - as agai nst hi st r emendous ment al devel opment , or even her " t otal l ack of r el i gi ouspr e?supposi t i ons" ; f or t hat mi ght not i t sel f have pr ecl uded a happyuni on. Vast l y more omi nous was hi s own unconquer abl e and overwhel mi ngmel anchol y. She coul d not br eak i t . And st r uggl e as he mi ght , he coul dnot bani sh i t . And, he r easoned, even i f he wer e successf ul i nconceal i ng i t f r om her , t he ver y conceal ment wer e a decei t . Nei t herwoul d he bur den her wi t h hi s mel anchol y by r eveal i ng i t t o her .Besi des, some myst er i ous ai l ment whi ch, wi t h Paul , he t erms t he "t horni n hi s f l esh, " t or ment ed hi m. The f act t hat he consul t ed a physi ci anmakes i t l i kel y that i t was bodi l y, and per haps sexual . On t he ot herhand, t he manner of Ki erkegaar d' s mul t i t udi nous r ef erences t o womanr emoves t he suspi ci on of any abnormal i t y. The i mpr essi on r emai ns t hat

at t he bott om of hi s t r oubl e t her e l ay hi s mel anchol y, aggr avat edadmi t t edl y by an " i nsane educat i on, " and coupl ed wi t h an exagger atedsense of a mi sspent yout h. That nothi ng el se pr event ed t he uni on i scl ear f r omhi s own r epeated l at er r emarks t hat , wi t h mor e f ai t h, hewoul d have mar r i ed her .

Though to t he end of hi s l i f e he never ceased t o l ove her, he f eel st hat t hey must par t . But she cl i ngs t o hi m wi t h a r at her maudl i ndevot i on, whi ch, t o be sur e, onl y i ncr eased hi s det er mi nat i on. Hef i nal l y hi t on t he desper at e devi ce of pr et endi ng f r i vol ousi ndi f f er ence t o her af f ect i ons, and act ed t hi s sad comedy wi t h al l t hedi al ect i c subt l eness of hi s geni us, unt i l she event ual l y r el eased hi m.Then, af t er br avi ng f or a whi l e t he phi l i st i ne i ndi gnat i on of publ i copi ni on and t he di sappr oval of hi s f r i ends, i n or der t o conf i r m her i n

her bad opi ni on of hi m, he f l ed t o Ber l i n wi t h shat t ered ner ves and abl eedi ng hear t .

He had depr i ved hi msel f of what was dear est t o hi m i n l i f e. For al lt hat , he knew t hat t he f oundat i ons of hi s char act er r emai ned unshaken.The vol unt ary r enunci at i on of a worl dl y happi ness whi ch was hi s f or t het aki ng i nt ensi f i es hi s i dea of bei ng one of ' t he "f ew i n eachgener at i on sel ected t o be a sacri f i ce. " Ther eaf t er , "hi s t hought i s al lt o hi m, " and al l hi s gi f t s are devot ed t o the ser vi ce of God.

Dur i ng t he f i r st hal f of t he ni net eent h cent ur y, mor e t han at anyother t i me, Denmark was an i ntel l ectual dependency of Germany. I t wasbut nat ur al t hat Ki er kegaar d, i n sear ch f or t he ul t i mat e ver i t i es,


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shoul d r esor t t o Berl i n wher e Schel l i ng was j ust t hen begi nni ng hi sf amous cour se of l ectur es. I n many respect s i t may be hel d depl orabl et hat , at a sti l l f or mat i ve st age, Ki er kegaar d shoul d have remai ned i nt he pr osai c capi t al of Prussi a and have been i nf l uenced by bl oodl essabstr acti ons; i nstead of j our neyi ng t o Fr ance, or st i l l bet t er , t oEngl and whose empi r i ci sm woul d, no doubt , have been an excel l entcor r ect i ve of hi s excessi ve t endency t o specul at i on. I n f act he wasqui ckl y di sappoi nt ed wi t h Schel l i ng and af t er f our mont hs r et ur ned t ohi s bel oved Copenhagen ( whi ch he was not t o l eave t hereaf t er except f orshor t per i ods) , wi t h hi s mi nd st i l l busy on the pr obl ems whi ch wer e

pecul i arl y hi s own. The t r emendous i mpul se gi ven by hi § unf ort unateengagement was suf f i ci ent t o st i mul at e hi s sensi t i ve mi nd to apr oduc?t i vi t y wi t hout equal i n Dani sh l i t er at ur e, t o cr eat e a" l i t erature wi t hi n a l i t erature. " The f earf ul i nner col l i s i on of mot i ves had l i t an i nner conf l agr at i on whi ch di d not di e down f oryears. "My becomi ng an aut hor i s due chi ef l y t o her , my mel anchol y, andmy money. "

About a year af t erwards ( 1843) t here appear ed hi s f i r st gr eat work,"Ei t her?Or , " whi ch at once est abl i shed hi s f ame. As i n t he case of mostof hi s works i t wi l l be i mpossi bl e to gi ve her e mor e than t he bar estout l i ne of i t s pl an and cont ent s. I n subst ance, i t i s a gr and debat ebet ween t he aest het i c and t he et hi c vi ews of l i f e. I n hi s di sser t at i onKi erkegaar d had al r eady charact er i zed t he æst het i c poi nt of vi ew. Now,

i n a br i l l i ant ser i es of ar t i c l es, he pr oceeds t o exempl i f y i t wi t hexuberant det ai l .

The f undament al chor d of t he f i r st par t i s st r uck i n t heDi apsal mata- - aphori sms whi ch, l i ke so many f l ashes of a l ant ern,i l l umi nat e t he æst het i c l i f e, i t s pl easur es and i t s despai r . Theæsthet i c i ndi vi dual - - t hi s i s br ought out i n t he ar t i c l e ent i t l ed "TheAr t of Rotat i on"- - wi shes t o be t he except i on i n human soci et y, shi r ki ngi t s common, humbl e dut i es and cl ai mi ng speci al pr i vi l eges. He has nof i xed pr i nci pl e except t hat he means not t o be bound t o anyt hi ng oranybody. He has but one desi r e whi ch i s, t o enj oy t he sweet s of l i f e- - whet her i t s pur el y sensual pl easur es or t he mor e r ef i nedEpi cur eani sm of t he f i ner t hi ngs i n l i f e and ar t , and t he i r oni cenj oyment of one' s own superi ori t y over t he r est of humani t y; and he

has no f ear except t hat he may succumb t o boredom.

As a comment on t hi s t ext t here f ol l ow a number of essays i n"exper i ment al psychol ogy, " supposed t o be t he f r ui t of t he æst hete' s( A' s) l ei sure. I n t hem t he æsthet i c l i f e i s exhi bi t ed i n i t s var i ousmani f est at i ons, i n "t er ms of exi st ence, " especi al l y as to i t s "er ot i cst ages, " f r om t he i ndef i ni t e l ongi ngs of t he Page t o t he f ul l yconsci ous " sensual geni us" of Don J uan- - t he exampl es ar e t aken f r omMozar t ' s oper a of t hi s name, whi ch was Ki er kegaard' s f avor i t e- - unt i lt he whol e cul mi nates i n t he f amous " Di ary of t he Seducer , " cont ai ni ngel ement s of t he aut hor' s own engagement , poet i cal l y di sgui sed- - aseducer , by t he way, of an i nf i ni t el y ref l ecti ve ki nd.

Fol l owi ng t hi s cl i max of unr est r ai ned æst het i ci sm we hear i n t he

second part t he st ern demands of t he et hi cal l i f e. I t s spokesman, J udgeWi l l i am, r i ses i n def ense of t he soci al i nst i t ut es, and of mar r i age i npar t i cul ar , agai nst t he sl ur s cast on t hem by hi s young f r i end A. Hemakes i t cl ear t hat t he onl y possi bl e out come of t he æst heti c l i f e,wi t h i t s ai ml essness, i t s super ci l i ousness, i t s vague possi bi l i t i es, i sa f eel i ng of vani t y and vexat i on of spi r i t , and a hat r ed of l i f ei t sel f : despai r . One f l ounder i ng i n t hi s i nevi t abl e sl ough of despond,who ear nest l y wi shes to escape f r om i t and t o save hi msel f f r omt heul t i mat e dest r uct i on of hi s per sonal i t y, must choose and det er mi ne t or i se i nt o t he et hi cal spher e. That i s, he must el ect a def i ni t ecal l i ng, no mat t er how humdr um, marr y, i f possi bl e, and t hus subj ecthi msel f t o t he "gener al l aw. " I n a wor d, i nst ead of a wor l d of vaguepossi bi l i t i es, however at t r act i ve, he must choose t he def i ni t e


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ci r cumscr i pt i on of t he i ndi vi dual who i s a member of soci ety. Onl yt hus, wi l l he obt ai n a bal ance i n hi s l i f e bet ween t he demands of hi sper sonal i t y on the one hand, and of t he demands of soci et y on hi m. Whent hus r econci l ed t o hi s envi r onment - - hi s "l ot "- - al l t he pl easur es of t heæst het i c sphere whi ch he resi gned wi l l be hi s agai n i n r i ch measure,but i n a tr ansf i gur ed sense.

Though nobl y el oquent i n pl aces, and i nst i nct wi t h war m f eel i ng, t hi spanegyr i c on marr i age and t he f i xed dut i es of l i f e i s somewhatunconvi nci ng, and i t s st yl e undeni abl y tame and unct i ous- - at l east when

cont r ast ed wi t h t he Sat ani c Ver ve of most of A' s papers. The f act i st hat Ki er kegaard, when consi der i ng t he et hi cal spher e, i n or der t ocar r y out hi s pl an of cont r ast i ng i t wi t h t he æst het i c spher e, wasal r eady envi sagi ng t he hi gher spher e of r el i gi on, t o whi ch t he et hi calspher e i s but a t r ansi t i on, and whi ch i s t he onl y t r ue al t er nat i ve t ot he æst het i c l i f e. At t he ver y end of t he book Ki er kegaar d, f l yi ng hi st r ue col ors, pl aces a ser mon as an "ul t i matum, " pur port i ng to have beenwr i t t en bya past or on t he J ut i sh Heat h. I t s t ext i s t hat "as agai nst wear e al ways i n t he wr ong, " and t he t enor of i t , "onl ythat t r ut h whi chedi f i es i s t r ut h f or you. " I t i s not t hat you must choose ei t her t heæst het i c or t he et hi cal vi ew of l i f e; but t hat nei t her t he one nor t heot her i s t he f ul l t r ut h- - God al one i s t he t r ut h whi ch must be gr aspedwi t h al l i nwar dness. But si nce we r ecogni ze our i mper f ect i ons, or si ns,t he more keenl y, as we are devel oped more hi ghl y, our t ypi cal r el at i on

t o God must be that of r epent ance; and by r epent ance as by a st ep wemay r i se i nt o t he hi gher spher e of r el i gi on- - as wi l l be seen, a pur el yChr i st i an t hought .

A wor k of such power f ul or i gi nal i t y, i mposi ng by i t s ver y si ze, andpubl i shed at t he anonymous author ' s own expense, coul d not but cr eat e ast i r among t he smal l Dani sh r eadi ng publ i c. And notwi t hst andi ngKi er kegaar d' s consi st ent ef f or t s t o conceal hi s aut hor shi p i n t hei nt er est of hi s "i ndi r ect communi cat i on, " i t coul d not l ong r emai n asecr et . The book was much, and perpl exedl y, di scussed, t hough no onewas abl e to f athom t he aut hor ' s r eal ai m, most r eader s bei ng att r act edby pi quant subj ect s such as t he "Di ary of t he Seducer , " and r egardi ngt he l at t er hal f as a f eebl e af t er t hought . As he sai d hi msel f : "Wi t h myl ef t hand I hel d out t o t he wor l d ' Ei t her ?Or , ' wi t h my r i ght , ' Two

Edi f yi ng Di scour ses' ; but t hey al l - - or pr acti cal l y al l - - sei zed wi t ht hei r r i ght hands what I hel d i n my l ef t . "

These "Two Edi f yi ng Di scour ses, " [ 4] f or t hus he pr ef er r ed t o cal lt hem, r at her t han ser mons, because he cl ai med no aut hor i t y t opr each- - as wel l as al l t he many l ater ones, were publ i shed over hi s ownname, addr essed t o Den Enkel t e "The Si ngl e I ndi vi dual " "whomwi t h j oyand grat i t ude he cal l s hi s r eader , " and were dedi cated t o the memory of hi s f at her. They bel ong among the nobl est books of edi f i cat i on, of whi ch t he Nor t h has not a f ew.

Dur i ng t he f ol l owi ng t hr ee years ( 1843?5) Ki erkegaar d, once r oused t opr oduct i vi t y, t hough undoubt edl y kept at hi s t ask by t he exer t i on of marvel l ous wi l l ?power, wr ote i n qui ck successi on some of hi s most

not abl e wor ks- - so or i gi nal i n f or m, i n t hought , i n cont ent t hat i t i s awel l ?ni gh hopel ess t ask t o anal yze them t o any sat i sf act i on. Al l we cando here i s t o note t he devel opment i n t hem of t he one gr and theme whi chi s f undament al t o al l hi s l i t er ar y act i vi t y: how t o become a Chr i st i an.

I f t he second part of "Ei t her?Or " was devoted t o an expl anat i on of t he nat ur e of t he et hi cal , as agai nst t he æst het i c, conduct of l i f e,i nevi t abl y the next t ask was, f i r st , t o def i ne t he nat ur e of t her el i gi ous l i f e, as agai nst t he mer el y et hi cal l i f e; t hen, t o show howt he r el i gi ous spher e may be at t ai ned. Thi s i s done i n t he br i l l i antt wi n books Fr ygt og Baeven "Fear and Trembl i ng" and Gj ent agel sen"Repet i t i on. " Both were publ i shed over pseudonyms.


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"Fear and Tr embl i ng" bear s as i t s subt i t l e "Di al ect i c Lyr i cs. " I ndeed,nowher e per haps, i s Ki er kegaar d' s st r ange uni on of di al ect i c subt l et yand i nt ense l yri cal power and passi on so str i ki ngl y i n evi dence as i nt hi s panegyri c on Abr aham, t he f ather of f ai t h. To Ki er kegaar d he i st he shi ni ng exempl ar of t he r el i gi ous l i f e; and hi s gr eat est act of f ai t h, hi s obedi ence to God' s command to sl ay I saac. Nothi ng cansurpass t he el oquence wi t h whi ch he depi ct s t he agony of t he f ather ,hi s st r uggl e bet ween t he et hi cal , or gener al , l aw whi ch sai t h "t houshal t no ki l l " ! and God' s speci f i c command. I n t he end, Abr aham by agr and r esol ve t r ansgresses the l aw; and l o! because he has f ai t h,

agai nst cer t ai nt y, t hat he wi l l keep I saac, and does not mer el y r esi gnhi m, as many a t r agi c hero woul d have done, he recei ves al l agai n, i n anew and hi gher sphere. I n other words, Abr aham chooses t o be "t heexcept i on" and set asi de the general l aw, as wel l as does t he æst het i ci ndi vi dual ; but , not e wel l : "i n f ear and t r embl i ng, " and at t he expr esscommand of God! He i s a "kni ght of f ai t h. " But because t hi s di r ectr el at i on t o t he di vi ni t y necessar i l y can be cer t ai n onl y to Abr aham' ssel f , hi s act i on i s al t oget her i ncompr ehensi bl e t o ot her s. Reasonr ecoi l s bef or e the absol ut e par adox of t he i ndi vi dual who chooses t or i se super i or t o t he gener al l aw.

The ri se i nt o the r el i gi ous spher e i s al ways l i kel y t o be the out comeof some sever e i nner conf l i ct engender i ng i nf i ni t e passi on. I n t hespl endi dl y wr i t t en Gj ent agel se "Repet i t i on" we are shown ad ocul os an

abor t i ve t r ansi t i on i nt o t he r el i gi ous spher e, wi t h a cor r espondi ngr el apse i nt o t he æst het i c spher e. Ki er kegaard' s own l ove?st or y i s agai ndr awn upon: t he "Young Person" ardent l y l oves t he woman; but di scover st o hi s const er nat i on t hat she i s i n r eal i t y but a bur den t o hi m si nce,i nst ead of havi ng an act ual , l i vi ng r el at i on t o her , he mer el y" r emembers" her when she i s present . I n t he ensui ng col l i si on of mot i ves hi s æst het i cal l y cool f r i end Const ant i n Const ant i us advi ses hi mt o act as one unwor t hy of her - - as di d Ki er kegaar d- - and t o f or get her.But i nst ead of f ol l owi ng t hi s advi ce, and l acki ng a deeper r el i gi ousbackgr ound, he f l ees t he town and subsequent l y t r ansmut es hi s t r i al si nt o poet r y- - t hat i s, r el apses i nt o t he æst het i c spher e: r at her t han,l i ke J ob, whom he apost r ophi ses passi onat el y, "r ecei vi ng al l agai n"( havi ng al l "r epeat ed") i n a hi gher spher e. Thi s i dea of t he r esumpt i onof a l ower st age i nt o a hi gher one i s one of Ki erkegaar d' s most

or i gi nal and f er t i l e t hought s. I t i s i l l ust r at ed her e wi t h an amazi ngweal t h of i nst ances.

So f ar , i t had been a quest i on of r el i gi ous f eel i ng i n gener al - - howi t may ar i se, and what i t s nat ur e i s. I n t he pi vot al wor k Phi l osophi skeSmul er "Phi l osophi c Tr i f l es"- - not e t he i r ony- - Ki er kegaar d t hr ows t hesear chi ng r ays of hi s penet r at i ng i nt el l ect on t he gr and pr obl em of r eveal ed r el i gi on: can one' s eter nal sal vat i on be based on anhi st or i cal event ? Thi s i s t he gr eat st umbl i ng bl ock t o t heunderst andi ng.

Hegel ' s phi l osophi c opt i mi sm mai nt ai ned t hat t he di f f i cul t i es of Chr i st i ani t y had been compl et el y "r econci l ed" or "medi at ed" i n t hesupposedl y hi gher synt hesi s of phi l osophy, by whi ch pr ocess r el i gi on

had been r educed t o t erms whi ch mi ght be gr asped by t he i ntel l ect .Ki er kegaar d, f ul l y voi ci ng t he cl ai m bot h of t he i nt el l ect and of r el i gi on, er ect s t he bar r i er of t he par adox, i mpassabl e except by t heact of f ai t h. As wi l l be seen, t hi s i s Ter t ul l i an' s Cr edo qui aabsur dum. [ 5]

I n t he br i ef est possi bl e out l i ne hi s ar gument i s as f ol l ows: Socrat eshad t aught t hat i n r eal i t y every one had t he t r ut h i n hi m and neededbut t o be remi nded of i t by t he t eacher who t hus i s necessar y onl y i nhel pi ng t he di sci pl e t o di scover i t hi msel f . That i s t he i ndi r ectcommuni cat i on of t he t r uth. But now suppose t hat t he t r ut h i s noti nnate i n man, suppose he has merel y t he abi l i t y t o gr asp i t whenpr esent ed t o hi m. And suppose t he teacher t o be of absol ut e, i nf i ni t e


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i mpor t ance- - t he Godhead hi msel f , di r ect l y communi cat i ng wi t h man,r eveal i ng t he tr ut h i n t he shape of man; i n f act , as t he l owl i est of men, yet i nsi st i ng on i mpl i ci t bel i ef i n Hi m! Thi s, accor di ng t oKi er kegaar d, const i t ut es t he par adox of f ai t h par excel l ence. But t hi sparadox, he shows, exi st ed f or t he generat i on cont empor aneous wi t hChr i st i n t he same manner as i t does f or t hose l i vi ng now. To t hi nkt hat f ai t h was an easi er mat t er f or t hose who saw t he Lor d and wal kedi n Hi s bl essed company i s but a sent i ment al , and f at al , del usi on. Ont he ot her hand, t o f ound one' s f ai t h on t he gl or i ous r esul t s, nowevi dent , of Chr i st ' s appear ance i n t he wor l d i s sheer t hought l essness

and bl asphemy. Wi t h i nel uct abl e cogency i t f ol l ows t hat " t here can beno di sci pl e at second hand. " Now, as wel l as "1800 years ago, " whet heri n Heat hendom or i n Chr i st endom, f ai t h i s bor n of t he same condi t i ons:t he r esol ut e accept ance by t he i ndi vi dual of t he absol ut e paradox.

I n pr evi ous works Ki erkegaar d had al r eady i nt i mated t hat whatf ur ni shed man t he i mpetus t o r i se i nt o the hi ghest sphere and t o assai lpassi onat el y and i ncessant l y the bar r i er of t he par adox, or el se causedhi m t o l apse i nt o "demoni c despai r , " was t he consci ousness of si n. I nt he book Begr ebet Angest "The Concept of Si n, " he now at t empts wi t h ani nf i ni t e and l abor i ous subt l et y t o expl ai n t he nat ur e of si n. I t sor i gi n i s f ound i n t he "sympat het i c ant i pat hy" of Dr ead- - t hat f or cewhi ch at one and t he same t i me at t r act s and r epel s f r om t he suspect eddanger of a f al l and i s pr esent even i n t he stat e of i nnocence, i n

chi l dren. I t f i nal l y resul t s i n a ki nd of "di zzi ness" whi ch i s f at al .Yet , so Ki er kegaar d cont ends, t he "f al l " of man i s, i n ever y si ngl ei nst ance, due t o a def i ni t e act of t he wi l l , a "l eap"- - whi ch seems apat ent cont r adi ct i on.

To t he moder n r eader, t hi s i s t he l east pal at abl e of Ki er kegaard' sworks, concei ved as i t i s wi t h a soverei gn and al most medi evaldi sr egard of t he pr edi sposi ng undeni abl e f actors of envi r onment andher edi t y (whi ch, t o be sur e, poor l y f i t hi s not i on of t he absol ut er esponsi bi l i t y of t he i ndi vi dual ) . I t s sombr eness i s r edeemed, t o acer t ai n degr ee, by a seri es of marvel l ous observat i ons, dr awn f r omhi st ory and l i t er at ur e, on t he var i ous phases and mani f est at i ons of Dr ead i n human l i f e.

On the same day as t he book j ust di scussed t her e appear ed, as a"count er ?i r r i t ant , " t he hi l ar i ousl y exuber ant For or d "For ewor ds, " acol l ecti on of some ei ght pl ayf ul but vi ci ous at t acks, i n t he f or m of pr ef aces, on var i ous f ool i sh mani f est ati ons of Hegel i ani sm i n Denmark.They are ai med chi ef l y at t he hi gh?pr i est of t he "syst em, " t he poetJ ohan Ludvi g Hei berg who, as the arbi t er el egant i arum of t he t i mes hadpr esumed t o r evi ew, wi t h a pl ent i f ul l ack of i nsi ght , Ki er kegaar d' sact i vi t y. But some of t he most t el l i ng shot s are f i r ed at a number of t he i ndi vi dual i st Ki er kegaar d' s pet aver si ons.

Hi s next great wor k, St adi er paa Li vet s Vei "St ages on Li f e' s Road, "f or ms a sor t of r esumé of t he resul t s so f ar gai ned. The thr ee"spheres" are more cl ear l y el aborated.

The aest het i c spher e i s r epr esent ed exi st ent i al l y by the i ncompar abl eI n Vi no Ver i t as, gener al l y cal l ed "The Banquet , " f r om a pur el y l i t er ar ypoi nt of vi ew t he most per f ect of Ki er kegaard' s wor ks, whi ch, i f wr i t t en i n one of t he gr eat l anguages of Eur ope, woul d have pr ocur edhi m worl d f ame. Composed i n di r ect emul at i on of Pl ato' s i mmort alSymposi on, i t bear s compar i son wi t h i t as wel l as any moderncomposi t i on can. [ 6] I ndeed, i t excel s Pl at o' s wor k i n subt l et y,r i chness, and ref i ned humor. To be sur e, Ki erkegaar d has charged hi scr eat i on wi t h such romant i c superabundance of del i cat e observat i ons andr ococo or nament t hat t he whol e comes danger ousl y near bei ng i mprobabl e;wher eas t he ol der wor k st ands sol i dl y i n r eal i t y.

I t i s wi t h def i ni t e pur pose that t he t heme of t he speeches of t he


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f i ve par t i c i pant s i n t he banquet i s l ove, i . e. , t he r el at i on of t he t wosexes i n l ove; f or i t i s t her e t he mai n bat t l e bet ween t he æst het i c andt he et hi cal vi ew of l i f e must be f ought out . Accor di ngl y, J udgeWi l l i am, t o whom t he l ast i dyl l i c pages of "The Banquet " agai ni nt r oduce us, i n t he second part br eaks another shaf t i n def ense of mar r i age, whi ch i n t he et hi cal vi ew of l i f e i s t he t ypi cal r eal i zat i onof t he "gener al l aw. " Love exi st s al so f or t he et hi cal i ndi vi dual . I nf act , l ove and no ot her consi der ati on what soever can j ust i f y mar r i age.But wher eas t o t he aest het i c i ndi vi dual l ove i s mer el y er ot i ci sm, vi z. ,a passi ng sel f ?i ndul gence wi t hout any obl i gat i on, t he et hi cal

i ndi vi dual at t aches t o hi msel f t he woman of hi s choi ce by an act of vol i t i on, f or bet t er or f or wor se, and by hi s mar r i age vow i ncur s anobl i gat i on t o soci et y. Mar r i age i s t hus a synt hesi s of l ove and dut y. Api t y onl y t hat Ki er kegaard' s ast oni shi ngl y l ow eval uati on of womanut t er l y mars what woul d ot herwi se be a cl assi c def ence of marr i age.

The r el i gi ous spher e i s shown f or t h i n t he thi r d par t ,Skyl di g- - I kke?Skyl di g "Gui l t y- - Not ?Gui l t y, " wi t h the apt subt i t l e "AHi st ory of Woe. " Worki ng over , f or t he thi r d t i me, and i n t he mosti nt ense f ashi on, hi s own unsuccessf ul at t empt t o "r eal i ze the gener all aw, " i . e. , by mar r yi ng, he her e pr esent s i n t he f or m of a di ar y theessent i al f act s of hi s own engagement , but i n darker col or s t han i n"Repet i t i on. " I t i s br oken because of r el i gi ous i ncompat i bi l i t y and t hel over ' s unconquerabl e mel anchol y; and by hi s vol unt ary r enunci at i on,

coupl ed wi t h acut e suf f er i ng t hr ough hi s sense of gui l t f or hi s act , hei s dr i ven up t o an appr oxi mat i on of t he r el i gi ous spher e. Not unj ust l y,Ki er kegaard hi msel f r egarded t hi s as the r i chest of hi s works.

One may say t hat "Gui l t y?Not?Gui l t y" cor r esponds t o Ki erkegaar d' s owndevel opment at t hi s st age. Chr i st i ani t y i s st i l l above hi m. How may i tbe at t ai ned? Thi s i s t he gr and theme of t he huge book whi msi cal l y named"Fi nal Unsci ent i f i c Postscr i pt t o t he Phi l osophi cal Tr i f l es, "Af st ut t ende Uvi denskabel i g Ef t er skr i f t ( 1846) : "How shal l I become aChr i st i an, I , J ohannes Cl i macus, bor n i n t hi s ci t y, t hi r t y year s of age, and not i n any way di f f erent f r om t he or di nary r un of men"?

Fol l owi ng up t he r esul t s gai ned i n t he "Tri f l es, " t he subj ecti vi t yof f ai t h i s est abl i shed once f or al l : i t i s not t o be at t ai ned by

swear i ng to any set of dogmas, not even Scr i pt ur e; f or who wi l l vouchf or i t s bei ng an absol ut el y r el i abl e and i nspi r ed account of Chr i st ?Besi des, as Lessi ng had demonst r ated concl usi vel y: hi st or i c f act s nevercan become the pr oof of et er nal ver i t i es. Nor can t he exi st ence of t heChur ch t hr ough t he ages f ur ni sh any guar ant ee f or f ai t h- - st r ai ghtcount er t o t he opi ni on hel d by Ki erkegaard' s f amous cont emporaryGr undtvi g- - any more t han can mere cont empor aneousness est abl i sh aguarant ee f or t hose l i vi ng at t he begi nni ng. To sumup: "One who has anobj ect i ve Chr i st i ani t y and not hi ng el se, he i s eo i pso a heat hen. " Fort he same r eason, "phi l osophi c specul at i on" i s not t he pr oper appr oach,si nce i t seeks t o under st and Chr i st i ani t y obj ecti vel y, as an hi st or i cphenomenon- - whi ch r ul es i t out f r om t he st art .

I t i s onl y by a deci si ve " l eap, " f r om obj ecti ve t hi nki ng i nt o

subj ect i ve f ai t h, wi t h t he consci ousness of si n as t he dr i vi ng power ,t hat t he i ndi vi dual may r eal i ze ( we woul d say, at t ai n) Chr i st i ani t y.Nor i s i t gai ned once f or al l , but must ever be mai nt ai ned bypassi onat el y assai l i ng t he par adox of f ai t h, whi ch i s, t hat one' set er nal sal vat i on i s based on an hi st ori c f act . The mai n t hi ng al waysi s t he "how, " not t he "what . " Ki erkegaar d goes so f ar as t o say t hat hewho wi t h f ervency and i nwardness pr ays t o some f al se god i s t o bepr ef err ed t o hi m who worshi ps t he t r ue god, but wi t hout t he passi on of devot i on.

I n order t o pr event any mi sunder st andi ng about t he manner of pr esent at i on i n t hi s r emar kabl e book, i t wi l l be wel l t o addKi erkegaar d' s own r emark af t er r eadi ng a consci ent i ous German r evi ew of


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hi s " Tr i f l es": "Al t hough the account gi ven i s cor r ect , ever y one whor eads i t wi l l obt ai n an al t oget her i ncor r ect i mpr essi on of t he book;because t he account t he cr i t i c gi ves i s i n t he ex cat hedr a st yl e( docerende) , whi ch wi l l pr oduce on t he r eader t he i mpr essi on t hat t hebook i s wr i t t en i n a l i ke manner . But t hi s i s i n my eyes t he wor stmi sconcept i on possi bl e. " And as t o i t s pecul i ar conver sat i onal ,ent er t ai ni ng manner whi ch i n t he most l ei sur el y, l egère f ashi on and i nan al l but dogmat i c st yl e t r eat s of t he pr of oundest pr obl ems, i t i swel l t o r ecal l t he si mi l ar l y popul ar manner of Pascal i n hi s Let t r esPr ovi nci al es. Li ke hi m- - and hi s gr and pr ot otype Socrates- - Ki er kegaard

has t he si ngul ar f acul t y of att acki ng t he most abst r use matt er s wi t h achat t i ness bor der i ng on f r i vol i t y, yet wi t hout ever l osi ng di gni t y.

For f our and a hal f years Ki erkegaar d had now, notwi t hst andi ng hi sf eebl e heal t h, t oi l ed f ever i shl y and, as he hi msel f st at es, wi t houteven a si ngl e day' s r emi ssi on. And " t he honorar i um had been r atherSocr at i c" : al l of hi s books bad been br ought out at hi s own expense,and t hei r sal e had been, of cour se, smal l . ( Of t he "Fi nal Post scri pt , "e. g. , whi ch had cost hi m between 500 and 600 r i xdol l ars, onl y 60 copi eswere sol d) . Hardl y any one had underst ood what t he purpose of t hi s"l i t erat ur e" was. He hi msel f had done, wi t h the ut most exer t i on and tot he best of hi s abi l i t y, what he set out t o do: t o show hi s t i mes,whi ch had assumed t hat bei ng a Chr i st i an i s an easy enough mat t er , how

unspeakabl y di f f i cul t a mat t er i t r eal l y i s and what t er r i bl y sever edemands i t makes on nat ural man. He now l onged f or r est and ser i ousl yent er t ai ned t he pl an of br i ngi ng hi s l i t er ar y car eer t o a cl ose andspendi ng t he remai nder of hi s days as a past or of some qui et count r ypar i sh, t her e to conver t hi s phi l osophy i nt o t er ms of pr act i calexi st ence. But t hi s was not t o be. An i nci dent whi ch woul d seemr i di cuousl y smal l t o a mor e robust nat ur e suf f i ced t o i nf l i ct onKi er kegaard' s sensi t i ve mi nd t he keenest t ort ur es and t hus t o st i ng hi mi nt o a r enewed and mor e passi onat e l i t er ar y act i vi t y.

As i t happened, t he comi c paper Korsar en "The Corsai r " was t hen att he heyday of i t s car eer . The f i r st r eal l y democrati c per i odi cal i nDenmark, i t st ood above part y l i nes and t hr ough i t s mal i ci ous,br i l l i ant sat i r e and amusi ng car i cat ur es of pr omi nent per sonal i t i es was

hat ed, f ear ed, and enj oyed by ever ybody. I t s edi t or , t he J ewi sh aut horMei r Gol dschmi dt , was a warm and out spoken admi r er of t he phi l osopher .Ki erkegaar d, on t he ot her hand, had l ong regarded the Pr ess wi t hsuspi ci on. He l oat hed i t because i t gave expr essi on t o, and t hus subt l yf l at t er ed, t he mul t i t ude, "t he publ i c, " "t he mob"- - as agai nst t hei ndi vi dual , and because i t worked wi t h the t er r i bl e weapon of anonymi t y; but hel d i t especi al l y dangerous by r eason of i t s enormousci r cul at i on and dai l y r epet i t i on of mi schi evous f al sehoods. So i tseemed t o hi m who ever doubt ed t he abi l i t y of t he "peopl e" t o t hi nk f ort hemsel ves. I n a wor d, t he Pr ess i s t o hi m "t he evi l pr i nci pl e i n t hemoder n wor l d. " Needl ess t o say, t he tacti cs of "The Cor sai r , " i npar t i cul ar , i nf ur i at ed hi m.

I n a Chr i st mas annual ( 1845) t her e had appear ed a bl under i ng revi ew,

by one of t he col l abor at or s on "The Cor sai r , " of hi s " St ages on Li f e' sRoad. " Sei zi ng t he oppor t uni t y of f er ed, Ki erkegaar d wr ot e a caust i cr ej oi nder , addi ng t he chal l enge: "Woul d t hat I now soon appear i n ' TheCor sai r . ' I t i s r eal l y har d on a poor aut hor t o be si ngl ed out i nDani sh l i t er at ur e by remai ni ng t he onl y one who i s not abused i n i t . "We know now t hat Gol dschmi dt di d hi s best i n a pr i vat e i nt ervi ew t owar d of f a f eud, . but when r ebuf f ed he t ur ned t he bat t er i es of hi sr i di cul e on t he per sonal i t y of hi s er st whi l e i dol . And f or t he bet t erpart of a year t he Copenhagen publ i c was kept l aughi ng and gr i nni ngabout t he unequal t r ouser l egs, t he spi ndl e shanks, t he i nseparabl eumbr el l a, t he di al ecti c pr opensi t i es, of "Ei t her - - Or , " as Ki er kegaar dcame to be cal l ed by the popul ace; f or , owi ng t o hi s per i pat et i chabi t s- - acqui r ed i n connect i on wi t h the I ndi r ect Communi cat i on- - he had


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l ong been a f ami l i ar f i gur e on t he st r eet s of t he capi t al . Whi l e tr yi ngt o mai nt ai n an ai r of i ndi f f er ence, be suf f er ed t he t or t ur es of t hedamned. I n hi s J our nal ( sever al hundr ed of whose pages are gi ven overt o r ef l ect i ons on t hi s exper i ence) we f i nd excl amat i ons such as t hi sone: "What i s i t t o be roast ed al i ve at a sl ow f i r e, or t o be br oken ont he wheel or , as t hey do i n warm cl i mat es, t o be smear ed wi t h honey andput at t he mer cy of t he i nsect s- - what i s t hat i n compar i son wi t h t hi st or t ur e: t o be gr i nned t o death! "

There coul d be no thought now of r et i r i ng t o a peacef ul charge i n

t he count r y. That woul d have been f l eei ng f r om per secut i on. Besi des,unbeknown perhaps t o hi msel f , hi s pugnaci t y was ar oused. Whi l e undert he i nf l uence of t he "Cor sai r Feud" ( as i t i s known i n Dani shl i t er at ur e) he compl et es t he bookl et "A Li t er ar y Revi ew. " Thi s wasor i gi nal l y i nt ended as a pur el y æst het i c eval uat i on and appr eci at i on of t he ( t hen anonymous) aut hor [ 7] of t he Hver dagshi st or i er "Commonpl aceSt or i es" t hat ar e pr ai sed by hi m f or t hei r t hought f ul bodyi ng f or t h of a consi st ent vi ew of l i f e whi ch- - however di f f er ent f r om hi s own- - yetcommanded hi s r espect . He now appended a ser i es of bi t t er r ef l ect i onson t he Pr esent Ti mes, payi ng hi s r espect s t o the Pr ess, whi ch he cal l si ncomparabl y t he worst of f ender i n f ur ni shi ng peopl e wi t h cheap i r ony,i n f or ci bl y l evel l i ng out and r educi ng t o medi ocr i t y al l t hose whostr i ve t o r i se above i t i nt el l ectual l y- - wor ds appl i cabl e, al as! no l esst o our own t i mes. To hi m, however , who i n a rel i gi ous sense has become

t he capt ai n of hi s soul , t he becomi ng a but t of t he Press i s but a tr uet est . Looki ng up, Ki er kegaar d sees i n hi s own f ate t he usual r ewar daccor ded by manki nd to t he cour ageous soul s who dare t o f i ght f or t het r ut h, f or t he i deal - - f or Chr i st i ani t y, agai nst t he "masses. " I n amodern way, t hrough r i di cul e, he was undergoi ng the mart yrdom whi ch thebl ood wi t nesses of ol d had under gone f or t he sake of t hei r f ai t h. Thei rt ask i t had been to pr each the Gospel among t he heat hen. Hi s, her easoned, was i n nowi se easi er : t o make cl ear t o uncompr ehendi ngmi l l i ons of so?cal l ed Chr i st i ans t hat t hey wer e not Chr i st i ans at al l ,t hat t hey di d not even know what Chr i st i ani t y i s: suf f er i ng andper secut i on, as he now r ecogni zes, bei ng i nsepar abl e f r om t he t r ul yChr i s t i an l i f e.

Fi r st , t hen, t he r oad had t o be cl ear ed, emphat i cal l y, f or t he t r ut h

t hat Chr i st i ani t y and "t he publ i c" ar e opposi t e t er ms. The col l ect i onof "Edi f yi ng Di scour ses i n Di ver se Spi r i t s" i s t hus a r el i gi ouspar al l el t o t he pol emi c i n hi s "Revi ew. " The f i r st par t of t hesemedi t at i ons has f or t ext : "The pur i t y of t he hear t consi st s i n wi l l i ngone thi ng"- - and t hi s one thi ng i s necessar i l y the good, t he i deal ; butonl y he who l i ves hi s l i f e as t he i ndi vi dual can possi bl y wi l l t hegood- - el se i t i s l i ved i n dupl i ci t y, f or t he wor l d wi l l share hi saspi r at i ons, he wi l l bi d f or t he r ewar ds whi ch t he bowi ng bef ore t hecr owd can gi ve hi m. I n t he second part , ent i t l ed "What we may l ear nf r om t he Li l i es of t he Fi el d and t he Bi r ds of t he Ai r "- - one of Ki er kegaar d' s f avor i t e t ext s- - t he gr eat est danger t o t heet hi co- r el i gi ous l i f e i s shown t o be t he uneasi ness about our mat er i alwel f ar e whi ch i nsi di ousl y haunt s our t hought ?l i f e, and, not wi t hst andi ngour best endeavor s, r ender s us essent i al l y sl aves t o "t he cr owd";

whereas i t i s gi ven to man, cr eat ed i n the i mage of God, t o be assel f ?cont ai ned, unaf r ai d, hopef ul as ar e ( symbol i cal l y) t he l i l y andt he bi r d. The st art l i ngl y new devel opment at t ai ned t hr ough hi s r ecentexper i ences i s most evi dent i n t he thi r d part , "The Gospel of Suf f er i ngs, " i n whi ch absol ut e st r ess i s l ai d on t he i mi t at i on of Chr i st i n t he st r i ct est sense. Onl y t he "i ndi vi dual " can compass t hi s:t he narr ow way t o sal vat i on must be t r avel ed al one; and wi l l l ead t osal vat i on onl y i f t he wor l d i s, l i t er al l y, over come i n per secut i on andt r i bul at i on. And, on t he ot her hand, t o be happy i n t hi s wor l d i sequi val ent t o f or f ei t i ng sal vat i on. Thus br i ef l y out l i ned, t he cont ent sof t hi s book woul d seem t o be sheer monki sh ascet i ci sm; but nosynopsi s, however f ul l , can hope t o gi ve an i dea of i t s l yri cal pat hos,i t s weal t h of t ender r ef l ect i ons, t he gr eat l ove t emper i ng t he st er n


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sever i t y of i t s teachi ng.

Wi t h wonderf ul beaut y "The Deeds of Love" ( Kj erl i ghedens Gj erni nger)( 1847) ar e exal t ed as t he Chr i st i an' s hel p and sal vat i on agai nst t het r i bul at i ons of t he wor l d- - l ove, not i ndeed of t he human ki nd, but of man t hr ough God. "You ar e not concerned at al l wi t h what ot hers do toyou, but onl y wi t h what you do t o ot hers; and al so, wi t h how you r eactt o what other s do t o you- - you ar e concer ned, essent i al l y, onl y wi t hyour sel f , bef or e God. "

I n r api d successi on t her e f ol l ow "Chr i st i an Di scour ses"; "The Li l yof t he Fi el d and t he Bi r d of t he Ai r "; "Si ckness Unt o Deat h" ( wi t h t hesub?t i t l e "A Chr i st i an Psychol ogi cal Exposi t i on") ; "Two Rel i gi ousTr eat i ses"; "The Hi gh Pr i est , t he Publ i can, t he Si nner "; "Thr eeDi scour ses on the 0ccasi on of Communi on on Fr i day. "

I n t he cour se of t hese r ef l ect i ons i t had become i ncreasi ngl y cl eart o Ki er kegaar d that t he sel f ?const i t ut ed r epr esent at i ve of Chr i st - - t heChur ch or , t o ment i on onl y the organi zat i on he was i nt i matel yacquai nt ed wi t h, t he Dani sh St ate Chur ch- - had succeeded i n becomi ng apur el y wor l dl y or gani zat i on whose repr esent at i ves, f ar f r om st r i vi ng t of ol l ow Chr i st , had made l i f e qui t e comf or t abl e f or t hemsel ves; r et or tt o whi ch was pr esent l y made t hat by thus st r essi ng"cont emporaneousness" wi t h i t s aspect s of suf f er i ng and persecut i on,

Ki erkegaard had bot h exceeded the accept ed t eachi ng of t he Chur ch andst aked t he at t ai nment of Chr i st i ani t y so hi gh as t o dr i ve al l exi st i ngf orms of i t ad absur dum.

I n hi s I ndövel se i Chr i st endom "Prepar at i on f or a Chr i st i an Li f e"and t he somber Ti l Sel vpr övel se "For a Sel f ?Examat i on" Ki erkegaar dr etur ns t o t he at t ack wi t h a powerf ul r e?exami nat i on of t he whol equest i on as t o how f ar moder n Chr i st i ani t y cor r esponds t o t hat of t heFounder. Si mpl y, but wi t h gr andi ose power, he works out i n concr etei nst ances t he concept i on of " cont emporaneousness" gai ned i n t he "Fi nalPost scr i pt " ; at t he same t i me demonst r at i ng to al l who have eyes t osee, t he axi omat i c connect i on bet ween the doct r i ne of Pr opi t i ati on andChr i st ' s l i f e i n debasement ; t hat Chr i st i ani t y consi st s i n absol ut el ydyi ng t o t he wor l d; and t hat t he Chr i st i ani t y whi ch does not l i ve up t o

t hi s i s but a t r avest y on Chr i st i ani t y. We may t hi nk what we Pl easeabout t hi s counsel of per f ect i on, and j udge what we may about t her at her ar bi t r ary choi ce of Scr i pt ur e passages on whi ch Ki erkegaar dbui l ds: no seri ous r eader, no si ncer e Chr i st i an can escape t hesear chi ng of hear t sure t o f ol l ow t hi s t r emendous arr ai gnment of humani t y f al se to i t s di vi ne l eader . Ther e i s nothi ng mor e i mpr essi vei n al l moder n l i t er at ur e than t he gal l er y of "opi ni ons" voi ced by thosearr ayed agai nst Chr i st when on ear t h- - and now- - as t o what const i t ut est he "of f ense. "

Ki erkegaar d had hesi t ated a l ong t i me bef ore publ i shi ng t he"Prepar at i on f or a Chr i st i an Li f e. " Aut hor i t y?l ovi ng as he was, heshrank f r om ant agoni zi ng t he Chur ch, as i t was bound t o do; and moreespeci al l y, f r om gi vi ng of f ense t o i t s pr i mat e, t he vener abl e Bi shop

Mynst er who had been hi s f at her ' s f r i end and spi r i t ual advi ser, t o whomhe had hi msel f al ways l ooked up wi t h admi r i ng r ever ence, and whosesermons he had been i n t he habi t of r eadi ng at al l t i mes. Al so, t o besure, he was r est r ai ned by the thought t hat by publ i shi ng hi s book hewoul d render Chr i st i ani t y wel l ?ni ght unat t ai nabl e to t he weak and t hesi mpl e and t he af f l i ct ed who cer t ai nl y wer e i n need of t he consol at i onsof Chr i st i ani t y wi t hout any addi t i onal suf f er i ngs i nt er posed and sur el yno reader of hi s devot i onal works can be i n doubt t hat he was t he mostt ender?hear t ed of men. I n ear l i er , st r onger t i mes, he i magi nes, hewoul d have been made a mart yr f or hi s opi ni ons; but was he ent i t l ed t obecome a bl ood?wi t ness- - he who r eal i zed more keenl y t han any one t hathe hi msel f was not a Chr i st i an i n t he st r i ct est sense? I n hi s "TwoRel i gi ous Treat i ses" he debat es t he quest i on: "I s i t per mi ssi bl e f or a


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man t o l et hi msel f be ki l l ed f or t he tr ut h?"; whi ch i s answer ed i n t henegat i ve i n "About t he Di f f erence between a Geni us and anApost l e"- - whi ch consi st s i n t he Apost l e' s speaki ng wi t h aut hor i t y.However, shoul d not t he t r ut h be t he most i mport ant consi derat i on? Hi sj our nal dur i ng t hat t i me of f ers abundant pr oof of t he absol ut eear nest ness wi t h whi ch he st r uggl ed over t he quest i on.

When Ki er kegaar d f i nal l y publ i shed "The Pr eparat i on f or a Chr i st i anLi f e, " t he bi shop was, i ndeed, i ncensed; but he di d not hi ng. Nor di dany one el se vent ur e f or t h. St i l l wor se af f r ont ! Ki er kegaar d had sai d

hi s l ast wor d, had st at ed hi s ul t i mat um- - and i t was r ecei ved wi t hi ndi f f erence, i t seemed. Nevert hel ess he deci ded t o wai t and see whatef f ect hi s books woul d have f or he hesi t ated t o dr aw t he l astconcl usi ons and mor t al l y wound t he ol d man t ot t er i ng on t he br i nk of hi s grave by t hus at t acki ng t he Chur ch. There f ol l owed a thr ee years'per i od of si l ence on t he par t of Ki er kegaar d- - agai n cer t ai nl y a pr oof of hi s ut t er si ncer i t y. I t must be remember ed, i n t hi s connect i on, t hatt he ver y l ast t hi ng Ki er kegaard desi r ed was an ext er nal r eor gani zat i on,a "r ef or m, " of t he Chur ch- - i ndeed, he f i r ml y r ef used t o be i dent i f i edwi t h any movement of secessi on, di f f er i ng i n t hi s r espect vi t al l y f r omhi s contempor ar i es Vi net and Gr undtvi g who ot her wi se had so much i ncommon wi t h hi m. Hi s onl y wi sh was t o i nf use l i f e and i nwardness i nt ot he exi st i ng f or ms. And f ar f r om bei ng i nf er i or t o them i n t hi s he washere at one wi t h t he Founder and t he Ear l y Chur ch i n t hat he st ates t he

ai m of t he Chr i st i an Li f e t o be, not t o t r ansf or m t he exi st i ng soci alorder , but t o t r anscend i t . For t he ver y same r eason, coupl ed t o besur e wi t h a pr onounced ar i st ocrat i c i ndi vi dual i sm, he i s ut t er l y andunr easonabl y i ndi f f er ent , and even ant agoni st i c, t o t he gr eat soci almovement s of hi s t i me, t o the pol i t i cal upheaval s of 1848, t o t her evol ut i onar y advances of sci ence.

As Ki erkegaar d now consi dered hi s career vi r t ual l y concl uded, hewr ote (1851) a br i ef account "About my Act i vi t y as an Aut hor" i n, whi chhe f ur ni shes hi s r eader s a key to i t s unf ol di ng- - f r om an aest het i c vi ewt o the rel i gi ous vi ew- - whi ch he consi der s hi s own educat i on byPr ovi dence; and i ndi cat es i t t o be hi s speci al t ask to cal l at t ent i on,wi t hout aut hor i t y, t o t he r el i gi ous, t he Chr i st i an l i f e. Hi s "Vi ewpoi ntf or my Act i vi t y as an Aut hor , " publ i shed by hi s br ot her onl y l ong af t er

hi s deat h, l i kewi se def l nes t he pur pose of t he whol e "aut hor shi p, "besi des cont ai ni ng i mpor t ant bi ogr aphi cal mat er i al .

At l engt h ( J anuary, 1854) Mynst er di ed. Even then Ki erkegaar d,t hough st i l l on hi s guar d, mi ght not have f el t cal l ed upon t o haver ecour se to st r onger measur es i f i t had l i ot been f or an unf or t unat esent ence i n t he f uneral ser mon preached by t he now f amousMar t ensen- - gener al l y poi nt ed out as t he successor t o t he pr i macy- - wi t hwhom Ki erkegaard had al r eady broken a l ance or t wo. Mar t ensen haddecl ared Mynst er t o have been "one of t he hol y chai n of wi t nesses f ort he t r ut h ( sandhedsvi dner ) whi ch ext ends t hrough t he cent ur i es downf r om t he t i me of t he Apost l es. " Thi s i s t he pr ovocat i on f or whi chKi erkegaar d had wai t ed. "Bi shop Mynst er a wi t ness f or t he t r ut h" ! hebur st s out , "You who read t hi s, you know wel l what i n a Chr i st i an sense

i s a wi t ness f or t he t r ut h. St i l l , l et me r emi nd you t hat t o be one, i ti s absol ut el y essent i al t o suf f er f or t he t eachi ng of Chr i st i ani t y";whereas " t he t r ut h i s t hat Mynst er was wordl y?wi se t o a degr ee- - wasweak, pl easurel ovi ng, and gr eat onl y as a decl ai mer. " But once morest r i ki ng pr oof of hi s ci r cumspect i on and si ngl e?mi ndedness- - he keptt hi s har sh l et t er i n hi s desk f or ni ne mont hs, l est i t s publ i cat i onshoul d i nt er f ere i n t he l east wi t h Mar t ensen' s appoi nt ment , or seem t heout come of per sonal r esent ment .

Mar t ensen' s r epl y, whi ch f or cef ul l y enough br i ngs out al l t hat coul dbe sai d f or a mi l der i nt er pr et at i on of t he Chr i st i an cat egor i es and f orhi s pr edecessor , was not as r espect f ul t o the sensi t i ve aut hor as i tought t o have been. I n a number of newspaper l et t ers of i ncr easi ng


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vi ol ence and acer bi t y Ki er kegaar d now t r i ed t o f or ce hi s obst i nat el ysi l ent opponent t o hi s knees; but i n vai n. Fi l l ed wi t h hol y wr at h atwhat he concei ved t o be a conspi r acy by si l ence, and evasi ons t o br i ngt o naught t he whol e i nf i ni t el y i mport ant mat t er f or whi ch he hadst r i ven, Ki er kegaar d f i nal l y t ur ned agi t at or . He addr essed hi msel f di r ect l y t o the peopl e wi t h t he cel ebr at ed pamphl et seri es Öebl i kket"The Pr esent Moment " i n whi ch he opens an absol utel y wi t her i ng f i r e of i nvect i ve on anythi ng and everythi ng connected wi t h " t he exi st i ngor der " i n Chr i st endom- - an agi t at i on t he l i ke of whi ch f or r evol ut i onar yvehemence has r ar el y, i f ever , been seen. Al l r i t es of t he

Chur ch- - marr i age, bapt i sm, conf i r mat i on, communi on, bur i al - - and most of al l t he cl er gy, hi gh and l ow, dr aw t he f i er y bol t s of hi s wr at h and aper f ect hai l of f i er ce, cruel i nvect i ve. The domi nant not e, t houghvar i ed i nf i ni t el y, i s ever t he same: "Whoever you may be, and whatevert he l i f e you l i ve, my f r i end: by omi t t i ng t o at t end t he publ i c di vi neser vi ce- - i f i ndeed i t be your habi t t o at t end i t - - by omi t t i ng t o at t endpubl i c di vi ne ser vi ce as now const i t ut ed- - ai mi ng as i t does t or epr esent t he Chr i st i ani t y of t he New Test ament ) you wi l l escape atl east one, and a gr eat , 4b i n not at t empt i ng t o f ool God by cal l i ngt hat t he Chr i st i ani t y of t he New Test ament whi ch i s not t heChr i st i ani t y of t he New Test ament . " And he does not hesi t ate t o usest r ong, even coar se, l anguage; he even cour t s t he r epr oach of bl asphemyi n or der t o r ender r i di cul ous i n "Of f i ci al Chr i st i ani t y" what t o mostmay seem i nherent l y, t hough mi st akenl y, a mat t er of hi ghest r everence.

The swi f t ness and mer ci l essness of hi s att ack seem t o have l ef t hi scont emporar i es wi t hout a weapon: al l t hey coul d do was t o shr ug t hei rshoul der s about t he "f anat i c, " t o duck and wai t dumbl y unt i l t he st or mhad passed.

Nor di d i t l ast l ong. On t he second of Oct ober , 1855, Ki er kegaar df el l unconsci ous i n the st r eet. He was brought t o the hospi t al wher e hedi ed on t he el eventh of November , - - aged 42. The i mmense exer t i ons of t he l ast mont hs had shat t er ed hi s f r ai l body. And st r ange: t he l ast of hi s money bi d been used up. He had sai d what he t hought Pr ovi dence hadt o communi cate t hr ough hi m. Hi s s t r ength was gone. Hi s deat h at t hi smoment woul d put t he cr own on hi s work. As he sai d on hi s deat h?bed:"The bomb expl odes, and t he conf l agr at i on wi l l f ol l ow. "

I n appr ai si ng Ki er kegaar d' s l i f e and wor ks i t wi l l be f ound t r ue, asHöf f di ng says, t hat he can mean much even t o t hose who do not subscr i bet o t he bel i ef s so unquest i oni ngl y ent er t ai ned by hi m. And however mucht hey may r egr et t hat he pour ed hi s nobl e wi ne i nt o the ol d bot t l es,t hey cannot f ai l t o recogni ze t he yeoman' s servi ce he di d, t ot i i f orsi ncer e Chr i st i ans i n compel l i ng t hem t o rehear se i nwar dl y what evert ends t o become a mat t er of f orm: what i t means t o be a Chr i st i an; andf or ot her s, i n deepeni ng t hei r sense of i ndi vi dual r esponsi bi l i t y. I nf act , every one who has once come under hi s i nf l uence and has wr est l edwi t h t hi s mi ght y spi r i t wi l l bear away some bl essi ng. I n i t s t i me when,as i n our own, t he cr owd, soci et y, t he mi l l i ons, t he nat i on, haddepr essed t he i ndi vi dual t o an i nsi gni f i cant at om- - and what i s wor se,i n t he i ndi vi dual ' s own est i mat i on; when shal l ow al t r ui st i c,soci al i zi ng ef f or t t hought nai vel y t hat t he mi l l eni um was at hand, he

dr ove t he t r ut h home t hat, on t he cont r ar y, t he i ndi vi dual i s t hemeasure of al l t hi ngs; t hat we do not l i ve en masse; t hat both t het er r i bl e r esponsi bi l i t y and t he gr eat sat i sf acti ons of l i f e i nher e i nt he i ndi vi dual . Agai n, more f orci bl y t han any one el se i n modern t i mes,cer t ai nl y more cogent l y t han Pascal , he demonst r ated t hat t hepossi bi l i t y of pr oof i n r el i gi on i s an i l l usi on; t hat doubt cannot becombat t ed by reason, t hat i t ever wi l l be cr edo qui a i mpossi bi l e. I nr el i gi on, he showed t he ut t er i ncompat i bi l i t y of t he æst heti c and t her el i gi ous l i f e; and i n Chr i st i ani t y, he r e?st at ed and r epoi nt ed t hepr i nci pl e of i deal per f ecti on by hi s unr emi t t i ng i nsi st ence oncont emporaneousness wi t h Chr i st . I t i s another matt er whether by sodoi ng Ki erkegaar d was about t o pul l t he pi l l ar s f r om under neat h t hegr eat edi f i ce of Chr i st i ani t y whi ch housed bot h hi m and hi s enemi es:


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seei ng t hat he hi msel f f i nal l y doubt ed whet her i t had ever exi st edapar t f r omt he Founder and, possi bl y, t he Apost l es.

Ki erkegaar d i s not easy r eadi ng. One' s f i r st i mpr essi on of cr abbedness, whi msi cal i t y, abst r useness wi l l , however , soon gi ve way t oadmi r at i on of t he marvel l ous i nst r ument of pr eci si on l anguage hasbecome i n hi s hands. To be sur e, he di d not wr i t e f or peopl e who ar e i na hur r y, nor f or dul l ar ds. Hi s cl osel y reasoned par agr aphs and, att i mes huge, t hough r het or i cal l y f aul t l ess, per i ods r equi r e concent r at edat t ent i on, hi s i nvol ut i ons and r epet i t i ons, handl ed wi t h such

i ncomparabl e vi r t uosi t y, demand an ever l ast i ng r eadi ness of compr ehensi on on t he par t of t he r eader . On the ot her hand hi sphi l osophi c wor k i s del i ght f ul l y "Socrati c, " unconvent i onal , andal t oget her "un?t extbookl i ke. " Ki erkegaar d hi msel f wi shed t hat hi sdevot i onal works shoul d be r ead al oud. And, f r om a pur el y æst het i cpoi nt of vi ew, i t ought t o be a del i ght f or any or at or t o pr act i ce ont he wonder f ul per i ods of e. g. , "The Pr epar at i on, " or of , say, t heparabl e of t he coach?horses i n "Act s of t he Apost l es. " They al one woul dbe suf f i ci ent t o pl ace Ki er kegaar d i n t he f r ont r ank of pr ose wr i t er sof t he ni neteent h cent ur y where, both by t he power of hi s ut t erance andt he or i gi nal i t y of hi s t hought , he ri ght f ul l y bel ongs.

I n l ayi ng bef or e an Engl i sh speaki ng publ i c sel ect i ons f r omKi erkegaar d' s works, t he t r ansl ator has endeavor ed t o gi ve an adequate

i dea of t he var i ous aspect s of hi s hi ghl y di spar at e wor ks. For t hi spur pose he has chosen a f ew l arge pi eces, r ather t han gi ven t i dbi t s. Hehopes t o be pardoned f or not havi ng a sl avi sh r egard f or Ki erkegaar d' sver y i nconsequent i al par agr aphi ng [8] and f or br eaki ng, wi t h nodet r i ment , he bel i eves, t o the thought , some excessi vel y l ongpar agr aphs i nt o smal l er uni t s; whi ch wi l l pr ove mor e r est f ul t o t he eyeand more encour agi ng to t he r eader . As t o occasi onal omi ssi ons- - al waysi ndi cat ed by dot s- - t he possessor of t he compl et e wor ks wi l l r eadi l yi dent i f y them. I n consonance wi t h Ki erkegaar d' s vi ews on"cont emporaneousness , " no capi t al s are used i n "The Preparat i on" whenr ef er r i ng t o Chr i st by pr onouns.

When Ki er kegaar d di ed, hi s i nf l uence, l i ke t hat of Socr at es, wasj ust begi nni ng t o make i t sel f f el t . The compl et e tr ansl at i on i nt o

German of al l hi s works [ 9] and of many i nt o ot her l anguages; t hemagni f i cent new edi t i on of hi s wor ks [ 10] and of hi s ext r aor di nar i l yvol umi nous di ari es, [ 11] now near i ng compl eti on; and the st eadi l yi ncr easi ng number of books, pamphl ets, and art i cl es f r omt he mostdi ver se quart ers t est i f y to hi s r eachi ng a gr owi ng number of i ndi vi dual s. Bel ow i s gi ven a l i st of t he mor e i mpor t ant books andar t i cl es on Ki er kegaar d. I t does not ai m at compl et eness.

L. M. HOLLANDER

Adj unct Prof essor of Germani c Languages, Uni ver si t y of Texas, Aust i n.

Bär t hol d, A. S. K. , Ei ne Ver f asser exi st enz ei gner Ar t . Hal ber st adt ,1873.

Same: Noten zu S. K. ' s Lebensgeschi cht e. Hal l e, 1876.

Same: Di e Bedeut ung der aest het i schen Schr i f t en S. K. ' s. Hal l e, 1879.

Bar f od, H. P. ( I nt r oducti on t o t he f i r st edi t i on of t he Di ar y. )Copenhagen, 1869.

Bohl i n, Th. S. K. ' s Et i ska Askadni ng. Uppsal a, 1918. 1

Br andes, G. S. K. , En kri t i sk Fremst i l l i ng i Gr undr i ds. Copenhagen,1877.


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Same: German ed. Lei psi c, 1879.

Del eur an, V. Esqui sse d' une ét ude sur S. K. Thése, Uni ver si t y of Par i s, 1897.

Höf f di ng, H. S. K. Copenhagen, 1892.

Same: German edi t i on ( 2nd) . St ut t gar t , 1902.

Hof f mann, R. K. und di e r el i gi dse Gewi sshei t . Göt t i ngen, 1910.

J ensen, Ch. S. K. ' s r el i gi bse Udvi kl i ng. Aar hus, 1898.

Monr ad, 0. P. S. K. Sei n Leben und sei ne Werke. J ena, 1909.

Münch, Ph. Haupt und Gr undgedanken der Phi l osophi e S. K. ' s. Lei psi c,1902.

Rosenberg, P. A. S. K. , hans Li v, hans Personl i ghed og hansForf at t erskab. Copenhagen, 1898.

Rudi n, W. , S. K. ' s Per son och För f at t er skap. För st e Af del ni ngen.Stockhol m, 1880.

Schr empf , Ch. S. K. ' s St el l ung zu Bi bel und Dogma. Zei t schr i f t f ürTheol ogi e und Ki r che, 1891, p. 179.

Same: S. K. Ei n unf r ei er Pi oni er der Frei hei t . ( Wi t h a f or ewor d byHöf f di ng) Frankf ort , 1909.

Swenson, D. The Ant i ?I nt el l ect ual i sm of K. Phi l osophi c Revi ew,1916, p. 567.

To my f r i ends and col l eagues, Per cy M. Dawson and Howard M. J ones, Iwi sh al so i n t hi s pl ace t o expr ess my t hanks f or hel p and cri t i ci sm "i ndi vers spi r i t s . "

__________________________________________________________________

[ 1] Pr onounced Kerkegor .

[ 2] An i nt er est i ng par al l el i s t he st or y of Pet er Wi l l i ams, as t ol d byGeor ge Bor r ow, Lavengr o, chap. 75 f f .

[ 3] Cor r espondi ng, appr oxi mat el y, t o our doct or al t hesi s.

[ 4] Not "Di scour ses f or Edi f i cat i on, " cf . t he For ewor d t o At t erOpbyggel i ge Tal er , S. V. vol . i v.

[ 5] De Carne Chr i st i , chap. V, as my f r i end, Pr of essor A. E. Haydon,ki ndl y poi nt s out .

[ 6] Cf . Br andes, S. K. p. 157.

[ 7] Mr s. Thomasi ne Gyl l embourg- Ehr ensvär d.

[ 8] Wi t h si gnal except i on of "The Pr esent Moment . "

[ 9] I n pr ocess of publ i cat i on. J ena.

[ 10] Saml ede Vær ker . Copenhagen, 1901- 1906 ( 14 vol s. ) . I n t he notesabbr evi at ed S. V. St i l l anot her edi t i on i s pr epar i ng.

[ 11] Copenhagen, 1909 f f .__________________________________________________________________


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DI APSALMATA [ 12]

What i s a poet ? An unhappy man who conceal s pr of ound angui sh i n hi shear t , but whose l i ps ar e so f ashi oned t hat when si ghs and gr oans passover t hem t hey sound l i ke beaut i f ul musi c. Hi s f at e r esembl es t hat of t he unhappy men who were sl owl y r oast ed by a gent l e f i r e i n the t yrantPhal ar i s' bul l - - t hei r shr i eks coul d not r each hi s ear t o t er r i f y hi m,t o hi m t hey sounded l i ke sweet musi c. And peopl e f l ock about t he poetand say t o hi m: do si ng agai n; Whi ch means, woul d that new suf f er i ngst orment ed your soul , and: woul d t hat your l i ps st ayed f ashi oned as

bef or e, f or your cr i es woul d onl y t er r i f y us, but your musi c i sdel i ght f ul . And t he cri t i cs j oi n t hem, sayi ng: wel l done, t hus must i tbe accor di ng t o the l aws of aest het i cs. Why, t o be sur e, a cr i t i cr esembl es a poet as one pea another, t he onl y di f f erence bei ng that hehas no angui sh i n hi s hear t and no musi c on hi s l i ps. Behol d, t her ef or ewoul d I r at her be a swi neher d on Amager , [ 13] and be under st ood by t heswi ne than a poet , and mi sunder st ood by men.

I n addi t i on t o my numerous ot her acquai nt ances I have st i l l one morei nt i mat e f r i end- - my mel anchol y. I n t he mi dst of pl easur e, i n t he mi dstof work, he beckons t o me, cal l s me asi de, even t hough I r emai n pr esentbodi l y. My mel anchol y i s t he most f ai t hf ul sweet hear t I have had- - nowonder t hat I r et ur n t he l ove!

Of al l r i di cul ous t hi ngs t he most r i di cul ous seems t o me, t o bebusy- - t o be a man who i s br i sk about hi s f ood and hi s work. Theref ore,whenever I see a f l y set t l i ng, i n t he deci si ve moment , on t he nose of such a per son of af f ai r s; or i f he i s spat t er ed wi t h mud f r om acar r i age whi ch dr i ves past hi m i n st i l l gr eat er hast e; or t hedr awbr i dge opens up bef ore hi m; or a t i l e f al l s down and knocks hi mdead, t hen I l augh hear t i l y. And who, i ndeed, coul d hel p l aughi ng?What , I wonder , do t hese busy f ol ks get done? Ar e they not t o becl assed wi t h the woman who i n her conf usi on about t he house bei ng onf i r e car r i ed out t he f i r et ongs? What t hi ngs of gr eat er account , do yousuppose, wi l l t hey r escue f r om l i f e' s gr eat conf l agr at i on?

Let others compl ai n t hat t he t i mes ar e wi cked. I compl ai n t hat t hey arepal t r y; f or t hey are wi t hout passi on. The t hought s of men are t hi n and

f r ai l l i ke l ace, and t hey themsel ves ar e f eebl e l i ke gi r l l ace- maker s.The t hought s of t hei r hear t s are t oo puny t o be si nf ul . For a wor m i tmi ght concei vabl y be regarded a si n t o harbor t hought s such as t hei r s,not f or a man who i s f ormed i n t he i mage of God. Thei r l ust s ar e st ai dand sl uggi sh, t hei r passi ons sl eepy; t hey do t hei r dut y, t hese sor di dmi nds, but per mi t t hemsel ves, as di d t he J ews, t o tr i m t he coi ns j ustt he l east l i t t l e bi t , t hi nki ng t hat i f our Lor d keep t ab of t hem everso car ef ul l y one mi ght yet saf el y vent ur e t o f ool hi m a bi t . Fye upont hem! I t i s t heref ore my soul ever r etur ns t o the Ol d Test ament and t oShakespear e. There at l east one f eel s t hat one i s deal i ng wi t h men andwomen; t here one hat es and l oves, t her e one murders one' s enemy andcur ses hi s i ssue t hr ough al l gener at i ons- - t her e one si ns.

J ust as, accordi ng t o t he l egend [ 14] Par meni scus i n t he Trophoni an

cave l ost hi s abi l i t y t o l augh, but r ecover ed i t agai n on t he i sl and of Del os at t he si ght of a shapel ess bl ock whi ch was exhi bi t ed as t hei mage of t he goddess Let o: l i kewi se di d i t happen t o me. When I wasver y young I f orgot i n the Tr ophoni an cave how t o l augh; but when Igrew ol der and opened my eyes and contempl at ed t he r eal wor l d, I had tol augh, and have not ceased l aughi ng, ever s i nce. I behel d t hat t hemeani ng of l i f e was t o make a l i vi ng; i t s goal , t o become Chi ef J ust i ce; t hat t he del i ght s of l ove consi st ed i n mar r yi ng a woman wi t hampl e means; t hat i t was t he bl essedness of f r i endshi p t o hel p oneanot her i n f i nanci al di f f i cul t i es; t hat wi sdom was what most peopl esupposed i t t o be; t hat i t showed ent husi asm t o make a speech, andcour age, t o r i sk bei ng f i ned 10 dol l ar s; t hat i t was cor di al i t y t o say"may i t agr ee, wi t h you" af t er a repast ; t hat i t showed pi et y to


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par t ake of t he communi on once a year . saw t hat and l aughed.

A st r ange t hi ng happened t o me i n my dr eam. I was r apt i nto t he Sevent hHeaven. There sat al l t he gods assembl ed. As a speci al di spensat i on Iwas gr ant ed t he f avor t o have one wi sh. "Do you wi sh f or yout h, " sai dMer cur y, "or f or beaut y, or power , or a l ong l i f e; or do you wi sh f ort he most beaut i f ul woman, or any ot her of t he many f i ne t hi ngs we havei n our t r easure t r ove? Choose, but onl y one thi ng! " For a moment I wasat a l oss. Then I addr essed t he gods i n t hi s wi se: "Most honor abl econt emporari es, I choose one t hi ng- - t hat I may al ways have t he l aughs

on MY si de. " Not one god made answer , but al l began t o l augh. Fr om t hi sI concl uded t hat my wi sh had been gr ant ed and thought t hat t he godsknew how t o expr ess t hemsel ves wi t h good tast e: f or i t woul d sur el yhave been i nappr opr i ate t o answer gr avel y: your wi sh has been gr ant ed.

__________________________________________________________________

[ 12] I nt er l ude ( of aphor i sms) . Sel ect i on.

[ 13] A f l at i sl and sout h of t he capi t al , cal l ed t he "Ki t chen Gar den of ?Copenhagen. "

[ 14] Tol d by At henai os.__________________________________________________________________

THE BANQUET

I N VI NO VERI TAS ( THE BANQUET)

I t was on one of t he l ast days i n J ul y, at t en o' cl ock i n t he eveni ng,when t he part i ci pant s i n that banquet assembl ed t oget her . Date and yearI have f orgot t en; i ndeed t hi s woul d be i nt erest i ng onl y to one' s memoryof det ai l s: and not t o one' s r ecol l ect i on of t he cont ent s of whatexper i ence. The "spi r i t of t he occasi on" and whatever i mpr essi ons ar er ecorded i n one' s mi nd under t hat headi ng, concerns onl y one' sr ecol l ect i ons; and j ust as gener ous wi ne gai ns i n f l avor by passi ng t heEquat or , because of t he evapor at i on of i t s wat er y par t i cl es, l i kewi sedoes r ecol l ect i on gai n by get t i ng r i d of t he wat er y par t i cl es of memory; and yet r ecol l ect i on becomes as l i t t l e a mere f i gment of t he

i magi nat i on by t hi s process as does t he generous wi ne.

The par t i ci pant s were f i ve i n number : J ohn, wi t h t he epi t het of t heSeducer , Vi ct or Er emi t a, Const ant i n Const ant i us, and yet t wo ot her swhose names I have not exact l y f orgot t en?- whi ch woul d be a mat t er of smal l i mport ance but whose names I di d not l ear n. I t was as i f t heset wo had no pr oper names, f or t hey were const ant l y addressed by someepi t het . The one was cal l ed t he Young Per son. Nor was he more t hant went y and some year s, of sl ender and del i cate bui l d, and of a verydark compl exi on. Hi s f ace was t hought f ul ; but more pl easi ng even wasi t s l ovabl e and engagi ng expr essi on whi ch betokened a pur i t y of soulharmoni zi ng per f ect l y wi t h t he sof t charm, al most f emi ni ne, and t het r anspar ency of hi s whol e pr esence. Thi s external beaut y of appear ancewas l ost si ght of , however , i n one' s next i mpr essi on of hi m; or, one

kept i t onl y i n mi nd whi l st r egar di ng a yout h nur t ur ed or t o use a st i l lt enderer expr essi on- ?pet t ed i nt o bei ng, by thought , and nour i shed byt he cont ent s of hi s own soul a yout h who as yet had had not hi ng t o dowi t h t he worl d, had been nei t her ar oused and f i r ed, nor di squi eted anddi st ur bed. Li ke a sl eep?wal ker he bor e t he l aw of hi s act i ons wi t hi nhi msel f , and the ami abl e, ki ndl y expr essi on of hi s count enanceconcer ned no one, but onl y mi r r or ed t he di sposi t i on of hi s soul .

The ot her per son t hey cal l ed t he Dr essmaker , and t hat was hi soccupat i on. Of hi m i t was i mpossi bl e t oget a consi st ent i mpr essi on. Hewas dr essed accor di ng t o the ver y l at est f ashi on, wi t h hi s hai r cur l edand per f umed, f r agr ant wi t h eau?de?col ogne. One moment hi s car r i age di dnot l ack sel f - possessi on, whereas i n t he next i t assumed a cer t ai n


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f est i ve ai r , a cer t ai n hover i ng mot i on whi ch, however was kept i nr ather def i ni t e bounds by t he robust ness of hi s f i gur e. Even when hewas most mal i ci ous i n hi s speech hi s voi ce ever had a t ouch of t hesmoot h?t onguedness of t he t he shop, t he suaveness of t he deal er i nf ancy?goods, Whi ch evi dent l y was ut t er l y di sgust i ng to hi msel f and onl ysat i sf i ed hi s spi r i t of def i ance. As I t hi nk of hi m now I under st andhi m bet t er , t o be sur e, t han when I f i r st saw hi m st ep out of hi scar r i age and I i nvol unt ari l y l aughed. At t he same t i me there i s somecont r adi ct i on l ef t st i l l . He had t r ansf or med or bewi t ched hi msel f , hadby t he magi c of hi s own wi l l assumed t he appearance of one al most

hal f wi t t ed, but had not t her eby ent i r el y sat i sf i ed hi msel f ; and t hi s i swhy hi s r ef l ect i veness now and t hen peer ed f ort h f r om beneat h hi sdi sgui se.

As I t hi nk of i t now i t seems r at her absur d t hat f i ve such per sonsshoul d get a banquet ar r anged. Nor woul d anyt hi ng have come of i t , Isuppose, i f Const ant i n had not been one of us. I n a r et i r ed r oom of aconf ect i oner ' s shop where they met at t i mes, t he mat t er had beenbroached once bef or e, but had been dropped i mmedi at el y when t hequest i on arose as t o who was t o head t he under t aki ng. The Young Per sonwas decl ared unf i t f or t hat t ask, t he Dr essmaker af f i r med hi msel f t o bet oo busy. Vi ct or Er emi t a di d not beg t o be excused because "he hadmarr i ed a wi f e or bought yoke of oxen whi ch he needed to pr ove" , [ 15]but , he sai d, even i f he shoul d make an except i on, f or once, and come

t o the banquet , yet he woul d decl i ne the cour t esy of f er ed hi m t opr esi de at i t , and he t her ewi t h "ent er ed pr ot est at t he pr oper t i me.[ 16] Thi s, J ohn consi dered a work spoken i n due season; because, as hesaw i t , t here was but one person abl e t o pr epare a banquet , and t hatwas t he possessor of t he wi shi ng?t abl e whi ch set i t sel f wi t h del ect abl et hi ngs whenever he sai d t o i t "Cover t hysel f ! " He aver r ed t hat t o enj oyt he char ms of a young gi r l i n hast e was not al ways t he wi sest cour se;but as t o a banquet , he woul d not wai t f or i t , and gener al l y was t i r edof i t a l ong whi l e bef or e i t came of f . However , i f t he pl an was to becar r i ed i nt o ef f ect he woul d make one condi t i on, whi ch was, t hat t hebanquet shoul d be so ar r anged as t o be served i n one course. And t hatal l wer e agr eed on. Al so, t hat t he set t i ngs f or i t were t o be madeal t ogether new, and t hat af t erwards t hey were t o be dest r oyed ent i r el y;ay, bef or e r i si ng f r om t abl e one was t o hear t he pr epar at i on f or t hei r

dest r uct i on. Nothi ng was t o remai n; "not even so much, " sai d t heDr essmaker , "as t here i s l ef t of a dr ess af t er i t has been made overi nt o a hat. " "Not hi ng, " sai d J ohn, "because not hi ng i s mor e unpl easantt han a sent i ment al scene, and not hi ng more di sgust i ng t han t heknowl edge t hat somewhere or other t here i s an ext ernal set t i ng whi ch i na di r ect and i mper t i nent f ashi on pr et ends t o be a r eal i t y. "

When the conversat i on had thus become ani mat ed, Vi ct or Eremi t asuddenl y ar ose, st r uck an at t i t ude on the f l oor , beckoned wi t h hi s handi n the f ashi on of one commandi ng and, hol di ng hi s ar m ext ended as onel i f t i ng a gobl et , he sai d, wi t h t he gestur e of one wavi ng a wel come:"Wi t h t hi s cup whose f r agr ance al r eady i nt oxi cat es my senses, whosecool f i r e al r eady i nf l ames my bl ood, I gr eet you, bel ovedf el l ow?banqueters , and bi d you wel come; bei ng ent i r el y assured t hat

each one of you i s suf f i ci ent l y sat i sf i ed by our mer el y speaki ng aboutt he banquet ; f or our Lor d sat i sf i ed t he st omach bef or e sat i sf yi ng t heeye, but t he i magi nat i on act s i n t he r everse f ashi on. " Thereupon hei nser t ed hi s hand i n hi s pocket , t ook f r om i t a ci gar ?case, st r uck amat ch, and began t o smoke. When Const ant i n Const ant i us prot est edagai nst t hi s sover ei gn f r ee way of t r ansf ormi ng t he banquet pl annedi nt o an i l l usor y f r agment of l i f e, Vi ctor decl ar ed t hat he di d notbel i eve f or one moment t hat such a banquet coul d be got up and t hat , i nany case, i t had beena mi st ake to l et i t become t he subj ect of di scussi on i n advance. "Whatever i s t o be good must come at once; f or' at once' i s t he di vi nest of al l cat egor i es and deser ves t o be honor edas i n the l anguage of t he Romans: ex t empl o, [ 17] because i t i s t hest ar t i ng poi nt f or al l t hat i s di vi ne i n l i f e, and so much so t hat what


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i s not done at once i s of evi l . " However, he r emarked, he di d not car et o argue thi s poi nt . I n case t he ot hers wi shed t o speak and actdi f f er ent l y he woul d not say a wor d, but i f t hey wi shed hi m t o expl ai nt he sense of hi s r emarks more f ul l y he must have l eave to make aspeech, because he di d not consi der i t al l desi r abl e to pr ovoke adi scussi on on t he subj ect .

Per mi ssi on was gi ven hi m; and as t he ot hers cal l ed on hi m t o do so atonce, he spoke as f ol l ows: "A banquet i s i n i t sel f a di f f i cul t mat t er ,because even i f i t be ar r anged wi t h ever so much tast e and tal ent t here

i s somet hi ng el se essent i al t o i t s success, t o?wi t , good l uck. And byt hi s I mean not such mat t ers as most l i kel y woul d gi ve concer n to ananxi ous host ess, but somethi ng di f f erent , a somet hi ng whi ch no one canmake absol ut el y sur e of : a f ort unat e har moni zi ng of t he spi r i t and t hemi nut i ae of t he banquet , t hat f i ne et her eal vi br at i on of chor ds, t hatsoul ?st i r r i ng musi c whi ch cannot be or der ed i n advance f r omt het own?musi ci ans. Look you, t heref ore i s i t a hazardous t hi ng t ounder t ake, beause i f t hi ngs do go wr ong, perhaps f r om t he ver y st ar t ,one may suf f er such a depr essi on and l oss of spi r i t s t hat r ecover y f r omi t mi ght i nvol ve a ver y l ong t i me.

"Sheer habi t and t hought l essness ar e f ather and godf ather t o mostbanquet s, and i t i s onl y due to the l ack of cr i t i cal sense among peopl et hat one f ai l s t o not i ce t he ut t er absence of any i dea i n t hem. I n t he

f i r st pl ace, women ought never t o be pr esent at a banquet . Women may beused t o advant age onl y i n t he Gr eek st yl e, as a chorus of dancers . Asi t i s t he mai n thi ng at a banquet t hat t her e be eat i ng and dr i nki ng,woman ought not t o be pr esent ; she cannot do j ust i ce t o what i sof f er ed; or , i f she can, i t i s most unbeaut i f ul . Whenever a woman i spr esent t he mat t er of eat i ng and dr i nki ng ought t o be r educed to t hever y sl i ght est pr oport i ons. At most , i t ought t o be no more than somet r i f l i ng f emi ni ne occupat i on, t o have somethi ng t o busy one' s handswi t h. Especi al l y i n t he count r y a l i t t l e r epast of t hi s ki nd whi ch, byt he way, shoul d be put at other t i mes t han t he pr i nci pal meal s- ?may beextr emel y del i ght f ul ; and i f so, al ways owi ng t o the pr esence of t heot her sex. To do l i ke t he Engl i sh, who l et t he f ai r sex r et i r e as soonas t he r eal dr i nki ng i s t o st ar t , i s t o f al l bet ween t wo st ool s, f orever y pl an ought t o be a whol e, and t he very manner wi t h whi ch I t ake a

seat at t he tabl e and sei ze hol d of kni f e and f or k bear s a def i ni t er el at i on t o t hi s whol e. I n t he same sense a pol i t i cal banquet pr esent san unbeaut i f ul ambi gui t y i nasmuch as one does not [ 18] want t o cut downt o a ver y mi ni mum t he essent i al s of a banquet , and yet does not wi sh t ohave t he speeches t hought of as havi ng been made over t he cups.

"So f ar , we ar e agr eed, I suppose; and our number i n case anyt hi ngshoul d come of t he banquet?- i s corr ect l y chosen, accordi ng t o thatbeaut i f ul r ul e: nei t her more t han t he Muses nor f ewer t han t he Gr aces.Now I demand t he gr eat est superabundance of everyt hi ng t hi nkabl e. Thati s, even t hough ever yt hi ng be not act ual l y t her e, yet t he possi bi l i t yof havi ng i t must be at one' s i mmedi ate beck and cal l , aye, hovert empt i ngl y over t he tabl e, more seduct i ve even t han t he act ual si ght of i t . I beg t o be excused, however, f r om banquet i ng on sul phur ?matches or

on a pi ece of sugar whi ch al l are t o suck i n tur n. My demands f or sucha banquet wi l l , on t he cont r ar y, be di f f i cul t t o sat i sf y; f or t he f easti t sel f must be cal cul at ed t o ar ouse and i nci t e that unment i onabl el ongi ng whi ch each wor t hy par t i ci pant i s t o br i ng wi t h hi m. I r equi r et hat t he ear t h' s f er t i l i t y be at our ser vi ce, as t hough ever yt hi ngspr out ed f or t h at t he very moment t he desi r e f or i t was born. I desi r ea mor e l uxur i ous abundance of wi ne than when Mephi st ophel es needed butt o dr i l l hol es i nt o t he t abl e t o obt ai n i t . I demand an i l l umi nat i onmore spl endi d t han have the gnomes when t hey l i f t up t he mountai n onpi l l ars and dance i n a sea of bl azi ng l i ght . I demand what most exci t est he senses, I demand t hei r gr at i f i cat i on by del i ci ousl y sweet per f umes,more superb t han any i n t he Ar abi an Ni ght s. I demand a cool ness whi chvol upt uousl y pr ovokes desi r e and br eat hes r el axat i on on desi r e


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sat i sf i ed. I demand a f ount ai n' s unceasi ng enl i venment . I f Maecenascoul d not sl eep wi t hout hear i ng t he spl ashi ng of a f ount ai n, I cannoteat wi t hout i t . Do not mi sunders t and me, I can eat st ockf i sh wi t houti t ; but I cannot eat at a banquet wi t hout i t ; I can dr i nk wat er wi t houti t , but I cannot dr i nk wi ne at a banquet wi t hout i t . I demand a host of servant s, chosen and comel y, as i f I sate at t abl e wi t h t he gods; Idemand t hat t her e shal l be musi c at t he f east , bot h st r ong and subdued;and I demand that i t shal l be an accompani ment t o my t houghts; and whatconcer ns you, my f r i ends, my demands r egardi ng you are al t oget heri ncr edi bl e. Do you see, by reason of al l t hese demands?- whi ch are as

many r easons agai nst i t I hol d a banquet t o be a pi um desi derat um, [ 19]and am so f ar f r om desi r i ng a r epet i t i on of i t t hat I pr esume i t i s notf easi bl e even a f i r st t i me. "

The onl y one who had not act ual l y par t i ci pated i n t hi s conver sat i on,nor i n t he f r ust r at i on of t he banquet , was Const ant i n. Wi t hout hi m,not hi ng woul d have been done save t he t al ki ng. He had come t o adi f f erent concl usi on and was of t he opi ni on t hat t he i dea mi ght wel l ber eal i zed, i f one but car r i ed t he mat t er wi t h a hi gh hand.

Then some t i me passed, and bot h the banquet and the di scuss i on about i twere f orgot t en, when suddenl y, one day, t he part i ci pant s r ecei ved acar d of i nvi t ati on f r om Const ant i us f or a banquet t he ver y sameeveni ng. The mott o of t he Part y had been gi ven by hi m as: I n Vi no

Veri t as, because t here was t o be speaki ng, t o be sur e, and not onl yconver sat i on; but t he speeches were not t o be made except i n vi no, andno t r ut h was to be ut t ered t here except i ng t hat whi ch i s i n vi no- - whent he wi ne i s a def ense of t he t r ut h and t he t r ut h a def ense of t he wi ne.

The pl ace had been chosen i n the woods, some t en mi l es di st ant f r omCopenhagen. The hal l i n whi ch they were to f east had been newl ydecor at ed and i n every way made unrecogni zabl e; a smal l er r oom,separ at ed f r om t he hal l by a cor r i dor , was arr anged f or an or chest r a.Shut t ers and cur t ai ns were l et down bef ore al l wi ndows, whi ch were l ef topen. The ar r angement t hat t he part i ci pant s were t o dr i ve t o thebanquet i n t he eveni ng hour was t o i nt i mate t o t hem and t hat wasConst ant i n' s i dea what was to f ol l ow. Even i f one knows t hat one i sdr i vi ng t o a banquet, and t he i magi nat i on t her ef or e i ndul ges f or a

moment i n thought s of l uxur y, yet t he i mpr essi on of t he natur alsur r oundi ngs i s t oo power f ul t o be resi st ed. That t hi s mi ght possi bl ynot be t he case was t he onl y cont i ngency he appr ehended; f or j ust ast her e i s no power l i ke t he i magi nat i on t o r ender beaut i f ul al l i tt ouches, nei t her i s t here any power whi ch can t o such a degr ee di st ur bal l mi sf or t une conspi r i ng i f conf r ont ed wi t h r eal i t y. But dr i vi ng on asummer eveni ng does not l ur e the i magi nat i on t o l uxur i ous t hought s, butr at her t o t he opposi t e. Even i f one does not see i t or hear i t , t hei magi nat i on wi l l unconsci ousl y cr eat e a pi ct ur e of t he l ongi ng f or homewhi ch one i s apt t o f eel i n the eveni ng hour s one sees t he r eapers , manand mai d, r et ur ni ng f r om t hei r wor k i n t he f i el ds, one hear s t hehur r i ed r at t l i ng of t he hay wagon, one i nt erpret s even t he f ar ?awayl owi ng f r om t he meadows as a l ongi ng. Thus does a summer eveni ngsuggest i dyl l i c t hought s, soot hi ng even a r est l ess mi nd wi t h i t s

assuagement , i nduci ng even t he soar i ng i magi nat i on t o abi de on ear t hwi t h an i ndwel l i ng yearni ng f or home as t he pl ace f r om whence i t came,and t hus t eachi ng t he i nsat i abl e mi nd t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h l i t t l e, byr enderi ng one cont ent ; f or i n t he eveni ng hour t i me st ands st i l l andet er ni t y l i nger s. Thus t hey ar r i ved i n t he eveni ng hour :t hose i nvi t ed; f or Const ant i n had come out somewhat earl i er . Vi ct orEr emi t a who resi ded i n t he count r y not f ar away came on horseback, t heot her s i n a car r i age. And j ust as t hey had di schar ged i t , a l i ght openvehi cl e rol l ed i n t hr ough t he gate caarr yi ng a merr y company of f ourj our neymen who were ent er t ai ned t o be r eady at t he deci si ve moment t of unct i on as a cor ps of dest r uct i on: j ust as f i r emen ar e st at i oned i n at heat r e, f or t he opposi t e r eason at once t o ext i ngui sh a f i r e.


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So l ong as one i s a chi l d one possesses suf f i ci ent i magi nati on t omai nt ai n one' s soul at t he very t op?notch of expect at i on- ?f or a whol ehour i n t he dark r oom, i f need be; but when one has grown ol der one' si magi nat i on may easi l y cause one t o t i r e of t he Chr i st mas t r ee bef oreseei ng i t .

The f ol di ng door s wer e opened. The ef f ect of t he radi ant i l l umi nat i on,t he cool ness waf t i ng t oward t hem, t he begui l i ng f r agr ance of sweetper f umes, t he excel l ent t ast e of t he ar r angement s, f or a momentoverwhel med t he f eel i ngs of t hose ent er i ng; and when, at t he same t i me,

st r ai ns f t om t he bal l et of "Don J uan" sounded f r om t he or chest r a, t hei rpersons seemed t r ansf i gur ed and, as i f out of r everence f or an unseenspi r i t about t hem, t hey st opped shor t f or a moment l i ke men who havebeen roused by admi r at i on and who have r i sen t o admi r e.

Whoever knows t hat happy moment , whoever has appreci at ed i t s del i ght ,and has not al so f el t t he apprehensi on l est suddenl y somet hi ng mi ghthappen, some t r i f l e per haps, whi ch yet mi ght be suf f i ci ent t o di st ur bal l ! Whoever has hel d the l amp of Al addi n i n hi s hand and has not al sof el t t he swooni ng of pl easure, because one needs but t o wi sh? Whoeverhas hel d what i s i nvi t i ng i n hi s hand and has not al so l ear ned t o keephi s wr i st l i mber t o l et go at once, i f need be?

Thus t hey st ood si de by si de. Onl y Vi ct or st ood al one, absorbed i n

t hought ; a shudder seemed t o pass t hr ough hi s soul , he al most t r embl ed;he col l ected hi msel f and sal ut ed t he omen wi t h t hese words: "Yemyst er i ous, f est i ve, and seduct i ve st r ai ns whi ch dr ew me out of t hecl oi st ered secl usi on of a qui et yout h and begui l ed me wi t h a l ongi ng asmi ght y as a r ecol l ect i on, and t er r i bl e, as t hough El vi r a had not evenbeen seduced but had onl y desi r ed t o be! I mmor t al Mozar t , t hou t o whomI owe al l ; but no! as yet I do not owe thee al l . But when I shal l havebecome an ol d man i f ever I do become an ol d man; or when I shal l havebecome ten years ol der i f ever I do; or when I am become ol d i f ever Ishal l become ol d; or when I shal l di e f or t hat , i ndeed, I know I shal l :t hen shal l I say: i mmort al Mozar t , t hou t o whom I owe al l and t hen Ishal l l et my admi r at i on, whi ch i s my soul ' s f i r st and onl y admi r at i on,bur st f or t h i n al l i t s mi ght and l et i t make away wi t h me, as i t of t enhas been on t he poi nt of doi ng. Then have I set my house i n order , [ 20]

t hen have I r emembered my bel oved one, t hen have I conf essed my l ove,t hen have I f ul l y est abl i shed t hat I owe t hee al l , t hen am I occupi edno l onger wi t h t hee, wi t h t he wor l d, but onl y wi t h t he gr ave t hought of deat h. "

Now t her e came f r om t he or chest r a t hat i nvi t at i on i n whi ch j oy t r i umphsmost exul t ant l y, and heaven?st or mi ng soar s al of t above El vi r a' ssor r owf ul t hanks; and gr acef ul l y apost r ophi zi ng, J ohn repeat ed: "Vi val a l i ber t a" " et ver i t as, " sai d t he Young Per son; "but above al l , i nvi no, " Const ant i n i nt er r upt ed t hem, seat i ng hi msel f at t he t abl e andi nvi t i ng t he ot her s t o do l i kewi se.

How easy t o pr epare a banquet ; yet Const ant i n decl ared t hat he neverwoul d r i sk pr epari ng another. How easy t o admi r e; yet Vi ct or decl ared

t hat he never agai n woul d l end words t o hi s admi r at i on; f or t o suf f er adi scomf i t ur e i s more dr eadf ul t han t o become an i nval i d i n war! Howeasy t o expr ess a desi r e, i f one has the magi c l amp; yet t hat i s att i mes mor e ter r i bl e t han to per i sh of want !

They were seat ed. I n t he same moment t he l i t t l e company were l aunchedi nt o t he ver y mi ddl e of t he i nf i ni t e sea of enj oyment as i f wi t h onesi ngl e bound. Each one had addr essed al l hi s t hought s and al l hi sdesi r es t o the banquet , had pr epared hi s soul f or t he enj oyment whi chwas of f er ed t o over f l owi ng and i n whi ch t hei r soul s over f l owed. Theexper i enced dr i ver i s known by hi s abi l i t y to st ar t t he snor t i ng t eamwi t h a si ngl e bound and t o hol d t hem wel l abr east ; t he wel l ?t r ai nedst eed i s known by hi s l i f t i ng hi msel f i n one absol ut el y deci si ve l eap:


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even i f one or t he ot her of t he guest s per haps f el l shor t i n somepar t i cul ar, cer t ai nl y Const ant i n was a good host .

Thus t hey banqueted. Soon, conver sat i on had woven i t s beaut i f ul wr eat hsabout t he banqueters, so t hat t hey sat gar l anded. Now, i t was enamoredof t he f ood, now of t he wi ne, and now agai n of i t sel f ; now, i t seemedt o devel op i nt o si gni f i cance, and t hen agai n i t was al t oget her sl i ght .Soon, f ancy unf ol ded i t sel f t he spl endi d one whi ch bl ows but once, t het ender one whi ch st r ai ght way cl oses i t s pet al s; now, t here came anexcl amat i on f r om one of t he banquet er s: "These t r uf f l es ar e super b, "

and now, an order of t he host : "Thi s Chat eau Margaux! " Now, t he musi cwas drowned i n the noi se, now i t was heard agai n. Somet i mes t heservant s st ood st i l l as i f i n pausa, i n t hat deci si ve moment when a newdi sh was bei ng brought out , or a new wi ne was or der ed and ment i oned byname, somet i mes t hey were al l a?bust l e. Somet i mes t here was a si l encef or a moment , and t hen t he re?ani mat i ng spi r i t of t he musi c went f or t hover t he guest s. Now, one wi t h some bol d thought woul d take t he l ead i nt he conver sat i on and t he ot her s f ol l owed af t er , al most f or get t i ng t oeat , and t he musi c woul d sound af t er t hemas i t sounds af t er t hej ubi l ant shout s of a host st ormi ng on; now, onl y the cl i nki ng of gl asses and t he cl att er i ng of pl ates was hear d and t he f east i ngpr oceeded i n si l ence, accompani ed onl y by t he musi c t hat j oyousl yadvanced and agai n st i mul at ed conversat i on. Thus they banquet ed.

How poor i s l anguage i n compar i son wi t h t hat symphony of soundsunmeani ng, yet how si gni f i cant , whether of a bat t l e or of a banquet ,whi ch even sceni c r epr esent at i on cannot i mi t ate and f or whi ch l anguagehas but a f ew words! How r i ch i s l anguage i n the expr essi on of t hewor l d of i deas, and how poor , when i t i s t o descr i be r eal i t y!

Onl y once di d Const ant i n abandon hi s omni pr esence i l l whi ch oneact ual l y l ost si ght of hi s pr esence. At t he ver y begi nni ng he got t hemt o si ng one of t he ol d dr i nki ng songs, "by way of cal l i ng t o mi nd t hatj ol l y t i me when men and women f east ed t oget her , " as he sai da proposalwhi ch had the posi t i vel y bur l esque ef f ect he had per haps cal cul at ed i tshoul d have. I t al most gai ned t he upper hand when t he Dr essmaker want edt hem t o si ng t he di t t y: "When I shal l mount t he br i dal bed, hoi ho! "Af t er a coupl e of cour ses had been ser ved Const ant i n pr oposed t hat t he

banquet shoul d concl ude wi t h each one' s maki ng a speech, but t hatpr ecaut i ons shoul d be t aken agai nst t he speaker s' di vagat i ng t oo much.He was f or maki ng t wo condi t i ons, vi z. , t here were to be no speechesunt i l af t er t he meal ; and no one was t o speak bef ore havi ng dr unksuf f i ci ent l y t o f eel t he power of t he wi neel se he was t o be i n t hatcondi t i on i n whi ch one says much whi ch under ot her ci r cumst ances onewoul d l eave unsai dwi t hout necessar i l y havi ng t he connect i on of speechand t hought const ant l y i nt err upt ed by hi ccoughs [ 21] Bef ore speaki ng,t hen, each one was t o decl are sol emnl y t hat he was i n that condi t i on.No def i ni t e quant i t y of wi ne was t o be requi r ed, capaci t i es di f f er ed sowi del y. Agai nst t hi s pr oposal , J ohn ent er ed pr ot est . He coul d neverbecome i ntoxi cat ed, he aver r ed, and when he had come t o a cer t ai n poi nthe gr ew t he soberer t he more he dr ank. Vi ct or Er emi t a was, of t heopi ni on t hat any such pr epar ator y pr emedi t ati ons t o i nsur e one' s

becomi ng dr unk woul d pr eci sel y mi l i t ate agai nst one' s becomi ng so. I f one desi r ed t o become i nt oxi cated t he del i berat e wi sh was onl y ahi ndr ance. Then t here ensued some di scussi on about t he di ver si nf l uences of wi ne on consci ousness, and especi al l y about t he f actt hat , i n the case of a ref l ect i ve t emperament , an excess of wi ne maymani f est i t sel f , not i n any par t i cul ar i mpet us but , on t he cont r ar y, i na not i ceabl y cool sel f ?possessi on. As t o t he cont ent s of t he speeches,Const ant i n pr oposed t hat t hey shoul d deal wi t h l ove, t hat i s, t her el at i on bet ween man and woman. No l ove st or i es were t o be t ol d t hought hey mi ght f ur ni sh t he t ext of one' s r emarks.

The condi t i ons were accept ed. Al l r easonabl e and j ust demands a hostmay make on hi s guest s were f ul f i l l ed: t hey ate and drank, and "dr ank


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and wer e f i l l ed wi t h dr i nk, " as t he Bi bl e has i t ; [ 22] t hat i s, t heydr ank st out l y.

The desert was served. Even i f Vi ct or had not , as yet , had hi s desi r egr at i f i ed t o hear t he spl ashi ng of a f ount ai n, whi ch, f or t hat mat t er ,he had l ucki l y f orgot t en si nce that f ormer conver sat i on now champagnef l owed pr of usel y. The cl ock st r uck t wel ve. Ther eupon Const ant i ncommanded si l ence, sal uted t he Young Person wi t h a gobl et and the wordsquod f el i x si t f aust umque [ 23] and bade hi m t o speak f i r st .

( The Young Per son' s Speech)The Young Per son arose and decl ared t hat he f el t t he power of t he

wi ne, whi ch was i ndeed apparent t o some degr ee; f or t he bl ood pul sedst r ongl y i n hi s t empl es, and hi s appear ance was not as beaut i f ul asbef ore t he meal . He poke as f ol l ows:

I f t her e be t r ut h i n t he wor ds of t he poet s, dear f el l owbanquet er s, t hen unr equi t ed l ove i s, i ndeed, t he gr eatest of sorr ows.Shoul d you r equi r e any pr oof of t hi s you need but l i st en t o t he speechof l over s. They say that i t i s deat h, cer t ai n deat h; and t he f i r st t i met hey bel i eve i t f or t he space of t wo weeks. The next t i me t hey say thati t i s deat h; and f i nal l y t hey wi l l di e somet i me as t he r esul t of unr equi t ed l ove. For t hat l ove has ki l l ed t hem, about t hat t here can

obt ai n no doubt . And as t o l ove' s havi ng t o take hol d t hr ee t i mes t omake away wi t h t hem, t hat i s not di f f erent f r om t he dent i st ' s havi ng t opul l t hr ee t i mes bef or e he i s abl e to budge that f i r ml y root ed mol ar.But , i f unr equi t ed l ove thus means cer t ai n deat h, how happy am I whohave never l oved and, I hope, wi l l onl y achi eve dyi ng some t i me, andnot f r om unr equi t ed l ove! But j ust t hi s may be t he gr eat est mi sf or t une,f or al l I know, and how unf or t unate must I t hen be!

The essence of l ove pr obabl y ( f or I speak as does a bl i nd man aboutcol or s), pr obabl y l i es i n i t s bl i ss; whi ch i s, i n ot her wor ds, t hat t hecessat i on of l ove br i ngs deat h t o t he l over . Thi s I compr ehend ver ywel l as i n t he nat ur e of a hypot hesi s cor r el at i ng l i f e and deat h. But ,i f l ove i s t o be merel y by way of hypothesi s, why, t hen l over s l ayt hemsel ves open t o r i di cul e t hr ough t hei r actual l y f al l i ng i n l ove. I f ,

however, l ove i s somethi ng r eal , why, t hen r eal i t y must bear out whatl over s say about i t . But di d one i n r eal l i f e ever hear of , or obser ve,such t hi ngs havi ng t aken pl ace, even i f t here i s hear say t o thatef f ect ? Her e I per cei ve al r eady one of t he cont r adi ct i ons i n whi ch l ovei nvol ves a per son; f or whet her t hi s i s di f f er ent f or t hose i ni t i at ed,t hat I have no means of knowi ng; but l ove cer t ai nl y does seem t oi nvol ve peopl e i n t he most curi ous cont r adi ct i ons.

There i s no ot her r el at i on bet ween human bei ngs whi ch makes suchdemands on one' s i deal i t y as does l ove, and yet l ove i s never seen tohave i t . For t hi s r eason al one I woul d be af r ai d of l ove; f or I f eart hat i t mi ght have t he power t o make me t oo t al k vaguel y about a bl i sswhi ch I di d not f eel and a sorr ow I di d not have. I say t hi s her e si nceI am bi dden t o speak on l ove, t hough unacquai nt ed wi t h i t I say t hi s i n

surr oundi ngs whi ch appeal t o me l i ke a Gr eek symposi on; f or I shoul dot her wi se not car e to speak on t hi s subj ect as I do not wi sh t o di st ur bany one' s happi ness but , r ather , am cont ent wi t h my own thoughts. Whoknows but t hese t hought s are sheer i mbeci l i t i es and vai n i magi ni ngsper haps my i gnor ance i s expl i cabl e f r omt he f act t hat I never havel ear ned, nor have wi shed t o l ear n, f r om any one, how one comes t o l ove;or f r omt he f act t hat I have never yet chal l enged a woman wi t h agl ancewhi ch i s supposed t o be smar t but have al ways l owered my eyes,unwi l l i ng t o yi el d t o an i mpr essi on bef ore havi ng f ul l y made sure aboutt he natur e of t he power i nt o whose sphere I amvent ur i ng.

At t hi s poi nt he was i nt err upt ed by Const ant i n who expost ul ated wi t hhi m because, by hi s ver y conf essi on of never havi ng been i n l ove, he


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had debarr ed hi msel f f r om speaki ng. The Young Person decl ared t hat atany ot her t i me he woul d gl adl y obey an i nj unct i on t o that ef f ect as hehad of t en enough exper i enced how t i r esome i t was t o have t o make aspeech; but t hat i n t hi s case he woul d i nsi st upon hi s r i ght . Pr eci sel yt he f act t hat one had had no l ove af f ai r , he sai d, al so const i t ut ed anaf f ai r of l ove; and he who coul d asser t t hi s of hi msel f was ent i t l ed t ospeak about Er os j ust because hi s t hought s were bound to t ake i ssuewi t h the whol e sex and not wi t h i ndi vi dual s. He was gr ant ed permi ssi ont o speak and cont i nued.

I nasmuch as my r i ght t o speak has been chal l enged, t hi s may serve toexempt me f r om your l aught er; f or I know wel l t hat , j ust as amongr ust i cs he i s not consi dered a man who does not cal l a tobacco pi pe hi sown, l i kewi se among men?f ol ks he i s not consi der ed a real man who i snot exper i enced i n l ove. I f any one f eel s l i ke l aughi ng, l et hi m l aughmy thought i s, and r emai ns, t he essent i al consi der at i on f or me. Or i sl ove, per chance, pr i vi l eged t o be the onl y event whi ch i s t o beconsi der ed af t er , r at her t han bef or e, i t happens? I f t hat be t he case,what t hen i f I , havi ng f al l en i n l ove, shoul d l at er on t hi nk t hat i twas t oo l at e to thi nk about i t ? Look you, t hi s i s t he reason why Ichoose t o thi nk about l ove bef or e i t happens. To be sur e, l over s al somai nt ai n that t hey gave t he matt er t hought , but such i s not t he case.They assume i t t o be essent i al i n man t o f al l i n l ove; but t hi s sur el ydoes not mean t hi nki ng about l ove but , r at her , assumi ng i t , i n or der t o

make sur e of get t i ng one' s sel f a sweet hear t .

I n f act , whenever my ref l ect i on endeavor s t o pi n down l ove, naught butcont r adi cti on seems t o r emai n. At t i mes, i t i s t r ue, I f eel as i f somet hi ng had escaped me, but I cannot t el l what i t i s, wher eas myr ef l ect i on i s abl e at once t o poi nt out t he cont r adi ct i ons i n what doesoccur . Very wel l , t hen, i n my opi ni on l ove i s t he gr eat estsel f ?cont r adi ct i on i magi nabl e, and comi cal at t he same t i me. I ndeed,t he one cor r esponds t o t he ot her. The comi cal i s al ways seen t o occuri n t he cat egor y of cont r adi ct i ons whi ch t r ut h I cannot t ake t he t i me t odemonst r ate now; but what I shal l demonst r ate now i s t hat l ove i scomi cal . By l ove I mean t he r el at i on bet ween man and woman. I am nott hi nki ng of Er os i n the Gr eek sense whi ch has been ext ol l ed sobeaut i f ul l y by Pl at o who, by the way, i s so f ar f r om consi der i ng t he

l ove of woman that he ment i ons i t onl y i n passi ng, hol di ng i t t o bei nf er i or t o t he l ove of yout hs. [ 24] I say, l ove i s comi cal t o a t hi r dper son more I say not . Whet her i t i s f or t hi s r eason t hat l over s al wayshat e a t hi r d per son I do not know; but I do know t hat r ef l ect i on i sal ways i n such a rel at i on t he thi r d per son, and f or t hi s r eason Icannot l ove wi t hout at t he same t i me havi ng a t hi r d person pr esent i nt he shape of my ref l ect i on.

Thi s sur el y cannot seem st r ange to any one, every one havi ng doubt edever ythi ng, wher eas I am ut t eri ng my doubt s onl y wi t h ref erence tol ove. And yet I do t hi nk i t st r ange t hat peopl e have doubt ed everyt hi ngand have agai n r eached cer t ai nty, wi t hout as much as droppi ng a wordconcerni ng the di f f i cul t i es whi ch have hel d my t hought capt i ve so muchso t hat I have, now and t hen, l onged t o be f r eed of t hemf r eed by t he

ai d of one, note wel l , who was awar e of t hese di f f i cul t i es, and not of one who i n hi s sl eep had a not i on t o doubt , and t o have doubt ed,ever ythi ng, and agai n i n hi s sl eep had t he not i on t hat he i sexpl ai ni ng, and has expl ai ned, al l . [ 25]

Let me then have your at t ent i on, dear f el l ow banqueters, and i f youyour sel ves be l over s do not t her ef or e i nt er r upt me, nor t r y to si l enceme because you do not wi sh t o hear t he expl anat i on. Rat her t urn awayand l i st en wi t h aver t ed f aces t o what I have t o say, and what I i nsi stupon sayi ng, havi ng once begun.

I n t he f i r st pl ace I consi der i t comi cal t hat ever y one l oves, andevery one wi shes t o l ove, wi t hout any one ever bei ng abl e to t el l one


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what i s t he nature of t he l ovabl e or t hat whi ch i s t he r eal obj ect of l ove. As t o t he wor d "t o l ove" I shal l not di scuss i t si nce i t meansnot hi ng def i ni t e; but as soon as t he mat t er i s broached at al l we ar emet by t he quest i on as t o what i t i s one l oves. No ot her answer i s evervouchsaf ed us on t hat poi nt other t han t hat one l oves what i s l ovabl e.For i f one shoul d make answer , wi t h Pl at o, [ 26] t hat one i s t o l ovewhat i s good, one has i n taki ng thi s s i ngl e st ep exceeded t he bounds of t he er ot i c.

The answer may be of f ered, perhaps, t hat one i s t o l ove what i sbeaut i f ul . But i f I t hen shoul d ask whet her t o l ove means t o l ove abeaut i f ul l andscape or a beaut i f ul pai nt i ng i t woul d be i mmedi at el yper cei ved t hat t he er ot i c i s not , as i t wer e, compr i sed i n t he mor egener al t er m of t he l ove of t hi ngs beaut i f ul , but i s somet hi ng ent i r el yof i t s own ki nd. Were a l over j ust t o gi ve an exampl e t o speak asf ol l ows, i n order t o expr ess adequatel y how much l ove there dwel l ed i nhi m: "I l ove beaut i f ul l andscapes, and my Lal age, and the beaut i f uldancer , and a beaut i f ul hor se?- i n shor t , l ove al l t hat i s beaut i f ul , "hi s Lal age woul d not be sat i sf i ed wi t h hi s encomi um, however wel lsat i sf i ed she mi ght be wi t h hi m i n al l ot her r espect s, and even i f shebe beaut i f ul ; and now suppose Lal age i s not beaut i f ul and he yet l ovedher!

Agai n, i f I shoul d r ef er t he er ot i c el ement t o t he bi sect i on of whi ch Ar i st ophanes t el l s us [ 27] when he says t hat t he gods severed mani nt o two par t s as one cut s f l ounder s, and t hat t hese par t s t hussepar at ed sought one another , t hen I agai n encount er a di f f i cul t y Icannot get over , whi ch i s, i n how f ar I may base my reasoni ng onAr i st ophanes who i n hi s speech j ust because t here i s no r eason f or t het hought t o stop at t hi s poi nt ?- goes f ur t her i n hi s t hought and thi nkst hat t he gods mi ght t ake i t i nt o thei r heads t o di vi de man i nt o threepar t s, f or t he sake of st i l l bet t er f un. For t he sake of st i l l bet t erf un; f or i s i t not t r ue, as I sai d, t hat l ove r ender s a per sonr i di cul ous, i f not i n t he eyes of ot her s ot her s cer t ai nl y i n t he eyesof t he gods?

Now, l et me assume t hat t he er ot i c el ement r esi des essent i al l y i n the

r el at i on between man and woman what i s t o be i nf err ed f r om t hat? I f t hel over shoul d say t o hi s Lal age: I l ove you because you are a woman; Imi ght as wel l l ove any ot her woman, as f or i nst ance, ugl y Zoe: t henbeaut i f ul Lal age woul d f eel i nsul t ed.

I n what , t hen, consi st s t he l ovabl e? Thi s i s my quest i on; butunf or t unatel y, no one has been abl e to t el l me, The i ndi vi dual l overal ways bel i eves t hat , as f ar as he i s concer ned, he knows. St i l l hecannot make hi msel f underst ood by any other l over ; and he who l i st enst o t he speech of a number of l overs wi l l l ear n t hat no t wo of t hem everagr ee, even t hough t hey al l t al k about t he same thi ng. Di sr egardi ngt hose al t oget her si l l y expl anat i ons whi ch l eave one as wi se as bef ore,t hat i s, end by asser t i ng t hat i t i s r eal l y t he pr et t y f eet of t hebel oved damsel , or t he admi r ed must achi os of t he swai n, whi ch ar e t he

obj ect s of l ove di sr egar di ng t hese, one wi l l f i nd ment i oned, even i nt he decl amat i ons of l over s i n the hi gher st yl e, f i r st a number of det ai l s and, f i nal l y, t he decl ar at i on: al l her l ovabl e ways; and whent hey have reached t he cl i max: t hat i nexpl i cabl e somethi ng I do not knowhow t o expl ai n. And thi s speech i s meant t o pl ease especi al l y beaut i f ulLal age. Me i t does not pl ease, f or I don' t under st and a word of i t andf i nd, r at her , t hat i t cont ai ns a doubl e cont r adi ct i on f i r st , t hat i tends wi t h t he i nexpl i cabl e, second, t hat i t ends wi t h t he i nexpl i cabl e;f or he who i nt ends t o end wi t h t he i nexpl i cabl e had best begi n wi t h t hei nexpl i cabl e and t hen say no more, l est he l ay hi msel f open t osuspi ci on. I f he begi n wi t h t he i nexpl i cabl e, sayi ng no mor e, t hen t hi sdoes not pr ove hi s hel pl essness, f or i t i s, anyway, an expl anat i on i n anegat i ve sense; but i f he does begi n wi t h somethi ng el se and l ands i n


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t he i nexpl i cabl e, t hen t hi s does cer t ai nl y pr ove hi s hel pl essness.

So then we see: t o l ove corr esponds t o the l ovabl e; and t he l ovabl ei s t he i nexpl i cabl e. Wel l , t hat i s at l east somet hi ng; butcompr ehensi bl e i t i s not , as l i t t l e as t he i nexpl i cabl e way i n whi chl ove sei zes on i t s prey. Who, i ndeed, woul d not be al armed i f peopl eabout one, t i me and agai n, dr opped down dead, al l of a sudden, or hadconvul si ons, wi t hout anyone bei ng abl e t o account f or i t ? But pr eci sel yi n t hi s f ashi on does l ove i nvade l i f e, onl y wi t h t he di f f er ence t hatone i s not al armed t hereby, si nce t he l overs t hemsel ves r egard i t as

t hei r gr eat est happi ness, but t hat one, on t he cont r ary, i s t empt ed t ol augh; f or t he comi cal and t he t r agi cal el ement s ever cor r espond t o oneanother . Today, one may conver se wi t h a person and can f ai r l y wel l makehi m out t omorr ow, he speaks i n t ongues and wi t h st r ange gest ur es: he i si n l ove.

Now, i f t o l ove meant t o f al l i n l ove wi t h t he f i r st per son t hat cameal ong, i t woul d be easy to unders t and that one coul d gi ve no speci alr easons f or i t ; but si nce t o l ove means t o f al l i n l ove wi t h one, onesi ngl e per son i n al l t he wor l d, i t woul d seem as i f such anext r aor di nary pr ocess of si ngl i ng out ought t o be due to such anext ensi ve chai n of r easoni ng that one mi ght have t o beg t o be excusedf r om hear i ng i t ?- not so much because i t di d not expl ai n anythi ng asbecause i t mi ght be t oo l engt hy t o l i st en t o. But no, t he l over s ar e

not abl e to expl ai n anyt hi ng at al l . He has seen hundreds upon hundredsof women; he i s, perhaps, advanced i n year s and has al l al ong f el tnot hi ng?- and al l at once he sees her , her t he Onl y one, Cather i ne. I st hi s not comi cal ? I s i t not comi cal t hat t he r el at i on whi ch i s t oexpl ai n and beaut i f y al l l i f e, l ove, i s not l i ke t he must ar d seed f r omwhi ch t her e gr ows a gr eat t r ee, [ 28] but bei ng st i l l smal l er i s, atbot t om, not hi ng at al l ; f or not a si ngl e ant ecedent cr i t er i on can bement i oned, as e. g. , t hat t he

phenomenon occurr ed at a cer t ai n age, nor a si ngl e reason as t o why beshoul d sel ect her, her al one i n al l t he wor l d and t hat by no means i nt he same sense as when "Adam chose Eve, because t her e was none other. "[ 29]

Or i s not t he expl anati on whi ch t he l over s vouchsaf e j ust ascomi cal ; or , does i t not , r at her , emphasi ze t he comi cal aspect of l ove?They say t hat l ove renders one bl i nd, and by thi s f act t hey undert aket o expl ai n t he phenomenon. Now, i f a Person who was goi ng i nto a dar kr oom t o f etch somethi ng shoul d answer, on my advi si ng hi m t o t ake al i ght al ong, t hat i t was onl y a t r i f l i ng matt er he want ed and so hewoul d not bother t o take a l i ght al ong ah! t hen I woul d unders t and hi mexcel l ent l y wel l . I f , on the ot her hand, t hi s same per son shoul d t akeme asi de and, wi t h an ai r of myst ery, conf i de to me t hat t he t hi ng bewas about t o f et ch was of t he very gr eat est i mpor t ance and t hat i t wasf or t hi s r eason t hat he was abl e to do i t i n t he dark ah! t hen I wonderi f my weak mor t al br ai n coul d f ol l ow t he soar i ng f l i ght of hi s speech.Even i f I shoul d r ef r ai n f r om l aughi ng, i n or der not t o of f end hi m, Ishoul d hardl y be abl e t o rest r ai n my mi r t h as soon as he had t ur ned hi s

back. But at l ove nobody l aughs; f or I am qui t e pr epared t o beembar r assed l i ke t he J ew who, af t er endi ng hi s st or y, asks: I s t her e noone who wi l l l augh? [ 30] And yet I di d not mi ss t he poi nt , as di d t heJ ew, and as t o my l aught er I am f ar f r om want i ng t o i nsul t any one.Qui t e on t he cont r ary, I scor n t hose f ool s who i magi ne t hat t hei r l ovehas such good r easons t hat t hey can af f ord t o l augh at other l overs ;f or si nce l ove i s al t oget her i nexpl i cabl e, one l over i s as ri di cul ousas t he ot her . Qui t e as f ool i sh and haught y I consi der i t al so when aman pr oudl y l ooks about hi m i n t he ci r cl e of gi r l s t o f i nd who may bewort hy of hi m, or when a gi r l pr oudl y tosses her head t o sel ect orr ej ect ; because such persons are si mpl y basi ng t hei r t hought s on anunexpl ai ned assumpt i on. No. What busi es my t hought i s l ove as such, andi t i s l ove whi ch seems r i di cul ous t o me; and t her ef or e I f ear i t , l est


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I become r i di cul ous i n my own eyes, or r i di cul ous i n the eyes of t hegods who have f ashi oned man t hus. I n other words, i f l ove i s r i di cul ousi t i s equal l y r i di cul ous, whether now my sweet hear t be a pr i ncess or aser vant gi r l ; f or t he l ovabl e, as we have seen, i s t he i nexpl i cabl e.

Look you, t her ef or e do I f ear l ove, and f i nd pr eci sel y i n t hi s a newpr oof of l ove' s bei ng comi cal ; f or my f ear i s so ser i ousl y t r agi c thati t t hr ows l i ght on t he comi cal natur e l ove. When peopl e wr eck abui l di ng a si gn i s hung up t o war n peopl e, and I shal l t ake car e tost and f r omunder ; when a bar has been f r eshl y pai nt ed a st one i s l ai d

i n t he road t o appr i se peopl e of t he f act ; when a dr i ver i s i n dangerof r unni ng a man over he wi l l shout " l ook out " ; when t here have beencases of chol era i n a house a sol di er i s set as guar d; and so f or t h.What I mean i s t hat i f t her e i s somedanger , one may be warned and wi l lsuccessf ul l y escape i t by heedi ng t he warni ng. Now, f ear i ng t o ber ender ed r i di cul ous by l ove, I cer t ai nl y r egar d i t as danger ous; sowhat shal l I do to escape i t ? I n other wor ds, what shal l I do t o escapet he danger of some woman f al l i ng i n l ove wi t h me? I am f ar f r oment er t ai ni ng t he t hought of bei ng an Adoni s ever y gi r l i s bound t o f al li n l ove wi t h ( r el at a r ef er o, [ 31] f or what t hi s means I do notunderst and) ?goodness no! But si nce I do not know what t he l ovabl e i s Icannot , by anymanner s of means, know how t o escape t hi s danger . Si nce,f or t hat mat t er, t he ver y opposi t e of beaut y may const i t ut e thel ovabl e; and, f i nal l y, si nce t he i nexpl i cabl e al so i s t he l ovabl e, I am

f orsooth i n the same si t uat i on as t he man J ean Paul speaks of somewherewho, st andi ng on one f oot, r eads a si gn sayi ng, "f ox- t r aps her e, " andnow does not dar e, ei t her t o l i f t hi s f oot or t o set i t down. No, l oveany one I wi l l not , bef ore I have f at homed what l ove i s; but t hi s Icannot, but have, r at her , come t o t he concl usi on t hat i t i s comi cal .Hence I wi l l not l ove?but al as! I have not t hereby avoi ded t he danger,f or, si nce I do not know what t he l ovabl e i s and how i t sei zes me, orhow i t sei zes a woman wi t h ref erence t o me, I cannot make sure Whet herI have avoi ded t he danger. Thi s i s t r agi cal and, i n a cer t ai n sense,even pr of oundl y tr agi cal , even i f no one i s concer ned about i t , or i f no one i s concerned about t he bi t t er cont r adi ct i on f or one whot hi nks?t hat a somethi ng exi st s whi ch everywhere exerci ses i t s power andyet i s not t o be def i ni t el y concei ved by thought and whi ch, perhaps,may at t ack f r omt he rear hi m who i n vai n seeks t o concei ve i t . But as

t o t he t r agi c si de of t he mat t er i t has i t s deep r eason i n t he comi caspect s j ust poi nt ed out . Possi bl y, ever y ot her per son wi l l t ur n al lt hi s upsi de down and not f i nd t hat t o be comi cal whi ch I do, but r athert hat whi ch I concei ve t o be t r agi cal ; but t hi s t oo pr oves t hat I amr i ght t o a cer t ai n extent . And t hat f or whi ch, i f so happens, I becomeei t her a t r agi c or comi c vi cti m i s pl ai n enough, vi z. , my desi r e t or ef l ect about al l I do, and not i magi ne I am r ef l ecti ng about l i f e bydi smi ssi ng i t s ever y i mpor t ant ci r cumst ance wi t h an " I don' t car e,ei t her way. "

Man has bot h a soul and a body. About t hi s t he wi sest and best of t her ace ar e agr eed. Now, i n case one assumes t he essence of l ove t o l i e i nt he r el at i on bet ween man and woman, t he comi c aspect wi l l show agai n i nt he f ace- about whi ch i s seen when t he hi ghest spi r i t ual val ues expr ess

t hemsel ves i n t he most sensual t erms. I am now r ef er r i ng t o al l t hoseext r aor di nar y and myst i c si gnal s of l ove i n shor t , t o al l t hef r ee?masonr y whi ch f orms a cont i nuat i on of t he above?ment i onedi nexpl i cabl e somet hi ng. The cont r adi ct i on i n whi ch l ove here i nvol ves aper son l i es i n t he f act t hat t he symbol i c si gns mean not hi ng at al l orwhi ch amounts t o the same that no one i s abl e to expl ai n what t hey dosi gni f y. Two l ovi ng soul s vow t hat t hey wi l l l ove each t he ot her i n al let er ni t y; t her eupon they embr ace, and wi t h a ki ss t hey seal t hi seternal pact . Now I ask any t hi nki ng per son whet her he woul d have hi tupon t hat ! And t hus t her e i s const ant shi f t i ng f r om t he one t o t heot her ext r eme i n l ove. The most spi r i t ual i s expr essed by i t s ver yopposi t e, and t he sensual i s t o si gni f y t he most spi r i t ual . Let meassume I am i n l ove. I n t hat case I woul d concei ve i t t o be of t he


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ut most i mport ance t o me t hat t he one I l ove bel onged t o me f or al lt i me. Thi s I compr ehend; f or I am now, r eal l y, speaki ng onl y of Gr eeker ot i ci sm whi ch has t o do wi t h l ovi ng beaut i f ul soul s. Now when t heperson I l ove had vowed t o retur n my l ove I woul d bel i eve her or, i n asf ar as t her e r emai ned any doubt i n me, t r y t o combat my doubt . But whathappens act ual l y? For i f I wer e i n l ove I woul d, pr obabl y, behave l i keal l t he ot her s, t hat i s, seek t o obt ai n st i l l some ot her assur ance t hanmer el y t o bel i eve her I l ove; whi ch, t hough, i s pl ai nl y t he onl yassur ance to *had.

When Cockat oo [ 32] al l at once begi ns t o pl ume hi msel f l i ke a duckwhi ch i s gor ged wi t h f ood, and t hen emi t s t he word "Mar i an, " everybodywi l l l augh, and so wi l l I . . I suppose t he spectator f i nds i t comi calt hat Cockat oo, who doesn' t l ove Mari an at al l , shoul d be on suchi nt i mate t erms wi t h her. But suppose, now, t hat Cockat oo does l oveMari an. Woul d that be comi cal st i l l ? To me i t woul d; and t he comi calwoul d seem t o me t o l i e i n l ove' s havi ng become capabl e of bei ngexpr essed i n such f ashi on. Whet her now t hi s has been t he cust om si ncet he begi nni ng of t he wor l d makes no di f f erence whatsoever , f or t hecomi cal has t he pr escri pt i ve r i ght f r om al l et er ni t y t o be pr esent i ncont r adi ct i ons and her e i s a cont r adi ct i on. Ther e i s r eal l y not hi ngcomi sal i n t he ant i cs of a mani ki n si nce we see some one pul l i ng t hest r i ngs. But t o be a mani ki n at t he beck of somethi ng i nexpl i cabl e i si ndeed comi cal , f or t he cont r adi ct i on l i es i n our not seei ng any

sensi bl e r eason why one shoul d have t o t wi t ch now t hi s l eg and nowt hat . Hence, i f I cannot expl ai n what I am doi ng, I do not car e t o doi t ; and i f I cannot underst and t he power i nt o whose sphere I amvent ur i ng, I do not car e to sur r ender mysel f t o that power . And i f l ovei s so myst er i ous a l aw whi ch bi nds together t he ext r emestcont r adi ct i ons, t hen who wi l l guarant ee t hat I mi ght not , one day,become al t oget her conf used? St i l l , t hat does not concern me so much.

Agai n, I have hear d t hat some l overs consi der t he behavi or of otherl over s r i di cul ous. I cannot concei ve how t hi s r i di cul e i s j ust i f i ed,f or i f t hi s l aw of l ove be a nat ur al l aw, t hen al l l over s ar e subj ectt o i t ; but i f i t be t he l aw of t hei r own choi ce, t hen t hose l aughi ngl over s ought t o be abl e to expl ai n al l about l ove; whi ch, however , t heyar e unabl e t o do. But i n t hi s r espect I under st and t hi s matt er bet t er

as i t seems a convent i on f or one l over t o l augh at t he ot her because heal ways f i nds t he ot her l over r i di cul ous, but not hi msel f . I f i t ber i di cul ous to ki ss an ugl y gi r l , i t i s al so r i di cul ous to ki ss a pr et t yone; and t he not i on t hat doi ng t hi s i n some part i cul ar way shoul dent i t l e one t o cast r i di cul e on anot her who does i t di f f er ent l y, i s butpr esumpt uousness and a conspi r acy whi ch does not , f or al l t hat , exemptsuch a snob f r om l ayi ng hi msel f open t o the r i di cul e whi ch i nvar i abl yr esul t s f r om t he f act t hat no one i s abl e t o expl ai n what t hi s act of ki ssi ng s i gni f i es, whereas i t i s t o s i gni f y al l t o s i gni f y, i ndeed,t hat t he l over s desi r e t o bel ong t o each ot her i n al l et er ni t y; aye,what i s st i l l mor e amusi ng, t o render t hem cer t ai n t hat t hey wi l l . Now,i f a man shoul d suddenl y l ay hi s head on one si de, or shake i t , or ki ckout wi t h hi s l eg and, upon my aski ng hi m why he di d t hi s, shoul d answer"To be sur e I don' t know, mysel f , I j ust happened t o do so, next t i me I

may do somet hi ng di f f er ent , f or I di d i t unconsci ousl y" ah, t hen Iwoul d under st and hi m qui t e wel l . But i f he sai d, as t he l over s sayabout t hei r ant i cs, t hat al l bl i ss l ay ther ei n, how coul d I hel pf i ndi ng i t r i di cul ous j ust as I t hought t hat ot her man' s mot i onsr i di cul ous, t o be sur e i n a di f f er ent sense unt i l he r est r ai ned myl aught er by decl ar i ng t hat t hey di d not si gni f y anythi ng. For by doi ngso he removed t he cont r adi ct i on whi ch i s t he basi c cause of t hecomi cal . I t i s not at al l comi cal t hat t he i nsi gni f i cant i s decl ar ed t osi gni f y not hi ng, but i t i s ver y much so i f i t be asser t ed t o si gni f ya l l .

As r egar ds i nvol unt ar y act i ons, t he cont r adi ct i on ar i ses at t he ver yout set because i nvol unt ary act i ons ar e not l ooked f or i n a f r ee


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r at i onal bei ng. Thus i f one supposed that t he Pope had a coughi ng spel lt he very moment he was t o pl ace t he cr own on Napol eon' s head; or t hatbr i de and gr oom, i n t he most sol emn moment of t he weddi ng cer emonyshoul d f al l t o sneezi ng?t hese woul d be exampl es of t he comi cal , Thati s, t he mor e a gi ven act i on accent uat es t he f r ee r at i onal bei ng, t hemor e comi cal are i nvol unt ar y act i ons. Thi s hol ds t r ue al so i n r espectof t he er ot i c gest i cul at i ons, where t he comi cal el ement appear s asecond t i me, owi ng to the ci r cumst ance that t he l overs at t empt t oexpl ai n away t he cont r adi ct i on by at t r i but i ng t o t hei r gest i cul at i onsan absol ut e val ue. As i s wel l known, chi l dr en have a keen sense of t he

r i di cul ous wi t ness chi l dr en' s t est i mony whi ch can al ways be r el i ed oni n t hi s r egar d. Now as a r ul e chi l dr en , wi l l l augh at l over s, and i f one makes t hem t el l what t hey have seen, surel y no one can hel pl aughi ng. Thi s i s, per haps, due t o t he f act t hat chi l dr en omi t t hepoi nt . Very st r ange! When t he J ew omi t t ed t he poi nt no one car ed t ol augh. Here, on t he cont r ary, every one l aughs because t he poi nt i somi t t ed; si nce, however, no one can expl ai n what t he poi nt i s why, t hent her e i s no poi nt at al l .

So t he l over s expl ai n nothi ng; and those who pr ai se l ove expl ai nnothi ng but are merel y i nt ent on as one i s bi dden i n t he Royal Laws of Denmark on sayi ng anent i t al l whi ch may be pl easant and of goodr epor t . But a man who t hi nks, desi r es t o have hi s l ogi cal cat egor i es i ngood or der ; and he who t hi nks about l ove wi shes t o be sure about hi s

cat egor i es al so i n t hi s mat t er . The f act i s, t hough, t hat peopl e do nott hi nk about l ove, and a "past or al sci ence" i s st i l l l acki ng; f or eveni f a poet i n a past oral poem makes an at t empt t o show how l ove i s bor n,everyt hi ng i s smuggl ed i n agai n by hel p of another person who t eachest he l overs how t o l ove!

As we saw, t he comi cal el ement i n l ove ar ose f r om t he f ace?aboutwhereby the hi ghest qual i t y of one sphere does not f i nd expr essi on i nt hat sphere but i n t he exact l y opposi t e qual i t y of anot her spher e. I ti s comi cal t hat t he soar i ng f l i ght of l ove?t he desi r e t o bel ong t o eachot her f or al l t i me l ands ever , l i ke Saf t , [ 33] i n t he pant r y; but st i l lmor e comi cal i s i t t hat t hi s concl usi on i s sai d t o const i t ut e l ove' shi ghest expr essi on.

Wher ever t her e i s a cont r adi ct i on, t her e t he comi cal el ement i spr esent al so. I am ever f ol l owi ng t hat t r ack. I f i t be di sconcer t i ng t oyou, dear f el l ow banquet er s, t o f ol l ow me i n what I shal l have t o saynow, t hen f ol l ow me wi t h aver t ed count enances. I mysel f am speaki ng asi f wi t h vei l ed eyes; f or as I see onl y t he myst er y i n t hese mat t er s,why, I cannot see, or I see not hi ng.

What i s a consequence? I f i t cannot , i n some way or other , be br oughtunder t he same head as i t s ant ecedent why, t hen i t woul d be r i di cul ousi f i t posed as a consequence. To i l l ust r at e: i f a man who want ed t ot ake a bat h j umped i nt o t he t ank and, comi ng t o t he sur f ace agai nsomewhat conf used, gr oped f or t he rope t o hol d on t o, but caught t hedouche?l i ne by mi st ake, and a shower now descended on hi m wi t hsuf f i ci ent mot i vat i on and f or excel l ent good r eason why, t hen t he

consequence woul d be ent i r el y i n or der . The r i di cul ous her e consi st edi n hi s sei zi ng t he wr ong r ope; but t her e i s not hi ng r i di cul ous i n t heshower descendi ng when one pul l s t he pr oper r ope. Rat her , i t woul d ber i di cul ous i f i t di d not come; as f or exampl e, j ust t o show t hecor r ectness of my cont ent i on about cont r adi ct i ons, i f a man nervedhi msel f wi t h bol d r esol ut i on i n or der t o wi t hst and t he shock and, i nt he ent husi asm of hi s deci si on, wi t h a st out hear t pul l ed t he l i ne?andt he shower di d not come.

Let us see now how i t i s wi t h r egard t o l ove. The l overs wi sh to bel ongt o each ot her f or al l t i me, and t hi s t hey expr ess, cur i ousl y, byembr aci ng each other wi t h al l t he i nt ensi t y of t he moment ; and al l t hebl i ss of l ove i s sai d t o resi de t herei n. But al l desi re i s egot i st i c.


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Now, t o be sur e, t he l over ' s desi r e i s not egot i st i c i n r espect of t heone he l oves, but t he desi r e of bot h i n conj unct i on i s absol ut el yegot i st i c i n so f ar as t hey i n t hei r uni on and l ove repr esent a newego. And yet t hey are decei ved; f or i n the same moment t he r acet r i umphs over t he i ndi vi dual , t he r ace i s vi ct or i ous, and t hei ndi vi dual s ar e debased t o do i t s bi ddi ng.

Now t hi s I f i nd more r i di cul ous t han what Ar i st ophanes t hought sor i di cul ous. The r i di cul ous aspect of hi s t heor y of bi - secti on l i es i nt he i nher ent cont r adi ct i on (whi ch theanci ent aut hor does not

suf f i ci ent l y emphasi ze, however ) . I n consi der i ng a person one nat ur al l ysupposes hi m t o be an ent i t y, and so one does bel i eve t i l l i t becomesappar ent t hat , under t he obsessi on of l ove, he i s but a hal f whi ch r unsabout l ooki ng f or i t s compl ement . Ther e i s not hi ng r i di cul ous i n hal f an appl e. The comi cal woul d appear i f a whol e appl e t ur ned out t o beonl y hal f an appl e. I n t hef i r st case t her e exi st s no cont r adi cti on, butcer t ai nl y i n t he l at t er . I f one act ual l y based one' s r easoni ng on t hef i gur e of speech t hat woman i s but hal f a person she woul d not ber i di cul ous at al l i n her l ove. Man, however , who has been enj oyi ngci vi c ri ght s as a whol e per son, wi l l cer t ai nl y appear r i di cul ous whenhe t akes t o r unni ng about ( and l ooki ng f or hi s other hal f ) ; [ 34] f or hebet r ays t her eby that he i s but hal f a per son. I n f act , t he mor e onet hi nks about t he mat t er t he more r i di cul ous i t seems; because i f manr eal l y be a whol e, why, t hen he wi l l not become a whol e i n l ove, but he

and woman woul d make up one and a hal f . No wonder , t hen, t hat t he godsl augh, and par t i cul ar l y at man.

But l et me r et urn t o my consequence. When t he l over s have f ound eachot her , one shoul d cer t ai nl y bel i eve that t hey f ormed a whol e, and i nt hi s shoul d l i e t he pr oof of t hei r asser t i on t hat t hey wi shed t o l i vef or each ot her f or al l t i me. But l o! i nst ead of l i vi ng f or each ot hert hey begi n t o l i ve f or t he race, and t hi s t hey do not even suspect .

What i s a consequence? I f , as I observed, one cannot det ect i n i tt he cause out of whi ch i t pr oceeded, t he consequence i s merel yr i di cul ous, and he becomes a l aughi ng st ock to whom t hi s happens. Now,t he f act t hat t he separat ed hal ves have f ound each ot her ought t o be acompl ete sat i sf act i on and r est f or t hem; and yet t he consequence i s a

new exi st ence. That havi ng f ound each ot her shoul d mean a new exi st encef or t he l over s, i s compr ehensi bl e enough; but not, t hat a new exi st encef or a t hi r d bei ng shoul d t ake i t s i ncept i on f r om t hi s f act. And yet t her esul t i ng consequence i s gr eat er t han t hat of whi ch i t i s t heconsequence, whereas such an end as t he l overs' f i ndi ng each ot herought t o be i nf al l i bl e evi dence of no ot her , subsequent , consequencebei ng t hi nkabl e.

Does t he sat i sf act i on of any ot her desi r e show an anal ogy t o thi sconsequence? Qui t e on t he cont r ar y, t he sat i sf act i on of desi r e i s i never y ot her case evi nced by a per i od of r est ; and even i f a t r i st i t i a[ 35] does supervene i ndi cat i ng by t he way, t hat ever y sat i sf act i on of an appet i t e i s comi cal t hi s t r i st i t i a i s a str ai ght f or war d consequence,t hough no tr i st i t i a so el oquent l y at t est s a pr ecedi ng comi cal el ement

as does t hat f ol l owi ng l ove. I t i s qui t e anot her mat t er wi t h anenormous consequence such as we are deal i ng wi t h, a consequence of whi ch no one knows whence i t comes, nor whet her i t wi l l come; wher eas,i f i t does come, i t comes as a consequence.

Who i s abl e t o gr asp t hi s? And yet t hat whi ch f or t he i ni t i at es of l ove const i t ut es t he gr eat est pl easur e i s al so t he most i mpor t ant t hi ngf or t hem so i mport ant t hat t hey even adopt new names, deri ved f r om t heconsequence thereof whi ch thus, cur i ousl y enough, assumes r et r oact i vef or ce, The l over i s now cal l ed f ather , hi s sweet hear t , mot her ; andt hese names seem t o them t he most beaut i f ul . And yet t here i s a bei ngt o whomt hese names are even more beaut i f ul ; f or what i s as beaut i f ulas f i l i al pi et y? To me i t seems t he most beaut i f ul of al l sent i ment s;


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and f or t unat el y I can appr eci at e the thought under l yi ng i t . We ar et aught t hat i t i s seemi ng i n a son t o l ove hi s f at her . Thi s Icompr ehend, I cannot even suspect t hat t here i s any cont r adi ct i onpossi bl e her e, and I acknowl edge i nf i ni t e sat i sf act i on i n bei ng hel d byt he l ovi ng bonds of f i l i al pi et y. I bel i eve i t i s t he gr eat est debt of al l t o owe anot her bei ng one' s l i f e. I bel i eve t hat t hi s debt cannotever be wi ped out , or even f athomed by any cal cul at i on, and f or t hi sr eason I agr ee wi t h Ci cero when he assert s t hat t he son i s al ways i nt he wr ong as agai nst hi s f at her ; and i t i s pr eci sel y f i l i al pi et y whi cht eaches me to bel i eve thi s, t eaches me not even t o penet r at e the

hi dden, but r at her t o remai n hi dden i n t he f at her . Qui t e tr ue, I amgl ad to be another per son' s great est debt or ; but as t o the opposi t e,vi z. , bef ore deci di ng t o make another person my gr eat est debt or , I wantt o ar r i ve at gr eat er cl ar i t y. For t o my concept i on t her e i s a wor l d of di f f erence bet ween bei ng some per son' s debt or , and maki ng some personone' s debt or t o such an extent t hat he wi l l never be abl e t o cl earhi msel f .

What f i l i al pi et y f or bi ds t he son t o consi der , l ove bi ds t he f at hert o consi der . And her e cont r adi ct i on set s i n agai n. I f t he son has ani mmor t al soul l i ke hi s f at her , what does i t mean, t hen, t o be a f at her ?For must I not smi l e at mysel f when t hi nki ng of mysel f as a f atherwhereas t he son i s most deepl y moved when he r ef l ect s on t he r el at i onhe bear s t o hi s f ather? Very wel l do I underst and Pl ato when he says

t hat an ani mal wi l l gi ve bi r t h t o an ani mal of t he same speci es, apl ant , t o a pl ant of t he same speci es, and t hus al so man t o man . [ 36]But t hi s expl ai ns not hi ng, does not sat i sf y one' s t hought , and ar ousesbut a di m f eel i ng; f or an i mmort al soul cannot be born. Whenever, t hen,a f at her consi der s hi s son i n t he l i ght of hi s son' s i mmor t al i t ywhi chi s, i ndeed, t he essent i al consi der at i on [ 37] he wi l l pr obabl y smi l e athi msel f , f or he cannot , by any means, gr asp i n t hei r ent i r et y al l t hebeaut i f ul and nobl e t hought s whi ch hi s son wi t h f i l i al pi et y ent er t ai nsabout hi m. I f , on t he ot her hand, he consi der s hi s son f r omt he poi ntof vi ew of hi s ani mal natur e he must smi l e agai n, because t heconcept i on of f at herhood i s t oo exal t ed an expr essi on f or i t .

Fi nal l y, i f i t wer e t hi nkabl e t hat a f at her i nf l uenced hi s son i n suchf ashi on t hat hi s own nat ur e was a condi t i on f r om whi ch t he son' s nat ur e

coul d not f r ee i t sel f , t hen t he cont r adi ct i on woul d ar i se i n anot herdi r ecti on; f or i n t hi s case not hi ng mor e t er r i bl e i s t hi nkabl e t hanbei ng a f ather . There i s no compar i son between ki l l i ng a person andgi vi ng hi m l i f e t he f or mer deci des hi s f at e onl y i n t i me, t he ot her f oral l et er ni t y. So t her e i s a cont r adi ct i on agai n, and one bot h t o l aughand t o weep about . I s pat er ni t y t hen an i l l usi on even i f not i n t hesame sense as i s i mpl i ed i n Magdel one' s speech t o J eronymus [ 38] or i si t t he most t er r i bl e t hought i magi nabl e? I s i t t he gr eat est benef i tconf er r ed on one, or i s i t t he sweet est gr at i f i cat i on of one' s desi r ei s i t somet hi ng whi ch j ust happens, or i s i t t he gr eat est t ask of l i f e?

Look you, f or t hi s r eason have I f or swor n al l l ove, f or my t hought i st o me t he most essent i al consi derat i on. So even i f l ove be t he most

exqui si t e j oy, I r enounce i t , wi t hout wi shi ng ei t her t o of f end or t oenvy any one; and even i f l ove be t he condi t i on f or conf err i ng t hegr eat est benef i t i magi nabl e I deny mysel f t he oppor t uni t y t her ef or butmy t hought I have not pr ost i t ut ed. By no means do I l ack an eye f orwhat i s beaut i f ul , by no means does my hear t r emai n unmoved when I r eadt he songs of t he poet s, by no means i s my soul wi t hout sadness when i tyi el ds t o t he beaut i f ul concept i on of l ove; but I do not wi sh t obecor ne unf ai t hf ul t o my t hought . And of what avai l wer e i t t o be, f ort here i s no happi ness possi bl e f or me except my t hought have f r ee sway.I f i t had not , I woul d i n desper ati on year n f or my thought , whi ch Imay not deser t t o cl eave t o a wi f e, f or i t i s my i mmort al part and,hence, of more i mpor t ance t han a wi f e. Wel l do I comprehend t hat i f anyt hi ng i s sacred i t i s l ove; t hat i f f ai t hl essness i n any r el at i on i s


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base, i t i s doubl y so i n l ove; t hat i f any decei t i s det est abl e, i t i st enf ol d mor e det est abl e i n l ove. But my soul i s i nnocent of bl ame. Ihave never l ooked at any woman t o desi r e her , nei t her have I f l ut t eredabout ai ml essl y bef or e bl i ndl y pl ungi ng, or l apsi ng, i nt o t he mostdeci si ve of al l r el at i ons. I f I knew what t he l ovabl e wer e I woul d knowwi t h cer t ai nt y whether I had of f ended by t empt i ng any one; but si nce Ido not know, I amcert ai n onl y of never havi ng had t he consci ous desi r et o do so.

Supposi ng I shoul d yi el d t o l ove and be made to l augh; or supposi ng

I shoul d be cast down by t er r or , si nce I cannot f i nd the nar r ow pat hwhi ch l over s t r avel as easi l y as i f i t wer e t he br oad hi ghway,undi st urbed by any doubts, whi ch they surel y have best owed t hought on( seei ng our t i mes have, i ndeed, r ef l ect ed about al l [ 39] andconsequent l y wi l l compr ehend me when I asser t t hat t o actunr ef l ect i ngl y i s nonsense, as one ought t o have gone thr ough al lpossi bl e ref l ecti ons bef or e acti ng) supposi ng, I say, 1 shoul d yi el d t ol ove! Woul d I not i nsul t past r edr ess my bel oved one i f I l aughed; ori r r evocabl y pl unge her i nt o despai r i f I were over whel med by t er r or ?For I under st and wel l enough t hat a woman cannot be expect ed t o havet hought as pr of oundl y about t hese mat t ers; and a woman who f ound l ovecomi cal ( as but gods and men can, f or whi ch r eason woman i s at empt at i on l ur i ng t hemt o become r i di cul ous) woul d both bet r ay asuspi ci ous amount of pr evi ous exper i ence and under st and me l east . But a

woman who comprehended t he t er r or of l ove woul d have l ost herl ovel i ness and sti l l f ai l t o under st and me she woul d be anni hi l at ed;whi ch i s i n nowi se my case, so l ong as my t hought saves me.

I s t her e no one r eady to l augh? When I began by want i ng t o speakabout t he comi cal el ement i n l ove you per haps, expect ed t o be made t ol augh, f or i t i s easy to make you l augh, and I mysel f am a f r i end of l aught er ; and st i l l you di d not l augh, I bel i eve. The ef f ect of myspeech was a di f f er ent one, and yet pr eci sel y thi s pr oves t hat I havespoken about t he comi cal . I f t her e be no one who l aughs at my speechwel l , t hen l augh a l i t t l e at me, dear f el l owbanquet er s, and I shal lnot wonder ; f or I do not underst and what I have occasi onal l y hear d yousay about l ove. Very pr obabl y, t hough, you ar e among the i ni t i ated as Iamnot.

Ther eupon t he Young Person seat ed hi msel f . He had become morebeaut i f ul , al most , t han bef or e the meal . Now. he sat qui et l y, l ooki ngdown bef ore hi m, unconcerned about t he ot hers. J ohn the Seducer desi r edat once t o ur ge some obj ect i ons agai nst t he Young Per son' s speech butwas i nt er r upt ed by Const ant i n who warned agai nst di scussi ons and r ul edt hat on t hi s occasi on onl y speeches were i n or der. J ohn sai d i f t hatwas t he case, he woul d st i pul ate t hat he shoul d be al l owed t o be t hel ast speaker . Thi s agai n gave ri se to a di scussi on as t o t he or der i nwhi ch they were t o speak, whi ch Const ant i n cl osed by of f er i ng to speakf or t h wi t h, agai nst t hei r r ecogni zi ng hi s aut hor i t y to appoi nt t hespeaker s i n t hei r t ur n.

( Const ant i n' s Speech)

Const ant i n spoke as f ol l ows:

There i s a t i me t o keep si l ence, and a t i me t o speak, [ 40] and nowi t seems t o be the t i me to speak br i ef l y, f or our young f r i end hasspoken much and very st r angel y. Hi s vi s comi ca [ 41] has made usst r uggl e anci pi t i pr oel i o [42] because hi s speech was f ul l of doubt s,as he hi msel f i s, si t t i ng t here nowa perpl exed man who knows notwhet her t o l augh, or weep, or f al l i n l ove. I n f act , had I hadf oreknowl edge of hi s speech, such as he demands one shoul d have of l ove, I shoul d have f or bi dden hi m t o speak; but now i t i s t oo l at e. Ishal l bi d you t hen, dear f el l ow?banqueters , "gl adsome and merr y t o be, "and even i f I cannot enf or ce t hi s I shal l ask you t o f or get each speech


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so soon as i t i s made and t o wash i t down wi t h a si ngl e dr aught .

And now as t o woman, about whom I shal l speak. I t oo have ponderedabout her , and I have f i nal l y di scover ed the cat egor y t o whi ch shebel ongs. I t oo have sought , but I have f ound, t oo, and I have made amat chl ess di scover y whi ch I shal l now communi cat e t o you. Woman i sunder st ood cor r ect l y onl y when pl aced i n the cat egor y of " t he j oke. "

I t i s man' s f unct i on t o be absol ut e, t o act i n an absol ut e f ashi on,or t o gi ve expr essi on t o the absol ut e. Woman' s sphere l i es i n her

r el at i vi t y. [ 43] Bet ween bei ngs so r adi cal l y di f f er ent , no t r uer eci pr ocal r el at i on can exi st . Pr eci sel y i n t hi s i ncommensur abi l i t yl i es t he j oke. And wi t h woman t he j oke was bor n i nt o the wor l d. I t i st o be under st ood, however , t hat man must know how t o st i ck t o hi s r ol eof bei ng absol ut e; f or el se not hi ng i s seen t hat i s t o say, somet hi ngexceedi ngl y common i s seen, vi z. , t hat man and woman f i t each ot her , heas a hal f man and she as a hal f man.

The j oke i s not an æst het i c, but an abor t i ve et hi cal , cat egor y. I t sef f ect on t hought i s about t he same as t he i mpr essi on we recei ve i f aman were sol emnl y t o begi n maki ng a speech, r eci t e a comma or t wo wi t hhi s pr onouncement , t hen say "hm! " - dash" - and t hen st op. Thus wi t h woman.One t r i es to cover her wi t h t he ethi cal cat egory, one t hi nks of humannatur e, one opens one' s eyes, one f ast ens one' s gl ances on t he most

excel l ent mai den i n quest i on, an ef f or t i s made t o redeem t he cl ai ms of t he et hi cal demand; and t hen one gr ows i l l at ease and says t o one' ssel f : ah, t hi s i s undoubt edl y a j oke! The j oke l i es, i ndeed, i nappl yi ng t hat cat egory t o her and measur i ng her by i t , because i t woul dbe i dl e t o expect seri ous resul t s f r om her ; but j ust t hat i s t he j oke.Because i f one coul d demand i t of her i t woul d not be a j oke at al l . Ami ght y poor j oke i ndeed i t woul d be, t o pl ace her under t he ai r ?pumpand draw t he ai r out of her - i ndeed i t were a shame; but t o bl ow her upt o super nat ur al si ze and l et her i magi ne hersel f t o have att ai ned al lt he i deal i t y whi ch a l i t t l e mai den of si xt een i magi nes she has, t hat i st he begi nni ng of t he game and, i ndeed, t he begi nni ng of a hi ghl yent er t ai ni ng perf ormance. No yout h has hal f so much i magi nary i deal i t yas a young gi r l , but : "We shal l soon be even" as says t he tai l or i n t hepr over b; f or her i deal i t y i s but an i l l usi on.

I f one f ai l s t o consi der woman f r om t hi s poi nt of vi ew she may causei r r eparabl e harm; but t hrough my concept i on of her she becomes har ml essand amusi ng. For a man t her e i s nothi ng more shocki ng t han to catchhi msel f t waddl i ng. I t dest r oys al l t r ue i deal i t y; f or one may r epent of havi ng been a r ascal , and one may f eel sor r y f or not havi ng meant aword of what one sai d; but t o have tal ked nonsense, sheer nonsense, t ohave meant al l one sai d and behol d! i t was al l nonsense- t hat i s t oodi sgust i ng f or r epent ance i ncar nat e to put up wi t h. But t hi s i s not t hecase wi t h woman. She has a pr escr i pt i ve r i ght t o t r ansf i gur e her sel f ?i nl ess t han 24 hour s- i n t he most i nnocent and pardonabl e nonsense; f orf ar i s i t f r om her i ngenuous soul t o wi sh t o decei ve one! i ndeed, shemeant al l she sai d, and now she says t he pr eci se opposi t e, but wi t h t hesame ami abl e f r ankness, f or now she i s wi l l i ng t o st ake everyt hi ng on

what she sai d l ast . Now i n case a man i n al l ser i ousness sur r enders t ol ove he may be cal l ed f or t unate i ndeed i f he succeeds i n obt ai ni ng ani nsur ance- i f , i ndeed, he i s abl e to obt ai n i t anywher e; f or soi nf l ammabl e a mater i al as woman i s most l i kel y t o ar ouse t he suspi ci onsof an i nsurance agent . J ust consi der f or a moment what he has done i nt hus i dent i f yi ng hi msel f wi t h her ! I f , some f i ne New Year ' s ni ght shegoes of f l i ke some f i r ewor ks he wi l l pr ompt l y f ol l ow sui t ; and even i f t hi s shoul d not happen he wi l l have many a cl ose cal l . And what may henot l ose! He may l ose hi s al l ; f or t her e i s but one absol ut e ant i t hesi st o t he absol ut e, and t hat i s nonsense. Ther ef or e, l et hi m not seekr ef uge i n some soci et y f or mor al l y t ai nt ed i ndi vi dual s, f or he i s notmor al l y t ai nt ed- - f ar f r om i t ; onl y, he has been r educed i n absur dum andbeat i f i ed i n nonsense; t hat i s, has been made a f ool of .


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Thi s wi l l never happen among men. I f a man shoul d sput t er of f i nt hi s f ashi on I woul d scor n hi m. I f he shoul d f ool me by hi s cl ever nessI need but appl y the et hi cal cat egory t o hi m, and t he danger i st r i f l i ng. I f t hi ngs go t oo f ar I shal l put a bul l et t hr ough hi s br ai n;but t o chal l enge a woman?what i s t hat , i f you pl ease? Who does not seet hat i t i s a j oke, j ust as when Xerxes had the sea whi pped? WhenOt hel l o mur ders Desdemona, gr ant i ng she r eal l y had been gui l t y, he hasgai ned not hi ng, f or he has been duped, and a dupe he remai ns; f or evenby hi s murder i ng her he onl y makes a concessi on wi t h regard to a

consequence whi ch ori gi nal l y made hi m r i di cul ous; whereas El vi r a [44]may be an al t ogether pat het i c f i gur e when armi ng hersel f wi t h a daggert o obt ai n revenge. The f act t hat Shakespear e has concei ved Ot hel l o as at r agi c f i gur e ( even di sr egardi ng t he cal ami t y t hat Desdemona i si nnocent ) i s t o be expl ai ned and, i ndeed, t o per f ect sat i sf act i on, byt he hero bei ng a col ored person. For a col ored person, dearf el l ow?banqueters , who cannot be assumed t o r epr esent spi r i t ualqual i t i es- - a col or ed per son, I say, who t heref or e becomes gr een i n hi sf ace when hi s i r e i s ar oused ( whi ch i s a physi ol ogi cal f act ) , a col or edman may, i ndeed, become t r agi c i f he i s decei ved by a woman; j ust as awoman has al l t he pat hos of t r agedy on her si de when she i s bet r ayed bya man. A man who f l i es i nto a rage may perhaps become t r agi c; but a manof whom one may expect a devel oped ment al i t y, he ei t her not becomej eal ous, or he wi l l become r i di cul ous i f does; and most of al l when he

comes r unni ng wi t h a dagger i n hi s hand.

A Pi t y t hat Shakespeare has not pr esent ed us wi t h a comedy of t hi sdescr i pt i on i n whi ch t he cl ai m r ai sed by a woman' s i nf i del i t y i s t ur neddown by i r ony; f or not every one who i s abl e t o see t he comi cal el ementi n t hi s si t uat i on i s abl e al so t o devel op t he t hought and gi ve i tdr amat i c embodi ment . Let one but i magi ne Socrates surpr i si ng Xant hi ppei n t he act - - f or i t woul d be un?Socrat i c even t o thi nk of Socrat es bei ngpar t i cul ar l y concer ned about hi s wi f e' s i nf i del i t y, or st i l l wor se,spyi ng on her - - i magi ne i t , and I bel i eve that t he f i ne smi l e whi cht r ansf ormed t he ugl i est man i n At hens i nt o the handsomest , woul d f ort he f i r st t i me have t ur ned i nt o a r oar of l aught er . I t i si ncompr ehensi bl e why Ar i st ophanes, who so f r equent l y made Socrates t hebut t of hi s r i di cul e, negl ect ed t o have hi m r un on t he stage shout i ng:

"Wher e i s she, wher e i s she, so t hat I may ki l l her , i . e. , myunf ai t hf ul Xant hi ppe. " For r eal l y i t does not mat t er gr eat l y whet her orno Socrat es was made a cuckol d, and al l t hat Xant hi ppe may do i n thi sr egar d i s wast ed l abor , l i ke snappi ng one' s f i nger s i n one' s pocket ;f or Socr ates remai ns t he same i nt el l ectual hero, even wi t h a horn onhi s f orehead. But i f he had i n f act become j eal ous and had want ed t oki l l Xant hi ppe- - al as! t hen woul d Xant hi ppe have exer t ed a power overhi m such as the ent i r e Gr eek nat i on and hi s sent ence of deat h coul dnot - - t o make hi m r i di cul ous.

A cuckol d i s comi cal , t hen, wi t h r espect t o hi s wi f e; but he may ber egar ded as becomi ng tr agi cal wi t h respect t o ot her men. I n thi s f actwe may f i nd an expl anat i on of t he Spani sh concept i on of honor . But t het r agi c el ement r esi des chi ef l y i n hi s not bei ng abl e to obt ai n r edr ess,

and t he angui sh of hi s suf f er i ng consi st s r eal l y i n i t s bei ng devoi d of meani ng- - whi ch i s t err i bl e enough. To shoot t he woman, t o chal l engeher , t o despi se her , al l t hi s woul d onl y ser ve t o render t he poor manst i l l mor e ri di cul ous; f or woman i s t he weaker sex. Thi s consi der at i onent ers i n everywhere and conf uses al l . I f she per f orms a gr eat deed shei s admi r ed more t han man, because i t i s more t han was expect ed of her .I f she i s bet r ayed, al l t he pat hos i s on her si de; but i f a man i sdecei ved one has scant sympathy and l i t t l e pat i ence whi l e he i spr esent - - and l aughs at hi m whel l hi s back i s t ur ned.

Look you, t heref ore i s i t advi sabl e bet i mes t o consi der woman as aj oke. The ent ert ai nment she af f or ds i s s i mpl y i ncomparabl e. Let oneconsi der her a f i xed quant i t y, and one' s sel f a r el at i ve one; l et one


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by no means cont r adi ct her, f or t hat woul d si mpl y be hel pi ng her; l etone never doubt what she says but , r ather, bel i eve her every word; l etone gal l i vant about her , wi t h eyes rendered unst eady unspeakabl eadmi r at i on and bl i ssf ul i nt oxi cat i on, and wi t h t he mi nci ng st eps of awor shi pper ; l et one l angui shi ngl y f al l on one' s knees, t hen l i f t upone' s eyes up t o her l angui shi ngl y and heave a br eat h agai n; l et one doal l she bi ds one, l i ke an obedi ent sl ave. And now comes t he cream of t he j oke. We need no pr oof t hat woman can speak, i . e. , use words.Unf or t unat el y, however , she does not possess suf f i ci ent r ef l ect i on f ormaki ng sur e agai nst her i n t he l ong r un- - whi ch i s, at most , ei ght

days- - cont r adi ct i ng her sel f ; unl ess i ndeed man, by cont r adi ct i ng her,exer t s a r egul at i ve i nf l uence. So t he consequence i s t hat wi t hi n ashor t t i me conf usi on wi l l r ei gn supr eme. I f one had not done what shet ol d one to, t he conf usi on woul d pass unnot i ced; f or she f or gets agai nas qui ckl y as she t al ks. But si nce her admi r er has done al l , and hasbeen at her beck and cal l i n ever y i nst ance, t he conf usi on i s onl y toogl ar i ng.

The more gi f t ed t he woman, t he more amusi ng t he si t uat i on. For t hemore gi f t ed she i s, t he more i magi nat i on she wi l l possess. Now, t hemor e i magi nat i on she possesses, t he gr eat er ai r s she wi l l gi ve her sel f and t he gr eat er t he conf usi on whi ch i s bound t o become evi dent i n t henext i nst ant . I n l i f e, such ent er t ai nment i s r ar el y had, because t hi sbl i nd obedi ence t o a woman' s whi ms occurs but sel dom. And i f i t does,

i n some l angui shi ng swai n, most l i kel y he i s not qual i f i ed to see t hef un. The f act i s, t he i deal i t y a l i t t l e mai den assumes i n moment s whenher i magi nat i on i s at work i s encount ered nowhere el se, whether i n godsor man; but i t i s al l t he mor e ent er t ai ni ng t o bel i eve her and t o addf uel t o t he f i re.

As I r emarked, t he f un i s si mpl y i ncompar abl e- - i ndeed, I know i t f or af act , because I have at t i mes not been abl e t o sl eep at ni ght wi t h themere t hought of what new conf usi ons I shoul d l i ve t o see, t hr ough theagency of my sweet hear t and my humbl e zeal t o pl ease her. I ndeed, noone who gambl es i n a l ot t ery wi l l meet wi t h more r emarkabl ecombi nat i ons t han he who has a passi on f or t hi s game. For t hi s i s sur e,t hat every woman wi t hout except i on possesses t he same qual i f i cat i onsf or bei ng r esol ved and t r ansf i gur ed i n nonsense wi t h a gr acef ul ness, a

nonchal ance, an assurance such as bef i t s t he weaker sex.

Bei ng a ri ght ?mi nded l over one nat ur al l y di scover s ever y possi bl echarm i n one' s bel oved. Now, when di scoveri ng geni us i n the abovesense, one ought not t o l et i t r emai n a mer e possi bi l i t y but ought ,r at her , t o devel op i t i nt o vi r t uosi t y. I do not need t o be mor especi f i c, and more cannot be sai d i n a general way, yet every one wi l lunderst and me. J ust as one may f i nd enter t ai nment i n bal anci ng a caneon one' s nose, i n swi ngi ng a t umbl er i n a ci r cl e wi t hout spi l l i ng adrop, i n danci ng bet ween eggs, and i n other games as amusi ng andpr of i t abl e, l i kewi se, and not ot her wi se, i n l i vi ng wi t h hi s bel oved t hel over wi l l have a sour ce of i ncomparabl e ent ert ai nment and f ood f ormost i nt erest i ng st udy. I n matt er s per t ai ni ng t o l ove l et one haveabsol ut e bel i ef , not onl y i n her pr ot est at i ons of f i del i t y- - one soon

t i r es of t hat game- - but i n al l t hose expl osi ons of i nvi ol abl eRomant i ci sm by whi ch she woul d pr obabl y per i sh i f one di d not cont r i vea saf ety?val ve t hr ough whi ch t he si ghs and t he smoke, and " t he ar i a of Romant i ci sm [ 45] " may escape and make her worshi pper happy. Let onecompare her admi r i ngl y t o J ul i et , t he di f f erence bei ng onl y t hat noper son ever as much as t hought of t ouchi ng a hai r on her Romeo' s head.Wi t h r egar d t o i nt el l ect ual mat t er s, l et one hol d her capabl e of al land, i f one has been l ucky enough t o f i nd t he ri ght woman, i n a t r i ceone wi l l have a cant anker ous aut horess, whi l st wonder i ngl y shadi ngone' s eyes wi t h one' s hand and dul y admi r i ng what t he l i t t l e bl ack henmay yi el d besi des. [ 46] I t i s al t oget her i ncompr ehensi bl e why Socratesdi d not choose thi s cour se of act i on i nst ead of bi cker i ng wi t hXant hi ppe- - oh, wel l ! t o be sur e he wi shed t o acqui r e pr act i ce, l i ke t he


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r i di ng mast er who, even t hough he has t he best t r ai ned horse, yet knowshow t o tease hi m i n such f ashi on t hat t her e i s good r eason f or br eaki nghi m i n agai n. " [ 47]

Let me be a l i t t l e mor e concrete, i n or der t o i l l ust r at e apart i cul ar and hi ghl y i nt erest i ng phenomenon. A gr eat deal has beensai d about f emi ni ne f i del i t y, but r ar el y wi t h any di screti on. [ 48] Froma pur el y æst het i c poi nt of vi ew t hi s f i del i t y i s t o be r egar ded as api ece of poet i c f i ct i on whi ch st eps on t he st age t o f i nd her l over - - af i ct i on whi ch si t s by the spi nni ng wheel and wai t s f or her l over t o

come; but when she has f ound hi m, or he has come, why, t hen æst het i csi s at a l oss. Her i nf i del i t y, on t he ot her hand, as cont r ast ed wi t h herpr evi ous f i del i t y, i s to be j udged chi ef l y wi t h r egar d t o i t s et hi cali mpor t , when j eal ousy wi l l appear as a t r agi c passi on. There ar e t hr eepossi bi l i t i es, so t he case i s f avor abl e f or woman; f or t her e ar e t wocases of f i del i t y, as agai nst one of i nf i del i t y. I nconcei vabl y gr eat i sher f i del i t y when she i s not al t oget her sur e of her caval i er ; and everso i nconcei vabl y gr eat i s i t when he r epel s her f i del i t y. The thi r dcase woul d be her i nf i del i t y. Now gr ant ed one has suf f i ci ent i nt el l ectand obj ecti vi t y t o make r ef l ecti ons, one wi l l f i nd suf f i ci entj ust i f i cat i on, i n what has been sai d, f or my cat egor y of "t he j oke. "Our young f r i end whose begi nni ng i n a manner decei ved me seemed t o beon t he poi nt of ent er i ng i nt o thi s mat t er , but backed out agai n,di smayed at t he di f f i cul t y. And yet t he expl anat i on i s not di f f i cul t ,

pr ovi di ng one real l y set s about i t ser i ousl y, t o make unr equi t ed l oveand deat h cor r espond to one another, and pr ovi di ng one i s ser i ousenough t o st i ck t o hi s t hought - - and so much ser i ousness one ought t ohave- - f or sake of t he j oke.

Of cour se t hi s phr ase of unr equi t ed l ove bei ng death or i gi nat edei t her wi t h a woman or a womani sh mal e. I t s or i gi n i s easi l y made out ,seei ng t hat i t i s one of t hose cat egor i cal out bur st s whi ch, spoken wi t hgreat bravado, on t he spur of t he moment , may count on a great andi mmedi ate appl ause; f or al t hough t hi s busi ness i s sai d t o be a matt erof l i f e and deat h, yet t he phr ase i s meant f or i mmedi ateconsumpt i on- - l i ke cr eam?puf f s. Al t hough r ef er r i ng t o dai l y exper i encei t by no means bi ndi ng on hi m who i s t o di e, but onl y obl i ges t hel i st ener t o r ush post ?hast e t o t he assi st ance of t he dyi ng l over . I f a

man shoul d t ake t o usi ng such phr ases i t woul d not be amusi ng at al l ,f or he woul d be t oo despi cabl e t o l augh at . Woman, however , possessesgeni us, i s l ovabl e i n t he measure she possesses i t , and i s amusi ng atal l t i mes. Wel l , t hen, t he l angui shi ng l ady di es of l ove- - whycer t ai nl y, f or di d she not say so her sel f ? I n t hi s mat t er she i spat het i c, f or woman has enough cour age t o say what no man woul d havet he cour age to do- - so t hen she di es! I n sayi ng so I have measured herby et hi cal st andar ds. Do ye l i kewi se, dear f el l ow?banquet ers, andunder st and your Ar i st ot l e ar i ght , now! He observes ver y corr ect l y t hatwoman cannot be used i n t r agedy. [ 49] And ver y cer t ai nl y, her pr operspher e i s t he pat het i c and ser i ous di ver t i ssement , t he hal f - hour f ace,not t he f i ve?act dr ama. So t hen she di es. But shoul d she f or t hatr eason not be abl e t o l ove agai n? Why not ?- - t hat i s, i f i t be possi bl et o r est or e her t o l i f e. Now, havi ng been r est or ed t o l i f e, she i s of

cour se a new bei ng- - another per son, t hat i s, and begi ns af r esh andf al l s i n l ove f or t he f i r st t i me: not hi ng r emar kabl e i n t hat ! Ah,deat h, gr eat i s t hy power ; not t he most vi ol ent emet i c and not t he mostpowerf ul l axat i ve coul d ever have t he same pur gi ng ef f ect !

The r esul t i ng conf usi on i s capi t al , i f one but i s at t ent i ve and doesnot f orget . A dead man i s one of t he most amusi ng char act er s t o be metwi t h i n l i f e. St r ange that more use i s not made of hi m on t he st age,f or i n l i f e he i s seen, now and t hen. When you come to thi nk of i t ,even one who has onl y been seemi ngl y dead i s a comi cal f i gur e; but onewho was r eal l y dead cer t ai nl y cont r i but es t o our ent ert ai nment al l onecan r easonabl y expect of a man. Al l depends on whet her one i sat t ent i ve. I mysel f had my at t ent i on cal l ed t o i t , one day, as I was


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wal ki ng wi t h one of my acquai nt ances. A coupl e passed us. I j udged f r omt he expr essi on on hi s f ace that he knew t hem and asked whet her t hat wast he case. "Why, yes, " he answered, " I know t hem ver y wel l , andespeci al l y t he l ady, f or she i s my depart ed one. " - - "What depart ed one?"I asked. - - "Why, my depar t ed f i r st l ove, " he answer ed. "I ndeed, t hi s i sa st r ange af f ai r . She sai d: I shal l di e. And t hat ver y same moment shedepart ed, natur al l y enough, by deat h- - el se one mi ght have i nsured herbef orehand i n t he wi dow' s i nsurance. Too l at e! Dead she was and deadshe r emai ned; and now I wander about , as says t he poet , vai nl y seeki ngt he gr ave of my l ady- l ove that I may shed my tear s t her eon. " Thus t hi s

br oken- hear t ed man who r emai ned al one i n the wor l d, t hough i t consol edhi m t o f i nd her pret t y f ar al ong wi t h some ot her man.

I t i s a good t hi ng f or t he gi r l s, t hought I , t hat t hey don' t have t o bebur i ed, ever y t i me t hey di e; f or i f par ent s have hi t her t o consi der ed aboy?chi l d t o be the more expensi ve, t he gi r l s mi ght become even moreso!

A si mpl e ease of i nf i del i t y i s not as amusi ng, by f ar . I mean, i f agi r l shoul d f al l i n l ove wi t h some one el se and shoul d say t o herl over : "I cannot hel p i t , save me f r om mysel f ! " But t o di e f r om sor r owbecause she cannot endur e bei ng separat ed f r omher l over by hi s j our neyt o the West I ndi es, t o have put up wi t h hi s depart ur e, however , andt hen, at hi s r etur n, be not onl y not dead, but at t ached t o some one

el se f or al l t i me- - t hat cer t ai nl y i s a str ange f at e f or a l over t oundergo. No wonder , t hen, t hat t he hear t ?broken man at t i mes consol edhi msel f wi t h the bur t hen of an ol d song whi ch r uns: "Hur r ah f or you andme, I say, we never shal l f or get t hat day!"

Now f orgi ve me, dear f el l ow?banqueters , i f I have spoken at t oo gr eatl engt h; and empt y a gl ass t o l ove and t o woman. Beaut i f ul she i s andl ovel y, i f she be consi der ed æst het i cal l y. That i s undeni abl e. But , ashas of t en been sai d, and as I shal l say al so: one ought not t o remai nst andi ng her e, but shoul d go on. [ 50] Consi der her , t hen, et hi cal l y andyou wi l l hardl y have begun t o do so bef ore the humor of i t wi l l becomeapparent . Even Pl at o and Ar i st ot l e assume t hat woman i s an i mper f ectf or m, an i r r at i onal quant i t y, t hat i s, one whi ch mi ght some ti me, i n abet t er worl d, be t r ansf ormed i nt o a man. I n thi s l i f e one must t ake her

as she i s. And what t hi s i s becomes apparent ver y soon; f or she wi l lnot be cont ent wi t h t he æst het i c sphere, but goes on, she want s t obecome emanci pat ed, and she has t he cour age t o say so. Let her wi sh bef ul f i l l ed and t he amusement wi l l be si mpl y i ncomparabl e.

When Const ant i n had f i ni shed speaki ng he f or t hwi t h r ul ed Vi ct or Eremi t at o begi n. He spoke as f ol l ows:

( Vi ct or Er emi t a' s Speech)

As wi l l be remember ed, Pl at o of f ers t hanks t o the gods f or f our t hi ngs.I n t he f our t h pl ace he i s gr atef ul f or havi ng been permi t t ed t o be acont emporary of Socrates. For t he t hr ee ot her boons ment i oned by hi m,[ 51] an ear l i er Gr eek phi l osopher [ 52] had al r eady t hanked the gods,

and so I concl ude that t hey ar e wor t hy our gr at i t ude. But al as! - - eveni f I want ed t o expr ess my gr at i t ude l i ke t hese Gr eeks I woul d not beabl e t o do so f or what was deni ed me. Let me t hen col l ect my soul i ngr at i t ude f or t he one good whi ch was conf er r ed on me al so- - t hat I wasmade a man and not a woman.

To be a woman i s somet hi ng so cur i ous, so het erogeneous and composi t et hat no pr edi cat e wi l l f ul l y expr ess these qual i t i es; and i f I shoul duse many pr edi cates t hey woul d cont r adi ct one another i n such f ashi ont hat onl y a woman woul d be abl e t o tol erat e t he resul t and, what i swor se, f eel happy about i t . The f act t hat she r eal l y si gni f i es l esst han man- - t hat i s not her mi sf or t une, and st i l l l ess so i f she got t oknow i t , f or i t mi ght be bor ne wi t h f or t i t ude. No, her mi sf or t une


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consi st s i n her l i f e' s havi ng become devoi d of f i xed meani ng t hr ough ar omant i c concept i on of t hi ngs, by vi r t ue of whi ch, now she si gni f i esal l , and now, not hi ng at al l ; wi t hout ever f i ndi ng out what she r eal l ydoes si gni f y and even t hat i s not her mi sf ort une but , r at her , t he f actt hat , bei ng a woman, she never wi l l be abl e t o f i nd out . As f or mysel f ,i f I were a woman, I shoul d pr ef er t o be one i n the Or i ent and as asl ave; f or t o be a sl ave, nei t her mor e nor l ess i s at any ratesomet hi ng, i n compar i son wi t h bei ng, now heyday, now not hi ng.

Even i f a woman' s l i f e di d not cont ai n such cont r ast s, t he di st i nct i on

she enj oys, and whi ch i s r i ght l y assumed t o be hers as a woman- - adi st i nct i on she does not shar e wi t h man- - woul d by i t sel f poi nt t o t hemeani ngl essness of her l i f e. The di st i ncti on I r ef er t o i s t hat of gal l ant r y. To be gal l ant t o woman i s becomi ng i n men. Now gal l ant r yconsi st s ver y si mpl y i n concei vi ng i n f ant ast i c cat egor i es t hat per sont o whom one i s gal l ant . To be gal l ant t o a man i s, t her ef or e, ani nsul t , f or he begs t o be excused f r om t he appl i cat i on of f ant ast i ccat egor i es t o hi m. For t he f ai r sex, however , gal l ant r y si gni f i es at r i but e, a di st i ncti on, whi ch i s essent i al l y i t s pr i vi l ege. Ah me, i f onl y a si ngl e caval i er wer e gal l ant t o them t he case woul d not be soser i ous. But f ar f r om i t ! At bot t om ever y man i s gal l ant , he i sunconsci ousl y so. Thi s si gni f i es, t her ef ore, t hat i t i s l i f e i t sel f whi ch has best owed t hi s per qui si t e on the f ai r sex. Woman on her par tunconsci ousl y accept s i t . Here we have the same t r oubl e agai n; f or i f

onl y a si ngl e woman di d so, another expl anat i on woul d be necessary.Thi s i s l i f e' s character i s t i c i rony.

Now i f gal l ant r y cont ai ned t he tr ut h i t ought t o be r eci pr ocal ,i . e. , gal l ant r y woul d be the accept ed quot at i on f or t he st at eddi f f erence bet ween beaut y on t he one hand, and power , ast uteness, andst r engt h, on t he ot her . But t hi s i s not t he case, gal l ant r y i sessent i al l y woman' s due; and t he f act t hat she unconsci ousl y accept s i tmay be expl ai ned t hrough t he sol i ci t ude of natur e f or t he weak andt hose cr eat ed i n a st epmother l y f ashi on by her, who f eel more t hanr ecompensed by an i l l usi on. But pr eci sel y t hi s i l l usi on i s mi sf or t une.I t i s not sel dom t he case that nat ur e comes t o t he assi st ance of anaf f l i ct ed creat ur e by consol i ng hi m wi t h t he not i on t hat he i s t he mostbeaut i f ul . I f t hat i s so, why, t hen we may say t hat natur e made good

t he def i ci ency si nce now t he creat ur e i s endowed wi t h even more t hancoul d be r easonabl y demanded. But t o be beaut i f ul ?onl y i n one' si magi nat i on, and not t o be over come, i ndeed, by sadness, but t o bef ool ed i nt o an i l l usi on- - why, t hat i s st i l l wor se mocker y. Now, as t obei ng af f l i ct ed, woman cer t ai nl y i s f ar f r om havi ng been t r eat ed i n ast epmot her l y f ashi on by nat ur e; st i l l she i s so i n anot her sensei nasmuch as she never can f r ee hersel f f r om t he i l l usi on wi t h whi chl i f e has consol ed her .

Gather i ng t ogether one' s i mpr essi ons of a woman' s exi st ence, i nor der t o poi nt out i t s essent i al f eat ur es, one i s st r uck by the f actt hat ever y woman' s l i f e gi ves one an ent i r el y phant ast i c i mpr essi on. I na f ar more deci si ve sense t han man she may be sai d to have t urni ngpoi nt s i n her car eer ; f or her t ur ni ng poi nt s t ur n ever yt hi ng upsi de

down. I n one of Ti eck' s [ 53] Romant i c dramas t her e occur s a per son who,havi ng once been ki ng of Mesopotami a, now i s a green- gr ocer i nCopenhagen. Exact l y as f ant ast i c i s ever y f emi ni ne exi st ence. I f t hegi r l ' s name i s J ul i ana, her l i f e i s as f ol l ows: er stwhi l e empr ess i nt he wi de domai ns of l ove, and ti t ul ar y queen of al l t he exaggerat i onsof t omf ool er y; now, Mr s. Pet erson, cor ner Bat h St r eet .

When a chi l d, a gi r l i s l ess hi ghl y est eemed t han a boy. When al i t t l e ol der , one does not know exact l y what t o make of her. At l astshe ent ers t hat deci si ve peri od i n whi ch she hol ds absol ut e sway.Wor shi pf ul l y man appr oaches her as a sui t or . Wor shi pf ul l y, f or so doesever y sui t or , i t i s not t he scheme of a cr af t y decei ver . Even t heexecut i oner , when l ayi ng down hi s f asces t o go a?wooi ng, even he bends


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hi s knee, al t hough he i s wi l l i ng t o of f er hi msel f up, wi t hi n a shor tt i me, t o domest i c execut i ons whi ch he f i nds so nat ur al t hat he i s f arf r om seeki ng any excuse f or t hem i n t he f act t hat publ i c execut i onshave gr own so f ew. The cul t ured person behaves i n the very same manner .He kneel s, he worshi ps, he concei ves hi s l ady?l ove i n the mostf ant ast i c cat egor i es; and t hen he ver y qui ckl y f or get s hi s kneel i ngposi t i on- - i n f act, he knew f ul l wel l t he whi l e he knel t t hat i t wasf ant ast i c t o do so.

I f I were a woman I woul d pr ef er t o be sol d by my f at her t o the hi ghest

bi dder , as i s t he cust om i n t he Or i ent ; f or t her e i s at l east somesense i n such a deal . What mi sf or t une t o have been born a womah! Yether mi sf ort une real l y consi st s i n her not bei ng abl e to compr ehend i t ,bei ng a woman. I f she does compl ai n, she compl ai ns r at her about herOr i ent al , t han her Occi dent al , st at us. But i f I wer e a woman I woul df i r st of al l r ef use to be wooed, and r esi gn mysel f t o bel ong t o theweaker sex, i f such i s t he case, and be car ef ul - - whi ch i s mosti mport ant i f one i s pr oud- - of not goi ng beyond t he t r ut h. However, t hati s of but l i t t l e concer n t o her . J ul i ana i s i n t he sevent h heaven, andMr s. Pet erson submi t s t o her f ate.

Let me, t hen, t hank t he gods t hat I was bor n a man and not a woman.And st i l l , how much do I f or ego! For i s not al l poet r y, f r om t hedr i nki ng song to t he t r agedy, a dei f i cat i on of woman? Al l t he wor se f or

her and f or hi m who admi r es her ; f or i f he does not l ook out he wi l l ,al l of a sudden, have t o pul l a l ong f ace. The beaut i f ul , t heexcel l ent , al l of man' s achi evement , owes i t s ori gi n t o woman, f or shei nspi r es hi m. Woman i s, i ndeed, t he i nspi r i ng el ement i n l i f e. How manya l ove?l orn shepherd has pl ayed on t hi s t heme, and how many ashepher dess has l i st ened t o i t ! Ver i l y, my soul i s wi t hout envy andf eel s onl y gr ati t ude to t he gods; f or I woul d r ather be a man, t houghi n humbl e st at i on, but r eal l y so, t han be a woman and an i ndet ermi nat equant i t y, r endered happy by a del usi on- - I woul d r ather be a concr etet hi ng, wi t h a smal l but def i ni t e meani ng, t han an abst r act i on whi ch i st o mean al l .

As I have sai d, i t i s t hr ough woman t hat i deal i t y i s bor n i nt o t hewor l d and- - what wer e man wi t hout her! There i s many a man who has

become a geni us t hr ough a woman, many a one a hero, many a one a poet ,many a one even a sai nt ; but he di d not become a geni us t hrough t hewoman he marr i ed, f or t hrough her he onl y became a pr i vy counci l l or ; hedi d not become a hero t hrough t he woman he mar r i ed, f or t hrough her heonl y became a general ; he di d not become a poet t hrough the woman hemarr i ed, f or t hr ough her he onl y became a f ather ; he di d not become asai nt t hr ough t he woman he mar r i ed, f or he di d not mar r y, and woul dhave marr i ed but one- - t he one whom he di d not mar r y; j ust as t he ot hersbecame a geni us, became a her o, became a poet t hrough t he hel p of t hewoman t hey di d not mar r y. I f woman' s i deal i t y were i n i t sel f i nspi r i ng,why, t hen t he i nspi r i ng woman woul d be t he one t o whom a man i s uni t edf or l i f e. But l i f e tel l s a di f f erent s tory. I t i s onl y by a negat i ver el at i on t o her t hat man i s r endered pr oduct i ve i n hi s i deal endeavor s.I n t hi s sense she i s i nspi r i ng; but t o say t hat she i s i nspi r i ng,

wi t hout qual i f yi ng one' s st at ement , i s t o be gui l t y of a par al ogi sm[ 54] whi ch one must be a woman to over l ook. Or has any one ever hear dof any man havi ng become a poet t hrough hi s wi f e? So l ong as man doesnot possess her she i nspi r es hi m. I t i s t hi s t r ut h whi ch gi ves r i se t ot he i l l usi ons ent er t ai ned i n poet r y and by women. The f act t hat he doesnot possess her s i gni f i es, ei t her , t hat he i s st i l l f i ght i ng f orher - - t hus has woman i nspi r ed many a one and r ender ed hi m a kni ght ; buthas any one ever heard of any man havi ng been r ender ed a kni ght val i antt hr ough hi s wi f e? Or , t he f act t hat he does not possess her si gni f i est hat he cannot obt ai n her by any manner of means- - t hus has womani nspi r ed many a one and r oused hi s i deal i t y; t hat i s, i f t her e i sanythi ng i n hi m wort h whi l e. But a wi f e, who has t hi ngs ever so muchwor t h whi l e f or her husband, wi l l har dl y ar ouse any i deal st r i vi ngs i n


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hi m. Or , agai n, t he f act t hat be does not possess her si gni f i es t hat hei s pur sui ng an i deal . Per chance he l oves many, but l ovi ng many i s al soa ki nd of unr equi t ed l ove; and yet t he i deal i t y of hi s soul i s t o beseen i n t hi s st r i vi ng and year ni ng, and not i n t he smal l bi t s of l ovabl eness whi ch make up t he sum t ot al of t he cont r i but i ons of al lt hose he l oves.

The hi ghest i deal i t y a woman can ar ouse i n a man consi st s, i n f act , i nt he awakeni ng wi t hi n hi m of t he consci ousness of i mmort al i t y. The poi ntof t hi s pr oof l i es i n what one mi ght cal l t he necessi t y of a r epl y.

J ust as one may remark about some pl ay that i t cannot end wi t hout t hi sor t hat per son get t i ng i n hi s say, l i kewi se ( says i deal i t y) ourexi st ence cannot be al l over wi t h deat h: I demand a repl y! Thi s proof i s f r equent l y f ur ni shed, i n a posi t i ve fashi on, i n t he publ i cadver t i ser . I hol d t hat t o be ent i r el y pr oper , f or i f pr oof i s t o bemade i n t he publ i c adver t i ser i t must be made i n a posi t i ve f ashi on.Thus: Mr s. Pet er sen, we l ear n, has l i ved a number of year s, unt i l i nt he ni ght of t he 24t h i t pl eased Pr ovi dence, et c. Thi s pr oduces i n Mr .Pet er sen an at t ack of r emi ni scences f r om hi s cour t i ng days or, t oexpr ess i t qui t e pl ai nl y, not hi ng but seei ng her agai n wi l l everconsol e hi m. For t hi s bl i ssf ul meet i ng he pr epar e hi msel f , i n t hemeanwhi l e, by t aki ng unt o hi msel f anot her wi f e; f or , t o be sur e, t hi smar r i age i s by no means as poet i c as t he f i r st - - st i l l i t i s a goodi mi t at i on. Thi s i s t he pr oof posi t i ve. Mr . Pet er sen i s not sat i sf i ed

wi t h demandi ng a repl y, no, he want s a meet i ng agai n i n t he hereaf t er .

As i s wel l known, a base met al wi l l of t en show t he gl eamof pr eci ousmet al . Thi s i s t he br i ef si l ver ?gl eam. Wi t h r espect t o t he base met alt hi s i s a t r agi c moment , f or i t must once f or al l r esi gn i t sel f t obei ng a base metal . Not so wi t h Mr . Pet ersen. The possessi on of i deal i t y i s by r i ght s i nher ent i n ever y per son- - and now, i f I l augh atMr . Pet er sen i t i s not because he, bei ng i n r eal i t y of base metal , hadbut a si ngl e si l ver ?gl eam; but , r at her , because j ust t hi s si l ver ?gl eambetr ays hi s havi ng become a base metal . Thus does t he phi l i st i ne l ookmost r i di cul ous when, ar r ayed i n i deal i t y, he af f or ds f i t t i ng occasi ont o say, wi t h Hol berg: What! does t hat cow wear a f i ne dr ess, t oo? [ 55]

The case i s t hi s: whenever a woman arouses i deal i t y i n man, and

t hereby t he consci ousness of i mmort al i t y, she al ways does sonegat i vel y. He who real l y became a geni us, hero, a poet , a sai ntt hrough woman, he has by that very f act sei zed on t he essence of i mmor t al i t y. Now i f t he i nspi r i ng el ement wer e posi t i vel y pr esent i nwoman, why, t hen a man' s wi f e, and onl y hi s wi f e, ought t o awaken i nt heconsci ousness of i mmor t al i t y. But t he r ever se hol ds t r ue. That i s, i f she i s r eal l y t o awaken i deal i t y i n husband she must di e. Mr . Pet er sen,t o be sur e, i s not af f ect ed, f or al l t hat . But i f woman, by her deat h,does awaken man' s i deal i t y, t hen i s she i ndeed t he cause of al l t hegr eat t hi ngs poet r y at t r i but es t o her ; but not e wel l : t hat whi ch shedi d i n a posi t i ve f ashi on f or hi m i n no wi se r oused hi s i deal i t y. I nf act , her si gni f i cance i n t hi s r egar d becomes t he mor e doubt f ul t hel onger she l i ves, because she wi l l at l engt h r eal l y begi n t o wi sh t osi gni f y somet hi ng posi t i ve. However , t he more posi t i ve t he pr oof t he

l ess i t pr oves; f or t hen Mr . Pet er sen' s l ongi ng wi l l be f or some pastcommon exper i ences whose cont ent was, t o al l i ntent s and pur poses,exhaust ed when t hey were had. Most posi t i ve of al l t he pr oof becomes i f t he obj ect of hi s l ongi ng concer ns t hei r mar i t al spooni ng- - t hat t i mewhen they vi si t ed t he Deer Park t oget her ! I n the same way one mi ghtsuddenl y f eel a l ongi ng f or t he ol d pai r of sl i pper s one used t o be socomf or t abl e i n; but t hat pr oof i s not exact l y a pr oof f or t hei mmort al i t y of t he soul . On t he ot her hand, t he more negat i ve t hepr oof , t he bet t er i t i s; f or t he negat i ve i s hi gher t han t he posi t i ve,i nasmuch as i t concer ns our i mmor t al i t y, and i s t hus t he onl y posi t i veval ue.

Woman' s mai n si gni f i cance l i es i n her negat i ve cont r i but i on, whereas


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her posi t i ve cont r i but i ons are as not hi ng i n compar i son but , on t hecont r ar y, per ni c i ous. I t i s t hi s t r ut h whi ch l i f e keeps f r om her ,consol i ng her wi t h an i l l usi on whi ch sur passes al l t hat mi ght ar i se i nany man' s br ai n, and wi t h par ent al car e or der i ng l i f e i n such f ashi ont hat bot h l anguage and ever yt hi ng el se conf i r m her i n her i l l usi on. Foreven i f she be concei ved as t he ver y opposi t e of i nspi r i ng, and r at heras t he wel l ?spr i ng of al l cor r upt i on; whet her now we i magi ne t hat wi t hher , si n came i nt o t he wor l d, or t hat i t i s her i nf i del i t y whi ch r ui nedal l - - our concept i on of her i s al ways gal l ant . That i s, when hear i ngsuch opi ni ons one mi ght r eadi l y assume t hat woman were real l y abl e t o

become i nf i ni t el y more cul pabl e t han man, whi ch woul d, i ndeed, amountt o an i mmense acknowl edgment of her powers. Al as, al as! t he case i sent i r el y di f f er ent . Ther e i s a secret r eadi ng of t hi s t ext whi ch womancannot compr ehend; f or , t he very next moment , al l l i f e owns t o t he sameconcept i on as t he st ate, whi ch makes man r esponsi bl e f or hi s wi f e. Onecondemns her as man never i s condemned ( f or onl y a r eal sent ence i spassed on hi m, and there t he matt er ends) , not wi t h her r ecei vi ng ami l der sent ence; f or i n t hat case not al l of her l i f e woul d be ani l l usi on, but wi t h t he case agai nst her bei ng di smi ssed and t he publ i c,i . e. , l i f e, havi ng t o def r ay t he cost s. One moment , woman i s supposedt o be possessed of al l possi bl e wi l es, t he next moment , one l aughs athi m whom she decei ved, whi ch sur el y i s a cont r adi ct i on. Even such acase as t hat of Pot i phar ' s wi f e does not pr ecl ude t he possi bi l i t y of her havi ng r eal l y been seduced. Thus has woman an enormous possi bi l i t y,

such as no man has- - an enor mous possi bi l i t y; but her r eal i t y i s i npr opor t i on. And most t er r i bl e of al l i s t he magi c of i l l usi on i n whi chshe f eel s her sel f happy.

Let Pl ato t hen t hank t he gods f or havi ng been born a cont emporary of Socrat es: I envy hi m; l et hi m of f er t hanks f or bei ng a Gr eek: I envyhi m; but when he i s grat ef ul f or havi ng been bor n a man and not a womanI j oi n hi m wi t h al l my hear t . I f I had been born a woman and coul dunder st and what now I can under st and- - i t were t err i bl e! But i f I hadbeen born a woman and ther ef ore coul d not underst and i t - - t hat werest i l l more ter r i bl e!

But i f t he case i s as I st at ed i t , t hen i t f ol l ows t hat one hadbet t er r ef r ai n f r om any posi t i ve r el at i on wi t h woman. Wher ever she i s

concerned one has t o reckon wi t h t hat i nevi t abl e hi atus whi ch r endersher happy as she does not detect t he i l l usi on, but whi ch woul d be aman' s undoi ng i f he detected i t .

I t hank t he gods, t hen, t hat I was born a man and not a woman; and It hank them, f ur t her more, t hat no woman by some l i f e?l ong at t achmenthol ds me i n dut y bound t o be const ant l y ref l ect i ng t hat i t ought not t ohave been.

I ndeed, what a passi ng st r ange devi ce i s marr i age! And what makes i tal l t he st r anger i s t he suggest i on t hat i t i s t o be a st ep t akenwi t hout t hought . And yet no step i s mor e deci si ve, f or not hi ng i n l i f ei s as i nexorabl e and mast erf ul as t he marr i age t i e. And now soi mport ant a st ep as marr i age ought , so we ar e t ol d, t o be t aken wi t hout

r ef l ect i on! Yet marr i age i s not somethi ng si mpl e but somethi ngi mmensel y compl ex and i ndetermi nate. J ust as t he meat of t he t ur t l esmacks of al l ki nds of meat , so l i kewi se does marr i age have a t ast e of al l manner of t hi ngs; and j ust as t he turt l e i s a sl uggi sh ani mal ,l i kewi se i s mar r i age a sl uggi sh t hi ng. Fal l i ng i n l ove i s, at l east , asi mpl e t hi ng, but mar r i age- - ! I s i t somet hi ng heat hen or somet hi ngChr i st i an, somet hi ng spi r i t ual or somethi ng pr of ane, or somet hi ngci vi l , or somet hi ng of al l t hi ngs? I s i t an expr essi on of ani nexpl i cabl e l ove, t he el ecti ve af f i ni t y of soul s i n del i cat e accor dwi t h one anot her ; or i s i t a dut y, or a par t ner shi p, or a mer econveni ence, or t he cust om of cer t ai n count r i es or i s i t a dut y, or apar t ner shi p, or a mer e conveni ence, or t he cust omof cer t ai ncount r i es- - or i s i t a l i t t l e of al l t hese? I s one t o or der t he musi c


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f or i t f r om t he t own musi ci an or t he or gani st , or i s one t o have al i t t l e f r om bot h? I s i t t he mi ni st er or t he pol i ce ser geant who i s t omake the speech and enr ol l t he names i n t he book of l i f e- - or i n t het own regi st er? Does marr i age bl ow a tune on a comb, or does i t l i st ent o t he whi sper i ngs "l i ke t o t hose of t he f ai r i es f r om t he gr ot t oes of asummer ni ght " [ 56]

And now ever y Darby i magi nes he per f ormed such a Pot pourr i , suchi ncomparabl y compl ex musi c, i n get t i ng marr i ed- - and i magi nes t hat he i sst i l l per f or mi ng i t whi l e l i vi ng a mar r i ed l i f e! My dear

f el l ow?banqueters , ought we not , i n def aul t of a weddi ng pr esent andcongr at ul at i ons, gi ve each of t he conj ugal par t ner s a demeri t f orr epeated i nat t ent i veness? I t i s t axi ng enough t o expr ess a si ngl e i deai n one' s l i f e; but t o t hi nk somethi ng so compl i cated as marr i age and,consequent l y, br i ng i t under one head; t o thi nk somethi ng socompl i cat ed and yet t o do j ust i ce to each and every el ement i n i t , andhave ever yt hi ng pr esent at t he same t i me- - ver i l y, he i s a gr eat man whocan accompl i sh al l t hi s! And st i l l ever y Benedi ct accompl i shes i t - - sohe does, no doubt ; f or does he not say that he does i t unconsci ousl y?But i f t hi s i s t o be done unconsci ousl y i t must be thr ough some hi gherf or m of unconsci ousness per meat i ng al l one' s r ef l ect i ve power s. But nota word i s sai d about t hi s! And t o ask any mar r i ed man about i t meansj ust wast i ng one' s t i me.

He who has once commi t t ed a pi ece of f ol l y wi l l const ant l y be pur suedby i t s consequences. I n t he case of mar r i age the f ol l y consi st s i none' s havi ng got t en i nt o a mess, and the puni shment , i n recogni zi ng,when i t i s t oo l at e, what one has done. So you wi l l f i nd t hat t hemarr i ed man, now, becomes chest y, wi t h a bi t of pathos, t hi nki ng he hasdone somet hi ng r emarkabl e i n havi ng ent ered wedl ock; now, put s hi s t ai lbet ween hi s l egs i n dej ect i on; t hen agai n, pr ai ses marr i age i n sheersel f ?def ense. But as t o a thought ?uni t whi ch mi ght serve t o hol dt oget her t he di sj ect a membr a [ 57] of t he most het erogeneous concept i onsof l i f e cont ai ned i n mar r i age- - f or t hat we shal l wai t i n vai n.

Theref ore, t o be a mere Benedi ct i s humbug, and t o be a seducer i shumbug, and to wi sh t o exper i ment wi t h woman f or t he sake of " t he j oke"i s al so humbug. I n f act , t he two l ast ment i oned methods wi l l be seen t o

i nvol ve concessi ons t o woman on t he par t of man qui t e as l arge as t hosef ound i n marr i age. The seducer wi shes t o r i se i n hi s own est i mat i on bydecei vi ng her ; but t hi s ver y f act t hat he decei ves and wi shes t odecei ve- - t hat he car es t o decei ve, i s al so a demonst r at i on of hi sdependence on woman. And t he same i s t r ue of hi m who wi shes t oexper i ment wi t h her .

I f I were t o i magi ne any possi bl e rel at i on wi t h woman i t woul d be oneso sat ur at ed wi t h r ef l ect on t hat i t woul d, f or t hat ver y r eason, nol onger be any r el at i on wi t h her at al l . To be an excel l ent husband andyet on t he sl y seduce every gi r l ; t o seema seducer and yet harborwi t hi n one al l t he ardor of r omant i ci sm- - t here woul d be somethi ng t ot hat , or t he concessi on i n t he f i r st i nst ance wer e t hen anni hi l at ed i nt he second. Cer t ai n i t i s t hat man f i nds hi s t r ue i deal i t y onl y i n such

a r edupl i cat i on. Al l mer el y unconsci ous exi st ence must be obl i t er at ed,and i t s obl i t erat i on ever cunni ngl y guarded by some shamexpr essi on.Such a r edupl i cat i on i s i ncompr ehensi bl e t o woman, f or i t r emoves f r omher t he possi bi l i t y of expr essi ng man' s t r ue nat ur e i n one f or m. I f i twer e possi bl e f or woman t o exi st i n such a redupl i cat i on, no erot i cr el at i on wi t h her wer e t hi nkabl e. But , her nat ur e bei ng such as we al lknow i t t o be, any di st ur bance of t he er ot i c rel at i on i s br ought aboutby man' s t r ue nat ur e whi ch ever consi st s pr eci sel y i n t he anni hi l at i onof t hat i n whi ch she has her bei ng.

Am I t hen pr eachi ng t he monast i c l i f e and r i ght l y cal l ed Er emi t a? By nomeans. You may as wel l el i mi nat e t he cl oi st er , f or af t er al l i t i s onl ya di r ect expr essi on of spi r i t ual i t y and as such but a vai n endeavor t o


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expr ess i t i n di r ect t er ms. I t makes smal l di f f erence whet her you usegol d, or si l ver , or paper money; but he who does not spend a f art hi ngbut i s count er f ei t , he wi l l compr ehend me. He to whom every di r ectexpr essi on i s but a f r aud, he and he onl y, i s saf eguarded bet t er t hani f he l i ved i n a c l oi ster?cel l - - he wi l l be a her mi t even i f het r avel l ed i n an omni bus and ni ght .

Scarcel y had Vi ct or f i ni shed when t he Dr essmaker j umped t o hi s f eet andt hr ew over a bot t l e of wi ne st andi ng bef ore hi m; t hen he spoke asf ol l ows:

( The Dr essmaker ' s Speech)

Wel l spoken, dear f el l ow- banqueters, wel l spoken! The l onger I hear youspeak t he more I gr ow convi nced t hat you are f el l ow?conspi r ators- - Igr eet you as such, I under st and you as such; f or f el l ow?conspi r at or sone can make out f r om af ar . And yet , what know you? What does your bi tof t heory t o whi ch you wi sh t o gi ve t he appearance of exper i ence, yourbi t of experi ence whi ch you make over i nt o a theor y- - what does i tamount t o? For every now and t hen you bel i eve her a moment and- - arecaught i n a moment ! No, I know woman- - f r om her weak si de, t hat i s t osay, I know her . I shr i nk f r om no means t o make sur e about what I havel earned; f or I am a madman, and a madman one must be t o under st and her ,and i f one has not been one bef or e, one wi l l become a madman, once one

underst ands her . The robber has hi s hi di ng pl ace by t he noi syhi gh?r oad, and t he ant ?l i on hi s f unnel i n t he l oose sand, and t hepi r at e hi s haunt s by t he roar i ng sea: l i kewi se have I may f ashi onshopi n t he ver y mi dst of t he t eemi ng st r eet s, seducti ve, i r r esi st i bl e t owoman as i s t he Venusber g to men. There, i n a f ashi on?shop, one l ear nst o know woman, i n a pr act i cal way and wi t hout any t heor et i cal ado.

Now, i f f ashi on meant not hi ng t han t hat woman i n t he heat of her desi r et hr ew of f al l her cl ot hi ng- - why, t hen i t woul d st and f or somet hi ng. Butt hi s i s not t he ease, f ashi on i s not pl ai n sensual i t y, not t ol er at eddebaucher y, but an i l l i ci t t r ade i n i ndecency aut hor i zed as pr oper .And, j ust as i n heathen Pr ussi a t he marr i ageabl e gi r l wor e a bel l whoser i ngi ng served as a si gnal t o t he men, l i kewi se i s a woman' s exi st encei n f ashi on a cont i nual bel l ?r i ngi ng, not f or debauchees but f or

l i ckeri sh vol upt uar i es. Peopl e hol d For t une to be a woman- - ah, yes i ti s , t o be sure, f i ckl e; s t i l l , i t i s f i ckl e i n somethi ng, as i t mayal so gi ve much; and i nsof ar i t i s not a woman. No; but f ashi on i s awoman, f or f ashi on i s f i ckl eness i n nonsense, and i s consi st ent onl y i ni t s becomi ng ever more crazy.

One hour i n my shop i s wort h more t han days and years wi t hout , i f i tr eal l y be one' s desi r e to l earn t o know woman; i n my shop, f or i t i st he onl y one i n t he capi t al , t her e i s no t hought of compet i t i on. Who,f orsoot h, woul d dare to ent er i nt o compet i t i on wi t h one who hasent i r el y devot ed hi msel f , and i s st i l l devot i ng hi msel f , as hi gh?pr i esti n t hi s i dol wor shi p? No, t here i s not a di st i ngui shed assembl age whi chdoes not ment i on my name f i r st and l ast ; and t here i s not aMi ddl e?cl ass gather i ng wher e my name, whenever ment i oned, does not

i nspi r e sacred awe, l i ke t hat of t he ki ng; and t her e i s no dr ess soi di ot i c but i s accompani ed by whi st ers of admi r at i on when i t s ownerpr oceeds down t he hal l - - pr ovi ded i t bear s my name; and t here i s not t hel ady of gent l e bi r t h who dares pass my shop by, nor t he gi r l of humbl eor i gi n but passes i t si ghi ng and t hi nki ng: i f onl y I coul d af f or d i t !Wel l , nei t her was she decei ved. I decei ve no one; I f ur ni sh t he f i nestgoods and t he most cost l y, and at t he l owest pr i ce, i ndeed, I sel lbel ow cost . The f act i s, I do not wi sh t o make a pr of i t . On t hecont r ary, every year I sacr i f i ce l arge sums. And yet do I mean t o wi n,I mean t o, I shal l spend my l ast f ar t hi ng i n or der t o cor r upt , i n or dert o br i be, t he tool s of f ashi on so t hat I may wi n t he game. To me i t i sa del i ght beyond compare t o unr ol l t he most pr eci ous st uf f s, t o cutt hem out , t o cl i p pi eces f r om genui ne Br ussel s?l ace, i n or der t o make a


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f ool ' s cost ume I sel l t o the l owest pr i ces, genui ne goods and i n st yl e.

You bel i eve, per haps, t hat woman want s t o be dr essed f ashi onabl y onl yat cert ai n t i mes? No such t hi ng, she want s t o be so al l t he t i me andt hat i s her onl y t hought . For a woman does have a mi nd, onl y i t i sempl oyed about as wel l as i s t he Prodi gal Son' s subst ance; and womandoes possess t he power of r ef l ect i on i n an i ncredi bl y hi gh degr ee, f ort her e i s not hi ng so hol y but she wi l l i n no ti me di scover i t t o ber econci l abl e wi t h her f i ner y- - and t he chi ef est expr essi on of f i ner y i sf ashi on. What wonder i f she does di scover i t t o be r econci l abl e; f or i s

not f ashi on hol y to her ? And t her e i s not hi ng so i nsi gni f i cant but shecer t ai nl y wi l l know how t o make i t count i n her f i nery- - and t he mostf at uous expr essi on of f i ner y i s f ashi on. And t her e i s not hi ng, not hi ngi n al l her at t i r e, not t he l east r i bbon, of whose r el at i on t o fashi onshe has not a def i ni t e concept i on and concerni ng whi ch she i s noti mmedi atel y aware whether t he l ady who j ust passed by not i ced i t ;because, f or whose benef i t does she dr ess, i f not f or ot her l adi es!

Even i n my shop wher e she comes t o be f i t t ed out à l a mode, even t her eshe i s i n f ashi on. J ust as t her e i s a speci al bathi ng cost ume and aspeci al r i di ng habi t , l i kewi se t her e i s a par t i cul ar ki nd of dr esswhi ch i t i s t he f ashi on t o wear t o the dr essmaker ' s shop. That cost umei s not i nsouci ant i n t he same sense as i s t he negl i gée a l ady i spl eased t o be sur pr i sed i n, ear l i er i n t he f or enoon, wher e t he poi nt i s

her bel ongi ng t o t he f ai r sex and t he coquet r y l i es i n her l et t i nghersel f be sur pr i sed. The dr essmaker cost ume, on t he ot her hand, i scal cul at ed t o be nonchal ant and a bi t car el ess wi t hout her bei ngembar r assed t her eby; because a dr essmaker st ands i n a di f f erentr el at i on t o her f r om a caval i er . The coquet r y her e consi st s i n t husshowi ng hersel f t o a man who, by r eason of hi s s t at i on, does notpr esume t o ask f or t he l ady' s womanl y r ecogni t i on, but must be cont entwi t h the per qui si t es whi ch f al l abundant l y t o hi s shar e, wi t hout herever t hi nki ng of i t ; or wi t hout i t even so much as ent er i ng her mi nd t opl ay the l ady bef or e a dr essmaker . The poi nt i s, t her ef or e, t hat herbei ng of t he opposi t e sex i s, i n a cer t ai n sense, l ef t out of consi der ati on, and her coquet r y i nval i dat ed, by t he super ci l i ousness of t he nobl e l ady who woul d smi l e i f any one al l uded t o any rel at i onexi st i ng between her and her dr essmaker . When vi si t ed i n her negl i gée

she conceal s her sel f , t hus di spl ayi ng her char ms by thi s ver yconceal ment . I n my shop she exposes her charms wi t h t he ut mostnonchal ance, f or he i s onl y a dr essmaker - - and she i s a woman. Now, hershawl sl i ps down and bares some part of her body, and i f I di d not knowwhat t hat means, and what she expect s, my r eputat i on woul d be gone tot he wi nds. Now, she dr aws her sel f up, a pr i or i f ashi on, now shegest i cul ates a post er i or i ; now, she sways to and f r o i n her hi ps; now,she l ooks at hersel f i n the mi r r or and sees my admi r i ng phi z behi nd heri n t he gl ass; now, she mi nces her words; now, she t r i ps al ong wi t hshor t st eps; now, she hover s; now, she dr aws her f oot af t er her i n asl ovenl y f ashi on; now, she l et s her sel f si nk sof t l y i nt o an ar m?chai r ,whi l st I wi t h humbl e demeanor of f er her a f l ask of smel l i ng sal t s andwi t h my adorat i on assuage her agi t at i on; now, she st r i kes af t er mepl ayf ul l y; now, she dr ops her handker chi ef and, wi t hout as much as a

si ngl e mot i on, l et s her r el axed ar m r emai n i n i t s pendent posi t i on,whi l st I bend down l ow t o pi ck i t up and r et ur n i t t o her , r ecei vi ng al i t t l e patr oni zi ng nod as a r ewar d. These ar e the ways of a l ady of f ashi on when i n my shop. Whet her Di ogenes [ 58] made any i mpress i on ont he Woman who was pr ayi ng i n a somewhat unbecomi ng post ure, when heasked her whet her she di d not bel i eve the gods coul d see her f r ombehi nd- - t hat I do not know; but t hi s I do know, t hat i f I shoul d say toher l adyshi p kneel i ng down i n church: "The f ol ds of your gown do notf al l accordi ng t o f ashi on, " she woul d be more al armed t han i f she hadgi ven of f ense t o the gods. Woe t o the out cast , t he mal e Ci nderel l a, whohas not compr ehended t hi s! Pro di i i mmort al es [59] what , pr ay, i s awoman who i s not i n f ashi on; per deos obsecro, [ 60] and what when shei s i n f ashi on!


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Whet her al l t hi s i s t r ue? Wel l , make t r i al of i t : l et t he swai n,when hi s bel oved one si nks rapt ur ousl y on hi s br east , whi sper i nguni nt el l i gi bl y: "t hi ne f or ever , " and hi des her head on hi s bosom- - l ethi m but say t o her : "My sweet Ki t t y, your coi f f ur e i s not at al l i nf ashi on. " - - Possi bl y, men don' t gi ve t hought t o t hi s; but he who knowsi t , and has t he reput at i on of knowi ng i t , he i s t he most dangerous mani n t he ki ngdom. What bl i ssf ul hour s t he l over passes wi t h hi ssweet hear t bef ore marr i age I do not know; but of t he bl i ssf ul hour s shespends i n my shop he hasn' t t he sl i ght est i nkl i ng, ei t her . Wi t hout my

speci al l i cense and sanct i on a marr i age i s nul l and voi d, anyway- - orel se an ent i r el y pl ebei an af f ai r . Let i t be t he ver y moment when t heyar e to meet bef or e the al t ar , l et her st ep f or ward wi t h t he very bestconsci ence i n t he wor l d t hat everyt hi ng was bought i n my shop and t r i edon t her e- - and now, i f I were to rush up And excl ai m: "But mercy!gr aci ous l ady, your myrt l e wr eat h i s al l awr y"- - why, t he whol e ceremonymi ght be post poned, f or aught I know. But men do not suspect t heset hi ngs, one must be a dr essmaker t o know. So i mmense i s t he power of r ef l ect i on needed t o f at hom a woman' s t hought t hat onl y a man whodedi cat es hi msel f whol l y t o t he t ask wi l l succeed, and even t hen onl yi f gi f t ed to st ar t wi t h. Happy t her ef ore t he man who does not associ at ewi t h any woman, f or she i s not hi s, anyway, even i f , she be no ot herman' s; f or she i s possessed by t hat phant orn born of t he unnatur ali nt er cour se of woman' s r ef l ect i on wi t h i t sel f , f ashi on. Do you see, f or

t hi s r eason shoul d woman al ways swear by f ashi on- - t hen were ther e somef or ce i n her oat h; f or af t er al l , f ashi on i s t he t hi ng she i s al wayst hi nki ng of , t he onl y thi ng she can t hi nk t oget her wi t h, and i nt o,everyt hi ng. For i nst ance, t he gl ad message has gone f ort h f r om my shopt o al l f ashi onabl e l adi es t hat f ashi on decrees t he use of a par t i cul arki nd of head?dress t o be worn i n chur ch, and t hat t hi s head?dr ess,agai n, must be somewhat di f f erent f or Hi gh Mass and f or t he af t ernoonservi ce. Now when t he bel l s are r i ngi ng t he car r i age st ops i n f r ont of my door . Her l adyshi p descends ( f or al so t hi s has been decreed, t hat noone can adj ust t hat head?dr ess save I , t he f ashi on?deal er ) , I r ush out ,maki ng l ow bows, and l ead her i nt o my cabi net . And whi l st shel angui shi ngl y r eposes I put ever ythi ng i n order . Now she i s r eady andhas l ooked at hersel f i n the mi r r or; qui ck as any messenger of t he godsI hast en i n advance, open t he door of my cabi net wi t h a bow, t hen

hast en t o t he door of my shop and l ay my arm on my br east , l i ke someor i ent al sl ave; but encour aged by a gr aci ous cour t esy, I even dar e t ot hr ow her an adori ng and admi r i ng ki ss- - now she i s seat ed i n hercar r i age- - oh dear ! she l ef t her hymn book behi nd. I hast en out agai nand hand i t t o her t hr ough the car r i age wi ndow, I permi t mysel f oncemore t o r emi nd her t o hol d her head a t r i f l e more t o the r i ght , andhersel f t o ar r ange t hi ngs, shoul d her head?dress become a bi tdi sor dered when descendi ng. She dr i ves away and i s edi f i ed.

You bel i eve, per haps, t hat i t i s onl y gr eat l adi es who wor shi pf ashi on, but f ar f r om i t ! Look at my sempst r esses f or whose dr ess Ispar e no expense, so that t he dogmas of f ashi on may be pr ocl ai med mostemphati cal l y f r om my shop. They f or m a chor us of hal f ?wi t t ed cr eat ur es,and I mysel f l ead t hemon as hi gh?pr i est , as a shi ni ng exampl e,

squander i ng al l , sol el y i n or der t o make al l womanki nd r i di cul ous. Forwhen a seducer makes t he boast t hat every woman' s vi r t ue has i t s pr i ce,I do not bel i eve hi m; but I do bel i eve t hat every woman at an ear l yt i me wi l l be cr azed by the maddeni ng and def i l i ng i nt r ospect i on t aughther by f ashi on, whi ch wi l l corr upt her more t horoughl y t han bei ngseduced. have made t r i al more t han once. I f not abl e t o cor r upt hermysel f I set on her a f ew of f ashi on' s sl aves of her own nat i on; f orj ust as one may t r ai n r ats t o bi t e r at s, l i kewi se i s t he cr azed woman' sst i ng l i ke t hat of t he t ar ant ul a. And most especi al l y danger ous i s i twhen some man l ends hi s hel p.

Whet her I serve t he Devi l or God I do not know; but I amr i ght , Ishal l be r i ght , I wi l l be, so l ong as I possess a si ngl e f ar t hi ng, I


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wi l l be unt i l t he bl ood spur t s out of my f nger s. The physi ol ogi stpi ct ures t he shape of woman t o show t he dr eadf ul ef f ect s of wear i ng acor set , and besi de i t he dr aws a pi ct ur e of her nor mal f i gur e. That i sal l ent el y cor r ect , but onl y one of t he dr awi ngs has t he val i di t y of t r ut h: t hey al l wear cor set s. Descr i be, t her ef or e, t he mi ser abl e,st unt ed perversi t y of t he f ashi on?mad woman, Descr i be t he i nsi di ousi nt r ospect i on devour i ng her , and then descr i be t he womanl y modest ywhi ch l east of al l knows about i t sel f - - do so and you have j udged woman,have i n ver y t r ut h passed t er r i bl e sent ence on her . I f ever I di scoversuch a gi r l who i s content ed and demure and not yet cor r upt ed by

i ndecent i nt er cour se wi t h women- - she shal l f al l never t hel ess. I shal lcat ch her i n my t oi l s, al r eady she st ands at t he sacri f i ci al al t ar ,t hat i s t o say, i n my shop. Wi t h the most scornf ul gl ance a haught ymonchal ance can assume I measur e her appearance, she per i shes wi t hf r i ght ; a peal of l aught er f r om t he adj oi ni ng r oom wher e si t my tr ai nedaccompl i ces anni hi l ates her. And af t erwards, when I have got t en herr i gged up à l a mode and she l ooks cr azi er t han a l unat i c, as crazy asone who woul d not be accept ed even i n a l unat i c asyl um, t hen she l eavesme i n a st ate of bl i ss- - no man, not even a god, were abl e t o i nspi r ef ear i n her ; f or i s she not dr essed i n f ashi on?

Do you comprehend me now, do you compr ehend why I cal l youf el l ow?conspi r ators , even t hough i n a di st ant way? Do you nowcomprehend my concept i on of woman? Everyt hi ng i n l i f e i s a mat t er of

f ashi on, t he f ear of God i s a mat t er of f ashi on, and so ar e l ove, andcr i nol i nes, and a r i ng t hr ough t he nose. To the ut most of my abi l i t ywi l l I t heref ore come t o the support of t he exal t ed geni us who wi shest o l augh at t he most r i di cul ous of al l ani mal s. I f woman has r educedever ythi ng t o a mat t er of f ashi on, t hen wi l l I , wi t h t he hel p of f ashi on, pr ost i t ut e her , as she deserves t o be; I have no peace, I t hedr essmaker , my soul r ages when I t hi nk of my t ask- - she wi l l yet be madet o wear a r i ng t hr ough her nose. Seek t heref ore no sweet hear t , abandonl ove as you woul d t he most dangerous nei ghbor hood; f or t he one whom youl ove woul d al so be made t o go wi t h a r i ng t hrough her nose.

Thereupon J ohn, cal l ed t he Seducer , spoke as f ol l ows:

( The Speech of J ohn the Seducer )

My dear boon compani ons, i s Satan pl agui ng you? For , i ndeed, you speakl i ke so many hi r ed mour ner s, your eyes ar e red wi t h t ear s and not wi t hwi ne. You al most move me t o t ear s al so, f or an unhappy l over does havea mi ser abl e t i me of i t i n l i f e. Hi nc i l l ae l acri mae. [ 61] I , however ,ama happy l over, and my onl y wi sh i s t o r emai n so. Very possi bl y, t hati s one of t he concessi ons t o woman whi ch Vi ct or i s so af r ai d of . Whynot ? Let i t be a concessi on! Looseni ng t he l ead f oi l of t hi s bot t l e of champagne al so i s a concessi on; l et t i ng i t s f oami ng cont ent s f l ow i nt omy gl ass al so i s a concessi on; and so i s r ai si ng i t t o my l i ps- - now Idr ai n i t - - concedo. [ 62] Now, however, i t i s empt y, hence I need no moreconcessi ons. J ust t he same wi t h gi r l s. I f some unhappy l over has boughthi s ki ss t oo dear l y, t hi s pr oves t o me onl y that he does not know,ei t her how t o take what i s comi ng t o hi m or how t o do i t . I never pay

t oo much f or t hi s sor t of t hi ng- - t hat i s a mat t er f or t he gi r l s t odeci de. What t hi s si gni f i es? To me i t si gni f i es t he most beaut i f ul , t hemost del i ci ous, and wel l ?ni gh the most persuasi ve, argument um adhomi nem; but si nce ever y woman, at l east once i n her l i f e, possessest hi s ar gument at i ve f r eshness I do not see any reason why I shoul d notl et mysel f be persuaded. Our young f r i end wi shes t o make thi sexper i ence i n hi s t hought . Why not buy a cr eam puf f and be content wi t hl ooki ng at i t ? I mean t o enj oy. No mer e tal k f or me! J ust as an ol dsong has i t about a ki ss: es i st kaum zu sehn, es i st nur f i l r Li ppen,di e genau si ch ver st ehn [ 63] - - unders t and each other so exact l y thatany ref l ect i on about t he mat t er i s but an i mper t i nence and a f ol l y. Hewho i s t went y and does not gr asp t he exi st ence of t he cat egor i cali mper at i ve "enj oy thysel f "- - he i s a f ool ; and he who does not sei ze the


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oppor t uni t y i s and r emai ns a Chr i st i anf el der . [ 64]

However , you al l are unhappy l overs, and t hat i s why you are notsat i sf i ed wi t h woman as she i s. The gods f orbi d! As she i s she pl easesme, j ust as she i s. Even Const ant i n' s categor y of "t he j oke" seems t ocont ai n a secret desi r e. I , on t he ot her hand, I am gal l ant . And whynot ? Gal l ant r y cost s not hi ng and gi ves one al l and i s t he condi t i on f oral l , er ot i c pl easur e. Gal l ant r y i s t he Masoni c l anguage of t he sensesand of vol upt uousness, bet ween man and woman. I t i s a nat ural l anguage,as l ove' s l anguage i n gener al i s. I t consi st s not of sounds but of

desi r es di sgui sed and of ever changi ng wi shes. That an unhappy l overmay be ungal l ant enough t o wi sh to conver t hi s def i ci t i nt o a dr aughtpayabl e i n i mmor t al i t y- - t hat I under st and wel l enough. That i s t o say,I f or my part do not unders t and i t ; f or t o me a woman has suf f i ci enti nt r i nsi c val ue. I assur e ever y woman of t hi s, i t i s t he t r ut h; and att he same t i me i t i s cert ai n t hat I am t he onl y one who i s not decei vedby t hi s t r ut h. As t o whether a despoi l ed woman i s wort h l ess t hanman- - about t hat I f i nd no i nf or mat i on i n my pr i ce l i st . I do not pi ckf l owers al r eady br oken, I l eave t hemt o t he marr i ed men t o use f orShr ove?t i de decor at i on. Whether e. g. Edward, wi shes t o consi der t hemat t er agai n, and agai n f al l i n l ove wi t h Cor del i a, [ 65] or si mpl yr epeat t he af f ai r i n hi s r ef l ecti on - - t hat i s hi s own busi ness. Whyshoul d I concer n mysel f wi t h ot her peopl es' af f ai r s! I expl ai ned t o herat an ear l i er t i me what I t hought of her ; and, i n t r ut h, she convi nced

me, convi nced me t o my absol ute sat i sf act i on, t hat my gal l ant r y waswel l appl i ed.

Concedo. Concessi . [ 66] I f I shoul d meet wi t h another Cordel i a, whyt hen I shal l enact a comedy "Ri ng number 2. " [ 67] But you are unhappyl overs and have conspi r ed t ogether , and are worse decei ved t han t hegi r l s, notwi t hst andi ng t hat you are r i chl y endowed by nat ur e. Butdeci si on- - t he deci si on of desi r e, i s t he most essent i al t hi ng i n l i f e.Our young f r i end wi l l al ways r emai n an onl ooker . Vi ct or i s anunpr act i cal ent husi ast . Const ant i n has acqui r ed hi s good sense at t oogr eat a cost ; and t he f ashi on deal er i s a madman. St uf f and nonsense!Wi t h al l f our of you busy about one gi r l , not hi ng woul d come of i t .

Let one have ent husi asm enough t o i deal i ze, t ast e enough t o j oi n i n t he

cl i nki ng of gl asses at t he f est i ve board of enj oyment , sense enough tobr eak of f - - t o br eak of f absol ut el y, as does Deat h, madness enough t owi sh t o enj oy al l over agai n- - i f you have al l t hat you wi l l be t hef avor i t e of gods and gi r l s.

But of what avai l t o speak here? I do not i nt end to make pr osel ytes.Nei t her i s t hi s t he pl ace f or t hat . To be sur e I l ove wi ne, t o be sur eI l ove t he abundance of a banquet - - al l t hat i s good; but l et a gi r l bemy company, and t hen I shal l be el oquent . Let t hen Const ant i n have myt hanks f or t he banquet , and the wi ne, and the excel l entappoi nt ment s- - t he speeches, however , wer e but i ndi f f erent . But i n or dert hat t hi ngs shal l have a bet t er endi ng I shal l pr onounce a eul ogy onwoman.

J ust as he who i s t o speak i n pr ai se of t he di vi ni t y must bei nspi r ed by t he di vi ni t y to speak wor t hi l y, and must t her ef or e bet aught by t he di vi ni t y as t o what he shal l say, Li kewi se he who woul dspeak of women. For woman, even l ess t han t he di vi ni t y, i s a meref i gment of man' s br ai n, a day?dr eam, or a not i on t hat occur s t o one andwhi ch one pay ar gue about pr o et cont r a. Nay, one l ear ns f r om womanal one what t o say of her . And t he more t eacher s one has had, t hebet t er . The f i r st t i me one i s a di sci pl e, t he next t i me one i s al r eadyover t he chi ef di f f i cul t i es, j ust as one l ear ns i n f or mal and l ear neddi sput at i ons how t o use t he l ast opponent ' s compl i ment s agai nst a newopponent . Never t hel ess not hi ng i s l ost . For as l i t t l e as a ki ss i s amere sampl e of good thi ngs, and as l i t t l e as an embr ace i s an exert i on,j ust as l i t t l e i s thi s experi ence exhaust i ve. I n f act i t i s essent i al l y


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di f f erent f r om t he mathemat i cal pr oof of a theor em, whi ch r emai ns evert he same, even t hough other l et t ers be subst i t ut ed. Thi s method i s onebef i t t i ng mat hemat i cs and ghost s, but not l ove and women, because eachi s a new pr oof , cor r obor at i ng t he t r ut h of t he t heor em i n a di f f er entmanner . I t i s my j oy that , f ar f r om bei ng l ess per f ect t han man, t hef emal e sex i s, on t he cont r ar y, t he more perf ect . I shal l , however ,cl ot he my speech i n a myt h; and I shal l exul t , on woman' s account whomyou have so unj ust l y mal i gned, i f my speech pr onounce j udgment on yoursoul s, i f t he enj oyment of her beckon you onl y t o f l ee you, as di d t hef r ui t s f r om Tant al us; because you have f l ed, and ther eby i nsul t ed,

woman. Onl y t hus, f orsooth, may she be i nsul t ed, even t hough she scorni t , and though puni shment i nst ant l y f al l s on hi m who had the audaci t y.I , however , i nsul t no one. That i s but t he not i on of marr i ed men, and asl ander ; wher eas, i n r eal i t y, I r espect her mor e hi ghl y t han does t heman she i s mar r i ed t o.

Or i gi nal l y there was but one sex, so t he Gr eeks r el ate, and t hat wasman' s. Spl endi dl y endowed he was, so he di d honor t o t he gods- - sospl endi dl y endowed t hat t he same happened t o t hemas somet i mes happenst o a poet who has expended al l hi s energy on a poet i c i nvent i on: t heygr ew j eal ous of man. Ay, what i s worse, t hey f ear ed t hat he woul d notwi l l i ngl y bow under t hei r yoke; t hey f ear ed, t hough wi t h smal l r eason,t hat he mi ght cause t hei r ver y heaven t o tot t er. Thus t hey had r ai sedup a power t hey scarcel y hel d themsel ves abl e t o cur b. Then t her e was

anxi ety and al ar m i n t he counci l of t he gods. Much had t hey l avi shed i nt hei r generosi t y on t he cr eat i on of man; but al l must be r i sked now,f or r eason of bi t t er necessi t y; f or al l was at st ake- - so t he godsbel i eved- - and r ecal l ed he coul d not be, as a poet may recal l hi si nvent i on. And by f orce he coul d not be subdued, or el se t he godst hemsel ves coul d have done so; but pr eci sel y of t hat t hey despai r ed. Hewoul d have to be caught and subdued, t hen, by a power weaker t han hi sown and yet st r onger - - one st r ong enough t o compel hi m. What amarvel l ous power t hi s woul d have t o be! However , necessi t y t eaches event he gods t o surpass t hemsel ves i n i nvent i veness. They sought and t heyf ound. That power was woman, t he marvel of cr eat i on, even i n t he eyesof t he gods a gr eat er marvel t han man- - a di scover y whi ch t he gods i nt hei r näi vet é coul d not hel p but appl aud t hemsel ves f or . What more canbe sai d i n her pr ai se t han t hat she was abl e to accompl i sh what even

t he gods di d not bel i eve t hemsel ves abl e to do; and what more can besai d i n her prai se than t hat she di d accompl i sh i t ! But how marvel l ousa creat i on must be hers t o have accompl i shed i t .

I t was a r use of t he gods. Cunni ngl y t he enchant r ess was f ashi oned, f orno sooner had she bewi t ched man t han she changed and caught hi m i n al lt he ci r cumst ant i al i t i es of exi st ence. I t was t hat t he gods had desi r ed.But what , pr ay, can be more del i ci ous, or more ent r anci ng andbewi t chi ng, t han what t he gods t hemsel ves cont r i ved, when bat t l i ng f ort hei r supr emacy, as t he onl y means of l ur i ng man? And most assuredl y i ti s so, f or woman i s t he onl y, and the most seduct i ve, power i n heavenand on eart h. When compar ed wi t h her i n t hi s sense man wi l l i ndeed bef ound t o be exceedi ngl y i mper f ect .

And the st r atagem of t he gods was cr owned wi t h success; but not al ways.There have exi st ed at al l t i mes some men- - a f ew- - who have detect ed t hedecept i on. They percei ve wel l enough woman' s l ovel i ness- - more keenl y,i ndeed t han t he ot her s- - but t hey al so suspect t he r eal st ate of af f ai r s. I cal l t hemer oti c nat ur es and count mysel f among them. Mencal l t hem seducer s, woman has no name f or t hem- - such per sons are to herunnameabl e. These erot i c natur es ar e t he t r ul y f ort unate ones. Theyl i ve more l uxur i ousl y t han do t he ver y gods, f or t hey r egal e t hemsel veswi t h f ood more del ect abl e than ambr osi a, and t hey dr i nk what i s moredel i ci ous t han nect ar ; t hey eat t he most seduct i ve i nvent i on of t hegods' most i ngeni ous t hought , t hey ar e ever eat i ng dai nt i es set f or abai t - - ah, i ncompar abl e del i ght , ah, bl i ssf ul f ar e- - t hey ar e ever eat i ngbut t he dai nt i es set f or a bai t ; and t hey ar e never caught . Al l ot her


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men gr eedi l y sei ze and devour i t , l i ke bumpki ns eat i ng t hei r cabbage,and ar e caught . Onl y t he er ot i c nat ur e f ul l y appr eci at es t he dai nt i esset out f or bai t - - he pr i zes t hem i nf i ni t el y. Woman di vi nes t hi s, andf or t hat r eason t here i s a secr et underst andi ng between hi m and her .But he knows al so t hat she i s a bai t , and t hat secret he keeps t ohi msel f .

That nothi ng more marvel l ous, nothi ng more del i ci ous, nothi ng moreseduct i ve, t han woman can be devi sed, f or t hat vouch the gods and t hei rpr essi ng need whi ch hi ght ened t hei r powers of i nvent i on; f or t hat

vouches al so the f act t hat t hey r i sked al l , and i n shapi ng her movedheaven and ear t h.

I now f orsake the myt h. The concept i on "man" corr esponds t o hi s"i dea. " I can t her ef or e, i f necessar y, t hi nk of an i ndi vi dual man asexi st i ng. The i dea of woman, on t he ot her hand, i s so general t hat noone si ngl e woman i s abl e to expr ess i t compl etel y. She i s notcont emporaneous wi t h man ( and hence of l ess nobl e or i gi n) , but a l at ercr eat i on, t hough more per f ect t han he. Whet her now t he gods t ook somepar t f r om hi m whi l st he sl ept , f r om f ear of waki ng hi m by taki ng t oomuch; or whet her t hey bi sect ed hi m and made woman out of t he onehal f - - at any rate i t was man who was part i t i oned. Hence she i s t heequal of man onl y af t er t hi s par t i t i on. She i s a del usi on and a snare,but i s so onl y af t erwar ds, and f or hi m who i s del uded. She i s

f i ni t eness i ncar nat e; but i n her f i r st stage she i s f i ni t eness rai sedt o t he hi ghest degr ee i n t he decept i ve i nf i ni t ude of al l di vi ne andhuman i l l usi ons. Now, t he decept i on does not exi st - - one i nst ant l onger ,and one i s decei ved.

She i s f i ni t eness, and as such she i s a col l ect i ve: one womanr epr esent s al l women. Onl y the erot i c natur e compr ehends t hi s andt heref ore knows how t o l ove many wi t hout ever bei ng decei ved, si ppi ngt he whi l e al l t he del i ght s t he cunni ng gods wer e abl e t o pr epare. Fort hi s r eason, as I sai d, woman cannot be f ul l y expr essed by one f ormul a,but i s, r at her , an i nf i ni t ude of f i nal i t i es. He who wi shes t o t hi nk her" i dea" wi l l have the same exper i ence as he who gazes on a sea of nebul ous shapes whi ch ever f orm anew, or as he who i s dazed by l ooki ngover t he waves whose f oamy cr est s ever mock one' s vi si on; f or her

"i dea" i s but t he wor kshop of possi bi l i t i es. And t o the er ot i c nat ur et hese possi bi l i t i es ar e the ever l ast i ng r eason f or hi s wor shi p.

So the gods cr eated her del i cat e and et her eal as i f out of t he mi st sof t he summer ni ght , yet goodl y l i ke r i pe f r ui t ; l i ght l i ke a bi r d,t hough t he r eposi t or y of what at t r act s al l t he wor l d- - l i ght because thepl ay of t he f or ces i s har moni ousl y bal anced i n t he i nvi si bl e cent er of a negat i ve r el at i on; [ 68] sl ender i n gr owt h, wi t h def i ni t e l i nes, yether body si nuous wi t h beaut i f ul cur ves; per f ect , yet ever appear i ng asi f compl et ed but now; cool , del i ci ous, and r ef r eshi ng l i ke new- f al l ensnow, yet bl ushi ng i n coy t r anspar ency; happy l i ke some pl easant r ywhi ch makes one f orget al l one' s sor r ow; soothi ng as bei ng t he end of desi r e, and sat i sf yi ng i n her sel f bei ng t he st i mul us of desi r e. And t hegods had cal cul ated t hat man, when f i r st behol di ng her , woul d be

amazed, as one who sees hi msel f , t hough f ami l i ar wi t h t hat si ght - - woul dst and i n amaze as one who sees hi msel f i n t he spl endor of per f ect i on- - woul d st and i n amaze as one who behol ds what he di d neverdr eam he woul d, yet behol ds what , i t woul d seem, ought t o have occurr edt o hi m bef or e- - sees what i s essent i al t o l i f e and yet gazes on i t asbei ng t he ver y myst er y of exi st ence. I t i s pr eci sel y thi s cont r adi cti oni n hi s admi r at i on whi ch nur ses desi r e t o l i f e, whi l e t hi s sameadmi r at i on ur ges hi m ever nearer , so t hat he cannot desi st f r omgazi ng,cannot desi st f r om bel i evi ng hi msel f f ami l i ar wi t h t he si ght , wi t houtr eal l y dari ng t o appr oach, even t hough he cannot desi st f r om desi r i ng.

When t he gods had t hus pl anned her f orm t hey were sei zed wi t h f ear l estt hey mi ght not have the wherewi t hal t o gi ve i t exi st ence; but what t hey


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f ear ed even more was her sel f . For t hey dared not l et her know howbeaut i f ul she was, appr ehensi ve of havi ng some one i n the secret whomi ght spoi l t hei r r use. Then was the cr owni ng t ouch gi ven t o t hei rwondr ous cr eat i on: t hey made her f aul t l ess; but t hey conceal ed al l t hi sf r om her i n t he nesci ence of her i nnocence, and conceal ed i t doubl yf r om her i n the i mpenet r abl e myst ery of her modest y. Now she wasper f ect , and vi ct or y cer t ai n. I nvi t i ng she had been bef or e, but nowdoubl y so thr ough her shyness, and beseechi ng t hrough her shr i nki ng,and i r r esi st i bl e t hr ough her sel f of f er i ng r esi st ance. The gods wer ej ubi l ant . And no al l ur ement has ever been devi sed i n the worl d so gr eat

as i s woman, and no al l urement i s as compel l i ng as i s i nnocence, and not empt at i on i s as ensnar i ng as i s modest y, and no decept i on i s asmatchl ess as i s woman. She knows of nothi ng, st i l l her modest y i si nst i ncti ve di vi nat i on. She i s di st i nct f r om man, and t he separ at i ngwal l of modest y par t i ng them i s mor e deci si ve t han Al addi n' s swor dsepar at i ng hi m f r om Gul nar e; [ 69] and yet , when l i ke Pyrami s he put shi s head t o t hi s di vi di ng wal l of modest y, t he er ot i c nat ur e wi l lper cei ve al l pl easur es of desi r e di vi ned wi t hi n as f r om af ar .

Thus does woman t empt . Men are wont t o set f or t h t he most preci oust hi ngs t hey possess as a del ect at i on f or t he gods, not hi ng l ess wi l ldo. Thus i s woman a show?br ead. t he gods knew of naught compar abl e t oher . She exi st s, she i s pr esent , she i s wi t h us, cl ose by; and yet shei s r emoved f r om us t o an i nf i ni t e di st ance when conceal ed i n her

modest y?unt i l she hersel f bet r ays her hi di ng pl ace, she knows not how:i t i s not she her sel f , i t i s l i f e whi ch i nf or ms on her . Rogui sh she i sl i ke a chi l d who i n pl ayi ng peeps f or t h f r om hi s hi di ng pl ace, yet herr ogui shness i s i nexpl i cabl e, f or she does not know of i t her sel f , shei s ever myst er i ous?myst er i ous when she cast s down her eyes, myst er i ouswhen she sends f or t h the messengers of her gl ance whi ch no t hought , l etal one any wor d, i s abl e to f ol l ow. And yet i s t he eye the "i nt er pr et er "of t he soul ! What , t hen, i s t he expl anat i on of t hi s myst er y i f t hei nt er pr et er t oo i s uni nt el l i gi bl e? Cal m she i s l i ke t he hushedst i l l ness of event i de, when not a l eaf st i r s; cal m l i ke a consci ousnessas yet unawar e of aught . Her hear t ?beats ar e as r egul ar as i f l i f e wer enot pr esent ; and yet t he er ot i c nat ur e, l i st eni ng wi t h hi sst et hoscopi cal l y pr act i ced ear , det ect s t he di t hyr ambi c pul si ng of desi r e soundi ng al ong unbeknown. Carel ess she i s l i ke t he bl owi ng of

t he wi nd, cont ent l i ke t he pr of ound ocean, and yet f ul l of l ongi ng l i kea t hi ng bi di ng i t s expl anat i on. My f r i ends! My mi nd i s sof t ened,i ndescr i babl y sof t ened. I compr ehend t hat al so my l i f e expr esses ani dea, even i f you do not comprehend me. I t oo have di scover ed t hesecret of exi st ence; I t oo ser ve a di vi ne i dea- - and, assur edl y, I donot serve i t f or nothi ng. I f woman i s a r use of t he gods, t hi s meanst hat she i s t o be seduced; and i f woman i s not an " i dea, " t he t r uei nf er ence i s t hat t he er ot i c nat ur e wi shes t o l ove as many of t hem aspossi bl e.

What l uxur y i t i s t o r el i sh t he r use wi t hout bei ng duped, onl y theerot i c nat ur e compr ehends. And how bl i ssf ul i t i s t o be seduced, womanal one knows. I know t hat f r om woman, even t hough I never yet al l owedany one of t hem t i me to expl ai n i t t o me, but r e?asser t ed my

i ndependence, ser vi ng t he i dea by a break as sudden as t hat caused bydeat h; f or a br i de and a br eak ar e to one another l i ke f emal e and mal e.[ 70] Onl y woman i s aware of t hi s, and she i s aware of i t t ogether wi t hher seducer . No mar r i ed man wi l l ever gr asp t hi s. Nor does she everspeak wi t h hi m about i t . She r esi gns her sel f t o her f at e, she knowst hat i t must be so and t hat she can be seduced onl y once. For t hi sr eason she never r eal l y bear s mal i ce agai nst t he man who seduced her .That i s t o say, i f he real l y di d seduce her and t hus expr essed t hei dea. Br oken mar r i age vows and that ki nd of t hi ng i s, of cour se,nonsense and no seduct i on. I ndeed, i t i s by no means so gr eat ami sf ort une f or a woman t o be seduced. I n f act , i t i s a pi ece of goodf ort une f or her . An excel l ent l y seduced gi r l may make an excel l entwi f e. I f I mysel f wer e not f i t t o be a seducer - - however deepl y I f eel


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my i nf er i or qual i f i cat i ons i n t hi s respect- - i f I chose t o be a mar r i edman, I shoul d al ways choose a gi r l al r eady seduced, so t hat I woul d nothave t o begi n my mar r i age by seduci ng my wi f e. Mar r i age, t o be sure,al so expr esses an i dea; but i n r el at i on t o t he i dea of mar r i age t hatqual i t y i s al t oget her i mmat er i al whi ch i s t he absol ut el y essent i alcondi t i on f or my i dea. Theref ore, a marr i age ought never t o be pl annedt o begi n as t hough i t were t he begi nni ng of a st or y of seduct i on. Somuch i s sure: t her e i s a seducer f or ever y woman. Happy i s she whosegood f or t une i t i s t o meet j ust hi m.

Thr ough mar r i age, on t he ot her hand, t he gods wi n t hei r vi ct or y. I n i tt he once seduced mai den wal ks t hr ough l i f e by t he si de of her husband,l ooki ng back at t i mes, f ul l of l ongi ng, r esi gned t o her f at e, unt i l sher eaches t he goal of l i f e. She di es; but not i n t he same sense as mandi es. She i s vol at i l i zed and r esol ved i nt o that myst er i ous pr i malel ement of whi ch t he gods f ormed her- - she di sappear s l i ke a dr eam, l i kean i mper manent shape whose hour i s past . For what i s woman but a dream,and t he hi ghest r eal i t y wi t hal ! Thus does t he erot i c natur e compr ehendher , l eadi ng her , and bei ng l ed by her i n t he moment of seduct i on,beyond t i me- - where she has her t r ue exi st ence, bei ng an i l l usi on.Thr ough her husband, on t he other hand, she becomes a cr eat ur e of t hi swor l d, and he t hr ough her .

Marvel l ous nat ur e! I f I di d not admi r e t hee, a woman woul d teach me;

f or t r ul y she i s t he vener abi l e of l i f e. Spl endi dl y di dst t hou f ashi onher , but mor e spl endi dl y sti l l i n t hat t hou never di dst f ashi on onewoman l i ke another . I n man, t he essent i al i s t he essent i al , and i nsof aral ways al i ke; but i n woman t he advent i t i ous i s t he essent i al , and i st hus an i nexhaust i bl e sour ce of di f f er ences. Br i ef i s her spl endor ; butqui ckl y t he pai n i s f or got t en, t oo, when t he same spl endor i s pr of f er edme anew. I t i s t r ue, I t oo am aware of t he unbeaut i f ul whi ch may appeari n her t her eaf t er ; but she i s not t hus wi t h her seducer .

They r ose f r om t he t abl e. I t needed but a hi nt f r om Const ant i n, f or t hepar t i ci pant s under st ood each ot her wi t h mi l i t ar y pr eci si on whenevert her e was a quest i on of f ace or t ur n about . Wi t h hi s i nvi si bl e bat on of command, el ast i c l i ke a di vi ni ng r od i n hi s hand, Const ant i n once moret ouched t hem i n or der t o cal l f or t h i n t hem a f l eet i ng r emi ni scence of

t he banquet and t he spi r i t of enj oyment whi ch had pr evai l ed bef ore butwas now, i n some measure, submerged t hrough t he i nt el l ectual ef f or t of t he speeches- - i n or der t hat t he not e of gl ad f est i vi t y whi ch haddi sappear ed mi ght , by way of r esonance, r et urn once more among t heguest s i n a br i ef moment of r ecol l ect i on. He sal ut ed wi t h hi s f ul lgl ass as a si gnal of par t i ng, empt yi ng i t , and t hen f l i ngi ng i t agai nstt he door i n t he rear wal l . The ot her s f ol l owed hi s exampl e,consummat i ng t hi s symbol i c act i on wi t h al l t he sol emni t y of adept s.J ust i ce was t hus done t he pl easur e of st oppi ng shor t - - t hat r oyalpl easur e whi ch, t hough br i ef er, yet i s mor e l i berat i ng t han any ot herpl easur e. Wi t h a l i bat i on t hi s pl easur e ought t o be ent er ed upon, wi t ht he l i bat i on of f l i ngi ng one' s gl ass i nt o dest r ucti on and obl i vi on, andt ear i ng one' s sel f passi onat el y away f r om ever y memor y, as i f i t were adanger t o one' s l i f e: t hi s l i bat i on i s t o t he gods of t he net her wor l d.

One br eaks of f , and st r engt h i s needed to do that, gr eat er st r engt ht han t o sever a knot by a sword?bl ow; f or t he di f f i cul t y of t he knott ends t o ar ouse one' s passi on, but t he passi on r equi r ed f or breaki ngof f must be of one' s own maki ng. I n a super f i ci al sense t he r esul t i s,of cour se, t he same; but f r om an ar t i st i c i nt of vi ew t her e i s a wor l dof di f f erence between somethi ng ceasi ng or si mpl y comi ng to an end, andi t bei ng br oken of f by one' s own f r ee wi l l - - whet her i t i s a mer eoccur r ence or a passi onat e deci si on; whet her i t i s al l over , l i ke aschool song, because there i s no mor e to i t , or whet her i t i st ermi nated by the Cæsar i an operat i on of one' s own Pl easure; whet her i ti s a t r i vi al i t y ever y one has exper i enced, or t he secr et whi ch escapesmost .


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Const ant i n' s f l i ngi ng hi s beaker agai nst t he door was i nt ended mer el yas a symbol i c r i t e; never t hel ess, hi s so doi ng was, i n a way, adeci si ve act ; f or when t he l ast gl ass was shat t ered t he door opened,and j ust as he who presumpuousl y knocked at Deat h' s door and, on i t sopeni ng, behel d t he powers of anni hi l at i on, so the banqueters behel dt he corps of dest r uct i on r eady t o demol i sh ever yt hi ng- - a mement o whi chi n an i nst ant put t hem t o f l i ght f r om t hat pl ace, whi l e at t he ver ysame moment t he ent i r e sur r oundi ngs had been r educed t o t he sembl anceof r ui n.

A car r i age stood r eady at t he door . At Const ant i n' s i nvi t at i on t heyseat ed t hemsel ves i n i t and dr ove away i n good spi r i t s; f or t hatt abl eau of dest r uct i on whi ch t hey l ef t behi nd had gi ven t hei r soul sf r esh el ast i ci t y. Af t er havi ng cover ed a di st ance of sever al mi l es ahal t was made. Here Const ant i n t ook hi s l eave as host , i nf ormi ng t hemt hat f i ve car r i ages wer e at t hei r di sposal - - each one was f r ee to sui thi s own pl easure and dr i ve wher ever he want ed, whether al one or i ncompany wi t h whomsoever he pl eased. Thus a rocket , propel l ed by t hef or ce of t he powder , ascends at a si ngl e shot , r emai ns col l ect ed f or ani nst ant , i n or der t hen t o spr ead out t o al l t he wi nds.

Whi l e t he horses were bei ng hi t ched t o t he car r i ages t he noct ur nalbanquet er s st r ol l ed a l i t t l e way down t he r oad. The f r esh ai r of t hemor ni ng pur i f i ed t hei r hot bl ood wi t h i t s cool ness, and t hey gave

t hemsel ves up t o i t ent i r el y. Thei r f orms, and t he gr oups i n whi ch t heyr anged themsel ves, made a phantast i c i mpressi on on me. For when themorni ng sun shi nes on f i el d and meadow, and on ever y cr eat ure whi ch i nt he ni ght f ound r est and st r engt h t o r i se up j ubi l at i ng wi t h t hesun- - i n t hi s t her e i s onl y a pl easi ng, mut ual under st andi ng; but ani ght l y company, vi ewed by t he morni ng l i ght and i n smi l i ngsur r oundi ngs, makes a downr i ght uncanny i mpressi on. I t makes one t hi nkof spooks whi ch have been surpr i sed by dayl i ght , of subt err aneanspi r i t s whi ch are unabl e to regai n t he crevi ce t hr ough whi ch t hey mayvani sh, because i t i s vi si bl e onl y i n t he dar k; of unhappy cr eat ur es i nwhom t he di f f erence between day and ni ght has become obl i t erat edt hr ough t he monotony of t hei r suf f eri ngs.

A f oot path l ed t hem t hr ough a smal l patch of f i el d t oward a garden

sur r ounded by a hedge, f r om behi nd whose conceal ment a modestsummer?cot t age peeped f or t h. At t he end of t he garden, t oward t hef i el d, t her e was an arbor f ormed by t r ees. Becomi ng aware of peopl ebei ng i n t he ar bor , t hey al l gr ew cur i ous, and wi t h t he spyi ng gl ancesof men bent on observat i on, t he besi egers cl osed i n about t hat pl easantpl ace of conceal ment , hi di ng t hemsel ves, and as eager as emi ssar i es of t he pol i ce about t o t ake some one by sur pr i se. Li ke emi ssar i es of t hepol i ce- - wel l , t o be sure, t hei r appear ance made t he mi sunders t andi ngpossi bl e that i t was t hey whom t he mi ni ons of t he l aw mi ght be l ooki ngf or . Each one had occupi ed a poi nt of vant age f or peepi ng i n, whenVi ct or dr ew back a st ep and sai d to hi s nei ghbor , "Why, dear me, i f t hat i s not J udge Wi l l i am and hi s wi f e! "

They were sur pr i sed- - not t he t wo whom t he f ol i age conceal ed and who

were al l t oo deepl y concerned wi t h t hei r domest i c enj oyment t o beobserver s. They f el t t hemsel ves t oo secur e to bel i eve themsel ves anobj ect of any one' s observat i on except i ng t he morni ng sun' s whi ch t ookpl easure i n l ooki ng i n t o t hem, whi l st a gent l e zephyr moved t he boughsabove them, and t he reposef ul ness of t he count r ysi de, as wel l as al lt hi ngs around them gi r ded t he l i t t l e ar bor about wi t h peace. The happymarr i ed coupl e was not surpr i sed and not i ced not hi ng. That t hey were amarr i ed coupl e was cl ear enough; one coul d percei ve t hat at agl ance- - al as! i f one i s somet hi ng of an obser ver one' s sel f . Even i f not hi ng i n t he wi de wor l d, not hi ng, whet her over t l y or cover t l y, i f not hi ng, I say, t hr eat ens t o i nt er f er e wi t h t he happi ness of l over s,yet t hey ar e not t hus secur e when si t t i ng t oget her . They ar e i n a st at eof bl i ss; and yet i t i s as i f t here were some power bent on separ at i ng


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t hem, so f i r ml y t hey cl asp one anot her ; and yet i t i s as i f t her e wer esome enemy pr esent agai nst whomt hey must def end themsel ves; , and yeti t i s as i f t hey coul d never become, suf f i ci ent l y r eassur ed. Not t husmarr i ed peopl e, and not t hus t hat marr i ed coupl e i n the ar bor. How l ongt hey had been mar r i ed, however , t hat was not t o be det ermi ned wi t hcer t ai nt y. To be sur e, t he wi f e' s acti vi t y at t he t ea?t abl e r eveal ed asureness of hand born of pr act i ce, but at t he same t i me such al mostchi l dl i ke i nt er est i n her occupat i on as i f she wer e a newl y mar r i edwoman and i n t hat mi ddl e condi t i on when she i s not , as yet , surewhether marr i age i s f un or ear nest , whether bei ng a housewi f e i s a

cal l i ng, or a game, or a past i me. Per haps she had been mar r i ed f or somel onger t i me but di d not gener al l y pr esi de at t he tea?t abl e, or per hapsdi d so onl y out her e i n t he count r y, or di d i t per haps onl y t hatmor ni ng whi ch, possi bl y, had a speci al si gni f i cance f or t hem. Who coul dt el l ? Al l cal cul at i on i s f r ust r at ed t o a cer t ai n degr ee by t he f actt hat ever y per sonal i t y exhi bi t s some ori gi nal i t y whi ch keeps t i me f r oml eavi ng i t s marks. When t he sun shi nes i n al l hi s summer gl ory onet hi nks st r ai ght way t hat t here must be some f est al occasi on athand- - t hat i t cannot be so f or ever y?day use, or t hat i t i s t he f i r stt i me, or at l east one of t he f i r st t i mes; f or sur el y, one t hi nks, i tcannot be r epeat ed f or any l engt h of t i me. Thus woul d thi nk he who sawi t but once, or saw i t f or t he f i r st t i me; and I saw t he wi f e of t hej ust i ce f or t he f i r st t i me. He who sees t he obj ect i n quest i on ever yday may t hi nk di f f erent l y; pr ovi ded he sees t he same t hi ng. But l et t he

j udge deci de about t hat !

As I r emarked, our ami abl e housewi f e was occupi ed. She pour ed boi l i ngwater i nt o t he cups, pr obabl y to warm t hem, empt i ed t hemagai n, set acup on a pl at t er, pour ed t he t ea and served i t wi t h sugar andcr eam- - now al l was r eady; was i t f un or ear nest ? I n case a person di dnot r el i sh t ea at other t i mes- - he shoul d have sat i n t he j udge' s pl ace;f or j ust t hen t hat dr i nk seemed most i nvi t i ng t o me. onl y t he i nvi t i ngai r of t he l ovel y woman hersel f seemeo t o me more i nvi t i ng.

I t appear ed t hat she had not had t i me t o speak unt i l t hen. Now shebr oke t he si l ence and sai d, whi l e ser vi ng hi m hi s t ea: "Qui ck, now,dear , and dr i nk whi l e i t i s hot , t he mor ni ng ai r i s qui t e cool , anyway;and sur el y t he l east I can do f or you i s t o be a l i t t l e car ef ul of

you. " "The l east ?" t he j udge answer ed l aconi cal l y. "Yes, or t he most ,or t he onl y thi ng. " The j udge l ooked at her i nqui r i ngl y, and whi l st hewas hel pi ng hi msel f she cont i nued: "You i nt err upted me yest erday when Iwi shed to br oach t he subj ect , but I have t hought about i t agai n; manyt i mes I have t hought about i t , and now part i cul ar l y, you know your sel f i n r ef er ence t o whom: i t i s cer t ai nl y tr ue t hat i f you hadn' t mar r i ed,you woul d have been f ar more successf ul i n your career . " Wi t h hi s cupst i l l on t he pl at t er t he j udge si pped a f i r st mout hf ul wi t h vi si bl eenj oyment , t horoughl y r ef r eshed; or was i t perchance t he j oy over hi sl ovel y wi f e; I f or my par t bel i eve i t was t he l at t er . She, however ,seemed onl y t o be gl ad t hat i t t ast ed so good t o hi m. Then he put downhi s cup on t he t abl e at hi s si de, t ook out a ci gar , and sai d: "May Il i ght i t at your chaf i ng?di sh"? " Cer t ai nl y, " she sai d, and handed hi m al i ve coal on a t ea?spoon. He l i t hi s ci gar and put hi s ar m about her

wai st whi l st she l eaned agai nst hi s shoul der. He t ur ned hi s head t heot her way to bl ow out t he smoke and t hen he l et hi s eyes r est on herwi t h a devot i on such as onl y a gl ance can r eveal ; yet he smi l ed, butt hi s gl ad smi l e had i n i t a dash of sad i r ony. Fi nal l y he sai d: "Do your eal l y bel i eve so, my gi r l ?" "What do you mean?" she answered. He wassi l ent agai n, hi s smi l e gai ned t he upper hand, but hi s voi ce r emai nedqui t e seri ous, never t hel ess. "Then I par don you your pr evi ous f ol l y,seei ng t hat you your sel f have f or got t en i t so qui ckl y; t hou speakest asone of t he f ool i sh women speaket h [ 71] - - what gr eat career shoul d Ihave had?" Hi s wi f e seemed embar r assed f or a moment by thi s r et urn, butcol l ect ed her wi t s qui ckl y and, now expl ai ned her meani ng wi t h womanl yel oquence. The j udge l ooked down bef ore hi m, wi t hout i nt err upt i ng her;but as she cont i nued he began t o dr um on t he tabl e wi t h t he f i ngers of


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hi s r i ght hand, at t he same t i me hummi ng a t une. The words of t he songwere audi bl e f or a moment , j ust as t he pat t ern of a t ext ur e now becomesvi si bl e, now di sappears agai n; and t hen agai n t hey were hear d no l ongeras he hummed the tune of t he song: "The goodman he went t o t he f orest ,t o cut t he wands so whi t e. " Af t er t hi s mel odr amat i c per f ormance,consi st i ng i n t he j ust i ce' s wi f e expl ai ni ng her sel f whi l st he hummedhi s t une, t he di al ogue set i n agai n. "I am t hi nki ng, " he r emar ked, "Iam t hi nki ng you ar e i gnorant of t he f act t hat t he Dani sh Law per mi t s aman t o cast i gate hi s wi f e [72] - - a pi t y onl y that t he l aw does noti ndi cat e on whi ch occasi ons i t i s per mi t t ed. " Hi s wi f e smi l ed at hi s

t hreat and cont i nued: "Now why can I never get you t o be ser i ous when It ouch on t hi s mat t er ? You do not under st and me: bel i eve me, I mean i tsi ncer el y, i t seems t o me a ver y beaut i f ul t hought . Of cour se, i f youweren' t my husband I woul d not dare t o ent er t ai n i t ; but now I havedone so, f or your sake and f or my sake; and now be ni ce and ser i ous,f or my sake, and answer me f r ankl y. " "No, you can' t get me t o beser i ous, and a ser i ous answer you won' t get ; I must ei t her l augh atyou, or make you f orget i t , as bef ore, or beat you; or el se you mustst op t al ki ng, about i t , or I shal l have t o make you keep si l ent abouti t some ot her way. You see, i t i s a j oke, and t hat i s why t her e ar e somany ways out . " He ar ose, pr essed a ki ss on her br ow, l ai d her arm i nhi s, and t hen di sappear ed i n a l eaf y wal k whi ch l ed f r om t he ar bor .

The ar bor was empt y; t here was nothi ng el se t o do, so t he host i l e cor ps

of occupati on wi t hdr ew wi t hout maki ng any gai ns. St i l l , t he ot her s wer econt ent wi t h ut t er i ng some mal i ci ous r emarks. The company r eturned butmi ssed Vi ct or. He had r ounded t he cor ner and, i n wal ki ng al ong t hegar den, had come up t o t he count r y home. The door s of a gar den?r oomf aci ng t he l awn were open, and l i kewi se a wi ndow. Very pr obabl y he hadseen somethi ng whi ch at t r act ed hi s at t ent i on. He l eapt i nt o the wi ndow,and l eapt out agai n j ust as t he part y were appr oachi ng, f or t hey hadbeen l ooki ng f or hi m. Tr i umphant l y he hel d up some papers i n hi s handand excl ai med: "One of t he j udge' s manuscr i pt s! [ 73] Seei ng t hat Iedi t ed hi s other works i t i s no more t han my dut y that I shoul d edi tt hi s one t oo. " He put i t i nt o hi s pocket ; or , r at her , he was about t odo so; f or as he was bendi ng hi s ar m and al r eady had hi s hand wi t h t hemanuscr i pt hal f ?way down i n hi s pocket I managed t o st eal i t f r omhi m.

But who, t hen, am I ? Let no one ask! I f i t hasn' t occur r ed t o youbef or e t o ask about i t I am over t he di f f i cul t y- - f or now t he wor st i sbehi nd me. For t hat mat t er , I am not wor t h aski ng about , f or I am t hel east of al l t hi ngs, peopl e woul d put me i n ut t er conf usi on by aski ngabout me. I am pur e exi st ence, and t heref or e smal l er , al most , t hannot hi ng. I am "pur e exi st ence" whi ch i s pr esent ever ywher e but st i l l i snever not i ced; f or I am ever vani shi ng. I am l i ke t he l i ne above whi chst ands t he summa summar um- - who car es about t he l i ne? By my own st r engt hI can accompl i sh nothi ng, f or even t he i dea t o st eal t he manuscr i ptf r om Vi ct or was not my own i dea; f or t hi s ver y i dea whi ch, as a thi ef woul d say, i nduced me t o "bor r ow" t he manuscr i pt , was bor r owed f r omhi m. And now, when edi t i ng, t hi s manuscr i pt , I am, agai n, nothi ng atal l ; f or i t r i ght l y bel ongs t o t he j udge. And as edi t or , I am i n mynothi ngness onl y a ki nd of nemesi s on Vi ct or , who i magi ned t hat he had

t he pr escri pt i ve ri ght t o do so.__________________________________________________________________

[ 15] Cf . Luke XI V, 19- 20.

[ 16] Words used i n t he banns.

[ 17] Whi ch i n Lat i n means bot h "f r omt he t empl e" and "at once. "

[ 18] The omi ssi on of t he negat i ve par t i cl e i n t he or i gi nal i s no doubtuni nt ent i onal .

[ 19] Pi ous wi sh.


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[ 20] 2 Ki ngs 20, 1; I sai ah 38, 1.

[ 21] An al l usi on t o t he pl i ght of Ar i st ophanes i n Pl at o' s Symposi on.

[ 22] Haggai 1, 6 ( i nexact ) .

[ 23] May i t be f ort unate and f avorabl e.

[ 24] Symposi on, ch. 9.

[ 25] Thi s i r oni c sal l y r ef er s, not t o Descar t es' pr i nci pl e of skepsi s,but t o t he numerous Dani sh f ol l owers of Hegel and hi s " met hod" ; cf .Fear and Tr embl i ng, p. 119.

[ 26] Symposi on, ch. 24.

[ 27] I bi d. , ch. 15- 16.

[ 28] Cf . Mat t hew 13, 31, etc.

[ 29] A quotat i on f r omMusaeus, Vol ksmarchen der Deut schen, I I I , 219.

[ 30] The ref er ence i s t o a si t uat i on i n Ri char d Cumberl and' s

( 1732- 1811) pl ay of "The J ew, " known t o Copenhagen pl aygoers i n anadapt at i on.

[ 31] I r el at e what I have been t ol d.

[ 32] A char act er i n the Dani sh pl aywr i ght Over skou' s vaudevi l l e of "Capr i ci osa" ( Comedi es I I I , 184) .

[ 33] The gl ut t on i n Oehl enschl oeger ' s vaudevi l l e of "Sovedr i kken. "

[ 34] Suppl i ed by t he t r ansl ator t o compl ete t he sense.

[ 35] Dej ect i on. Cf . t he Maxi m: omne ani mal post coi t une [ ?] [ t r ansci ptunr eadabl e] t r i st e.

[ 36] Thi s st at ement i s t o be f ound, r at her , i n Ar i stot l e' s Et hi cs I I ,6.

[ 37] Ther e i s a pun her e i n t he or i gi nal .

[ 38] I n Hol berg' s comedy of "Er asmus Mont anus, " I I I , 6.

[ 39] Cf . not e p. 60.

[ 40] Eccl es. 3, 7.

[ 41] Comi cal power .

[ 42] I n uncer t ai n bat t l e.

[ 43] Accor di ng to t he devel opment of t hese t erms i n Ki erkegaar d' spr evi ous wor ks, t he "absol ut e" bel ongs t o t he et hi c, t he "r el at i ve" t ot he æst het i c sphere.

[ 44] Her oi ne of Mozart ' s " Don J uan. "

[ 45] Quot at i ons f r om Wessel ' s f amous comedy of " Love wi t houtStocki ngs, " I I I , 3.

[ 46] Vi z. besi des t he eggs she dul y f ur ni shes; Hol ber g, "The Busybody, "I I , 1.


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[ 47] Thi s f i gur e i s sai d by Di ogenes Laer t i os I I , 37 t o have been usedby Socr at es hi msel f about hi s r el at i on t o Xant hi ppe.

[ 48] The f ol l owi ng sent ences are not as cl ear i n meani ng as i sotherwi se t he case i n Ki erkegaar d.

[ 49] Poet i cs, chap. 15.

[ 50] Cf . not e p. 60. [ r e: f ootnot e 11 of t hi s document . ]

[ 51] They are, t hat he had been created a man and not an ani mal , a manand not a woman, a Gr eek and not a Bar bar i an ( Lact ant i us, I nst i t . I I I ,19, 17) .

[ 52] Thal es of Mi l et os ( Di ogenes Laer t i os I , 33) .

[ 53] German poet of t he Romant i c School ( 1773- 1853) .

[ 54] Reasoni ng agai nst t he rul es of l ogi c.

[ 55] "The Lyi ng- i n Room, " I I , 2.

[ 56] A quot at i on f r om Oehl enschl äger ' s " Al addi n. "

[ 57] Scat t ered members.

[ 58] See Di ogenes Lær t i os, VI , 37.

[ 59] By t he i mmor t al gods.

[ 60] I adj ur e you by t he gods.

[ 61] Ther ef or e those tears.

[ 62] I concede.

[ 63] I t can har dl y be seen, i t i s but f or l i ps whi ch under st and each

ot her exact l y.

[ 64] Chr i st i ansf el d , a town i n Sout h J ut l and, was t he seat of a col onyof Her r hut i an Pi et i sts.

[ 65] The r ef er ence i s t o t he "Di ar y of t he Seducer " ( i n "Ei t her - - Or , "par t I ) . Edwar d i s t he scor ned l over of Cor del i a who i s seduced byJ ohn.

[ 66] I concede. I have conceded.

[ 67] Ref erence t o a comedy by Far quhar , whi ch enj oyed a moderat epopul ar i t y i n Copenhagen.

[ 68] I . e. , evi dent l y, she does not exi st because of her sel f ; hence shei s i n a "negat i ve" r el at i on t o her sel f . The cent er of t hi s r el at i on i s"what at t r acts al l t he wor l d. "

[ 69] I n Oehl enschl äger ' s " Al addi n. "

[ 70] I n t he Dani sh, a pun on t he homi nyms en br ud and et brud.

[ 71] J ob 2, 10.

[ 72] Accor di ng to t he J ut l and Laws ( A. D. 1241) a man i s per mi t t ed t opuni sh hi s wi f e, when she has mi sbehaved, wi t h st i ck and wi t h rod, butnot wi t h weapon. I n t he Dani sh Law ( 1683) t hi s r i ght i s r est r i ct ed t o


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chi l dr en and servant s. S. V.

[ 73] Cont ai ni ng t he second par t of "Stages on Li f e' s Road. " ent i t l ed"Ref l ect i ons on Mar r i age i n Ref ut at i on of Obj ect i ons. "

__________________________________________________________________

FEAR AND TREMBLI NG

I NTRODUCTI ON

Not onl y i n the worl d of commerce but al so i n the worl d of i deas ourage has arr anged a regul ar cl ear ance- sal e. Ever yt hi ng may be had atsuch absur dedl y l ow pr i ces t hat ver y soon t he quest i on wi l l ar i sewhether any one car es t o bi d. Ever y wai t er wi t h a specul at i ve t ur n whocar ef ul l y mar ks t he si gni f i cant pr ogr ess of modern phi l osophy, ever yl ecturer i n phi l osophy, ever y t ut or , st udent , ever y sti cker - and?qui t t erof phi l osophy- - t hey ar e not cont ent wi t h doubt i ng ever ythi ng, but "gor i ght on. " I t mi ght , possi bl y, be i l l ?t i med and i noppor t une t o ask themwhi t her t hey are bound; but i t i s no doubt pol i t e and modest t o t ake i tf or gr ant ed that t hey have doubt ed ever ythi ng- - el se i t wer e a cur i ousst atement f or t hem t o make, t hat t hey were pr oceedi ng onward. So theyhave, al l of t hem, compl et ed t hat pr el i mi nary oper at i on and, i t woul dseem, wi t h such ease that t hey do not t hi nk i t necessary t o wast e aword about how t hey di d i t . The f act i s, not even he who l ooked

anxi ousl y and wi t h a t r oubl ed spi r i t f or some l i t t l e poi nt of i nf or mat i on, ever f ound one, nor any i nst r uct i on, nor even any l i t t l edi et eti c pr escr i pt i on, as to how one i s t o accompl i sh t hi s enormoust ask. "But di d not Descar t es pr oceed i n t hi s f ashi on?" Descar t es,i ndeed! t hat venerabl e, humbl e, honest t hi nker whose wr i t i ngs surel y noone can r ead wi t hout deep emot i on- - Descart es di d what he sai d, and sai dwhat he di d. Al as, al as! t hat i s a mi ght y r ar e t hi ng i n our t i mes! ButDescar t es, as he says f r equent l y enough, never ut t ered doubt sconcer ni ng hi s f ai t h. . . .

I n our t i mes, as was remarked, no one i s cont ent wi t h f ai t h, but"goes r i ght on. " The quest i on as t o whi t her t hey are pr oceedi ng may bea si l l y quest i on; wher eas i t i s, a si gn of ur bani t y and cul t ur e t oassume t hat ever y one has f ai t h, t o begi n wi t h, f or el se i t were a

cur i ous s t at ement f or t hem t o make, t hat t hey ar e pr oceedi ng f ur t her.I n t he ol den days i t was di f f er ent . Then, f ai t h was a t ask f or a whol el i f e?t i me because i t was hel d t hat pr of i ci er cy i n f ai t h was not t o bewon wi t hi n a f ew days or weeks. Hence, when t he t r i ed pat r i arch f el thi s end appr oachi ng, af t er havi ng f ought hi s bat t l es and pr eserved hi sf ai t h, he was st i l l young enough at hear t not t o have f or got t en t hef ear and t r embl i ng whi ch di sci pl i ned hi s yout h and whi ch t he matur eman has under cont r ol , but whi ch no one ent i r el y out grows- - excepti nsof ar as he succeeds i n "goi ng on" as ear l y as possi bl e. The goalwhi ch those venerabl e men r eached at l ast - - at t hat spot every onestart s, i n our t i mes, i n or der t o "pr oceed f ur t her . ". . .

PREPARATI ON

There l i ved a man who, when a chi l d, had hear d the beaut i f ul Bi bl est ory of how God t empted Abraham and how he st ood t he t est , how hemai nt ai ned hi s f ai t h and, agai nst hi s expect at i ons, r ecei ved hi s sonback agai n. As t hi s man gr ew ol der he read thi s same st ory wi t h evergr eat er admi r at i on; f or now l i f e had separat ed what had been uni t ed i nt he r ever ent si mpl i ci t y of t he chi l d. And t he ol der he gr ew, t he moref r equent l y hi s t hought s r ever t ed t o t hat st or y. Hi s ent husi asm waxedst r onger and st r onger , and yet t he story gr ew l ess and l ess cl ear t ohi m. Fi nal l y he f or got ever yt hi ng el se i n t hi nki ng about i t , and hi ssoul cont ai ned but one wi sh, whi ch was, t o behol d Abraham; and but onel ongi ng, whi ch was, t o have been wi t ness t o that event . Hi s desi r e was,not t o see t he beaut i f ul l ands of t he Or i ent , and not t he spl endor of t he Promi sed Land, and not t he r everent coupl e whose ol d age t he Lord


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had bl essed wi t h chi l dr en, and not t he venerabl e f i gur e of t he agedpat r i ar ch, and not t he god?gi ven vi gor ous yout h of I saac- - i t woul d havebeen t he same t o hi m i f t he event had come t o pass on some bar r enheat h. But hi s wi sh was, t o have been wi t h Abr aham on t he t hr ee days'j our ney, when he rode wi t h sor r ow bef ore hi m and wi t h I saac at hi ssi de. Hi s wi sh was, t o have been pr esent at t he moment when Abrahaml i f t ed up hi s eyes and saw Mount Mor i ah af ar of f ; t o have been pr esentat t he moment when he l ef t hi s asses behi nd and wended hi s way up t ot he mount ai n al one wi t h I saac. For t he mi nd of t hi s man was busy, notwi t h t he del i cat e concei t s of t he i magi nat i on, but r at her wi t h hi s

shudder i ng thought .The man we speak of was no t hi nker, he f el t no desi r e t o go beyond hi sf ai t h: i t seemed t o hi m t he most gl ori ous f ate to be remembered as t heFat her of Fai t h, and a most envi abl e l ot t o be possessed of t hat f ai t h,even i f no one knew i t .

The man we speak of was no l earned exeget i st , be di d not evenunderst and Hebrew- - who knows but a knowl edge of Hebrew mi ght havehel ped hi m t o underst and r eadi l y both t he st ory and Abr aham.

I .

And God t empt ed Abr aham and sai d unt o hi m: t ake I saac, t hi ne onl y son,

whom t hou l ovest and go to t he l and Mor i ah and sacr i f i ce hi m t here on amount ai n whi ch I shal l show t hee. [ 74]

I t was i n t he earl y morni ng, Abr ahamarose bet i mes and had hi s assessaddl ed. He depar t ed f r omhi s t ent , and I saac wi t h hi m; but Sarahl ooked out of t he wi ndow af t er t hem unt i l t hey wer e out of si ght .Si l ent l y they r ode f or t hr ee days; but on t he f our t h morni ng Abr ahamsai d not a word but l i f t ed up hi s eyes and behel d Mount Mor i ah i n thedi st ance. He l ef t hi s ser vant s behi nd and, l eadi ng I saac by t he hand,he appr oached t he mount ai n. But Abr aham sai d t o hi msel f : " I shal lsur el y conceal f r om I saac whi t her he i s goi ng. " He st ood st i l l , he l ai dhi s hand on I saac' s head to bl ess hi m, and I saac bowed down to r ecei vehi s bl essi ng. And Abr aham' s aspect was f atherl y, hi s gl ance was mi l d,hi s speech admoni shi ng. But I saac underst ood hi m not , hi s soul woul d

not r i se t o hi m; he embr aced Abr aham' s knees, he besought hi m at hi sf eet , he begged f or hi s young l i f e, f or hi s beaut i f ul hopes, her ecal l ed t he j oy i n Abraham' s house when he was bor n, he r emi nded hi mof t he sor r ow and t he l onel i ness t hat woul d be af t er hi m. Then di dAbr aham r ai se up t he youth and l ead hi m by hi s hand, and hi s words weref ul l of consol at i on and admoni shment . But I saac underst ood hi m not . Heascended Mount Mor i ah, but I saac underst ood hi m not . Then Abr ahamavert ed hi s f ace f or a moment ; but when I saac l ooked agai n, hi sf at her' s count enance was changed, hi s gl ance wi l d, hi s aspect t er r i bl e,he sei zed I saac and t hr ew hi m t o t he gr ound and sai d: "Thou f ool i shl ad, bel i evest t hou I am t hy f at her ? An i dol ?wor shi pper am I . Bel i evestt hou i t i s God' s cor nmand? Nay, but my pl easure. " Then I saac t r embl edand cr i ed out i n hi s f ear : "God i n heaven, have pi t y on me, God of Abraham, show mercy t o me, I have no f at her on ear t h, be t hou t hen my

f at her ! " But Abr aham sai d sof t l y to hi msel f : "Fat her i n heaven, It hank t hee. Bet t er i s i t t hat he bel i eves me i nhuman t han t hat heshoul d l ose hi s f ai t h i n t hee. "

When t he chi l d i s t o be weaned, hi s mother bl ackens her br east ; f or i twer e a pi t y i f her br east shoul d l ook sweet t o hi m when he i s not t ohave i t . Then t he chi l d bel i eves t hat her br east has changed; but hi smother i s ever t he same, her gl ance i s f ul l of l ove and as t ender asever. Happy he who needed not wor se means t o wean hi s chi l d!

I I .

I t was i n the ear l y morni ng. Abr aham arose bet i mes and embr aced


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Sarah, t he br i de of hi s ol d age. And Sarah ki ssed I saac who had t akent he shame f r om her - - I saac, her pr i de, her hope f or al l comi nggener at i ons. Then t he t wai n r ode si l ent l y al ong t hei r way, andAbr aham' s gl ance was f ast ened on t he gr ound bef ore hi m; unt i l on t hef our t h day, when he l i f t ed up hi s eyes and behel d Mount Mor i ah i n t hedi st ance; but t hen hi s eyes agai n sought t he gr ound. Wi t hout a word heput t he f agots i n order and bound I saac, and wi t hout a word heunsheathed hi s kni f e. Then he behel d t he r am God had chosen, andsacr i f i ced hi m, and wended hi s way home. . . . Fr om t hat day on Abr ahamgr ew ol d. He coul d not f orget t hat God had r equi r ed t hi s of hi m. I saac

f l our i shed as bef ore; but Abr aham' s eye was dar kened, he saw happi nessno mor e.

When t he chi l d has gr own and i s t o be weaned, hi s mot her wi l l i nmai denl y f ashi on conceal her br east . Then t he chi l d has a mother nol onger . Happy t he chi l d who l ost not hi s mother i n any ot her sense!

I I I .

I t was i n t he earl y morni ng. Abr ahamarose bet i mes he ki ssed Sarah, t heyoung mot her , and Sar ah ki ssed I saac, her j oy, her del i ght f or al lt i mes. And Abr aham r ode on hi s way, l ost i n t hought - - he was t hi nki ng of Hagar and her son whom he had dr i ven out i nto t he wi l derness. Heascended Mount Mor i ah and he dr ew t he kni f e.

I t was a cal m eveni ng when Abraham r ode out al one, and he r ode t o MountMor i ah. There he cast hi msel f down on hi s f ace and pr ayed t o God t of or gi ve hi m hi s si n i n t hat he had been about t o sacr i f i ce hi s sonI saac, and i n t hat t he f at her had f or got t en hi s dut y towar d hi s son.And yet of t ener he rode on hi s l onel y way, but he f ound no rest . Hecoul d not gr asp that i t was a si n t hat he had want ed t o sacr i f i ce t oGod hi s most pr eci ous possessi on, hi m f or whomhe woul d most gl adl yhave di ed many t i mes. But , i f i t was a si n, i f he had not l oved I saact hus, t hen coul d he not gr asp t he possbi l i t y that he coul d be f or gi ven: f or what si n mor e t er r i bl e ?

When t he chi l d i s t o he weaned, t he mot her i s not wi t hout sor r ow t hatshe and her chi l d ar e t o be separated more and more, t hat t he chi l d who

had f i r st l ai n under her hear t , and af t er wards at any rat e r est ed ather br east , i s t o be so near t o her no more. So t hey sor r ow t ogetherf or t hat br i ef whi l e. Happy he who kept hi s chi l d so near t o hi m andneeded not t o sor r ow mor e!

I V.

I t was i n t he ear l y mor ni ng. Al l was r eady f or t he j our ney i n t he houseof Abr aham. He bade f ar ewel l t o Sar ah; and El i ezer, hi s f ai t hf ulservant , accompani ed hi m al ong t he way f or a l i t t l e whi l e. They r odet oget her i n peace, Abr aham and I saac, unt i l t hey came to Mount Mor i ah.And Abr aham pr epar ed ever ythi ng f or t he sacr i f i ce, cal ml y and mi l dl y;but when hi s f at her t ur ned asi de i n or der t o unsheat h hi s kni f e, I saacsaw t hat Abr aham' s l ef t hand was kni t i n despai r and that a t r embl i ng

shook hi s f r ame- - but Abr aham dr ew f ort h t he kni f e.

Then they r et urned home agai n, and Sar ah hast ened to meet t hem; butI saac had l ost hi s f ai t h, No one i n al l t he wor l d ever sai d a wor dabout t hi s, nor di d I saac speak t o any man concer ni ng what he had seen,and Abraham suspect ed not t hat any one had seen i t .

When t he chi l d i s t o be weaned, hi s mother has t he st r onger f oodr eady l est t he chi l d per i sh. Happy he who has i n readi ness t hi sst r onger f ood!

A PANEGYRI C ON ABRAHAM


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I f a consci ousness of t he et ernal wer e not i mpl ant ed i n man; i f t hebasi s of al l t hat exi st s wer e but a conf usedl y f er ment i ng el ementwhi ch, convul sed by obscure passi ons, Produced al l , both t he gr eat andt he i nsi gni f i cant ; i f under ever ythi ng t her e l ay a bot t oml ess voi dnever t o be f i l l ed what el se wer e l i f e but despai r ? I f i t wer e t hus,and i f t here were no sacr ed bonds between man and man; i f onegener at i on ar ose af t er anot her, as i n t he f or est t he l eaves of oneseason succeed the l eaves of anot her , or l i ke t he songs of bi r ds whi chare t aken up one af t er another ; i f t he generat i ons of man passedt hr ough t he wor l d l i ke a shi p passi ng t hr ough t he sea and t he wi nd over

t he deser t - - a f r ui t l ess and a vai n t hi ng; i f et er nal obl i vi on wer e evergr eedi l y watchi ng f or i t s prey and t here exi st ed no power st r ong enought o wr est i t f r om i t s cl ut ches- - how empt y wer e l i f e then, and howdi smal ! And t her ef ore i t i s not t hus; but , j ust as God creat ed man andwoman, he l i kewi se cal l ed i nt o bei ng t he hero and t he poet or orat or .The l at t er cannot perf orm t he deeds of t he hero- - he can onl y admi r e andl ove hi m and r ej oi ce i n hi m. And yet he al so i s happy and not l ess so;f or t he her o i s, as i t wer e, hi s bet t er sel f wi t h whi ch he has f al l eni n l ove, and he i s gl ad he i s not hi msel f t he her o, so t hat hi s l ovecan expr ess i t sel f i n admi r at i on.

The poet i s t he geni us of memory, and does nothi ng but r ecal l what hasbeen done, can do not hi ng but admi r e what has been done. He addsnothi ng of hi s own, but he i s J eal ous of what has been ent r ust ed t o

hi m. He obeys t he choi ce of hi s own heart ; but once he has f ound whathe has been seeki ng, he vi si t s ever y man' s door wi t h hi s song and wi t hhi s speech, so t hat al l may admi r e t he hero as he does, and be pr oud of t he her o as he i s. Thi s i s hi s achi evement , hi s humbl e wor k, t hi s i shi s f ai t hf ul ser vi ce i n t he house of t he her o. I f t hus, f ai t hf ul t o hi sl ove, he bat t l es day and ni ght agai nst t he gui l e of obl i vi on whi chwi shes t o l ur e the hero f r om hi m, t hen has he accompl i shed hi s t ask,t hen i s he gat her ed t o hi s her o who l oves hi m as f ai t hf ul l y; f or t hepoet i s as i t wer e the her o' s bet t er sel f , unsubst ant i al , t o be sur e,l i ke a mere memory, but al so t r ansf i gured as i s a memory. Theref oreshal l no one be f orgot t en who has done gr eat deeds; and even i f t herebe del ay, even i f t he cl oud of mi sunderst andi ng obscure t he hero f r omour vi si on, st i l l hi s l over wi l l come some t i me; and t he mor e t i me haspassed, t he mor e f ai t hf ul l y wi l l he cl eave t o hi m.

No, no one shal l be f orgot t en who was gr eat i n t hi s worl d. But eachher o was great i n hi s own way, and each one was emi nent i n pr opor t i ont o the gr eat t hi ngs he l oved. For he who l oved hi msel f became gr eatt hr ough hi msel f , and he who l oved others became gr eat t hr ough hi sdevot i on, but he who l oved God became gr eat er t han al l of t hese.Everyone of t hem shal l be r emember ed, but each one became gr eat i npr oport i on t o hi s t r ust . One became gr eat by t he possi bl e; another , byhopi ng f or t he et ernal ; hoped f or t he i mpossi bl e, he became gr eat ert han al l of t hese. Ever y one shal l be r emembered; but each one wasgr eat i n pr oport i on t o t he power wi t h whi ch he st r ove. For he whost r ove wi t h t he wor l d became gr eat by over comi ng hi msel f ; but he whost r ove wi t h God, he became the gr eat est of t hem al l . Thus t here havebeen st r uggl es i n the wor l d, man agai nst man, one agai nst a t housand;

but he who st r uggl ed wi t h God, he became gr eat est of t hem al l . Thust here was f i ght i ng on t hi s eart h, and there was he who conqueredever yt hi ng by hi s s t r ength, and t her e was he who conquered God by hi sweakness. Ther e was he who, t r ust i ng i n hi msel f , gai ned al l ; and ther ewas he who, t r ust i ng i n hi s st r engt h sacr i f i ced ever ythi ng; but he whobel i eved i n God was great er t han al l of t hese. There was he who wasgr eat t hr ough hi s s t r ength, and he who was great t hr ough hi s wi sdom,and he who was gr eat t hrough hi s hopes, and he who was gr eat t hroughhi s l ove; but Abr aham was gr eat er t han al l of t hese- - gr eat t hr ough t hest r engt h whose power i s weakness, gr eat t hr ough t he wi sdom whose secr eti s f ol l y, gr eat t hr ough t he hope whose expr essi on i s madness, gr eatt hr ough t he l ove whi ch i s hat r ed of one' s sel f .


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Thr ough t he ur gi ng of hi s f ai t h Abr aham l ef t t he l and of hi sf oref athers and became a st r anger i n t he l and of pr omi se. He l ef t onet hi ng behi nd and t ook one thi ng al ong: he l ef t hi s worl dl y wi sdombehi nd and t ook wi t h hi m f ai t h. For el se he woul d not have l ef t t hel and of hi s f at hers. but woul d have thought i t an unr easonabl e demand.Thr ough hi s f ai t h he came t o be a st r anger i n the l and of pr omi se,where there was not hi ng t o remi nd hi m of al l t hat had been dear t o hi m,but where ever yt hi ng by i t s newness t empt ed hi s soul t o l ongi ng. Andyet was he God' s chosen, he i n whom t he Lord was wel l pl eased! I ndeed,had he been one cast of f , one t hr ust out of God' s mercy, t hen mi ght he

have comprehended i t ; but now i t seemed l i ke a mocker y of hi m and of hi s f ai t h. Ther e have been ot her s who l i ved i n exi l e f r om t hef at herl and whi ch t hey l oved. They ar e not f or got t en, nor i s t he song of l ament f orgot t en i n whi ch they mour nf ul l y sought and f ound what t heyhad l ost . Of Abr ahamt here exi st s no song of l ament at i on. I t i s humant o compl ai n, i t i s human to weep wi t h the weepi ng; but i t i s great er t obel i eve, and more bl essed t o consi der hi m who has f ai t h.

Thr ough hi s f ai t h Abr aham r ecei ved t he pr omi se t hat i n hi s seed were t obe bl essed al l r aces of manki nd. Ti me passed, t her e was st i l l t hepossi bi l i t y of i t , and Abr aharn had f ai t h. Anot her man t here was whoal so l i ved i n hopes. Ti me passed, t he eveni ng of hi s l i f e wasappr oachi ng; nei t her was he pal t r y enough t o have f orgot t en hi s hopes:nei t her shal l he be f orgot t en by us! Then he sor r owed, and hi s sor r ow

di d not decei ve hi m, as l i f e had done, but gave hi m al l i t coul d; f ori n t he sweet ness of sor r ow he became possessed of hi s di sappoi nt edhopes. I t i s human t o sor r ow, i t i s human t o sor r ow wi t h t he sor r owi ng;but i t i s gr eater t o have f ai t h, and mor e bl essed t o consi der hi m whohas f ai t h.

No song of l ament at i on has come down to us f r om Abraham. He di d notsadl y count t he days as t i me passed; he di d not l ook at Sarah wi t hsuspi ci ous eyes, whet her she was becomi ng ol d; he di d not st op t hesun' s cour se l est Sarah shoul d gr ow ol d and hi s hope wi t h her; he di dnot l ul l her wi t h hi s songs of l ament ati on. Abr aham gr ew ol d, and Sar ahbecame a l aughi ng?st ock t o t he peopl e; and yet was he God' s chosen, andhei r t o the pr omi se t hat i n hi s seed wer e to be bl essed al l r aces of manki nd. Were i t , t hen, not bet t er i f he had not been God' s chosen? For

what i s i t t o be God' s chosen? I s i t t o have deni ed t o one i n one' syout h al l t he wi shes of yout h i n or der t o have t hem f ul f i l l ed af t ergr eat l abor i n ol d age?

But Abr ahamhad f ai t h and st eadf ast l y l i ved i n hope. Had Abr ahambeenl ess f i r m i n hi s t r ust , t hen woul d he have gi ven up t hat hope. He woul dhave sai d t o God: "So i t i s, per chance, not Thy wi l l , af t er al l , t hatt hi s shal l come to pass. I shal l surr ender my hope. I t was my onl y one,i t was my bl i ss. I am si ncer e, I conceal no secret gr udge f or t hat Thoudi dst deny i t t o me. " He woul d not have remai ned f orgot t en, hi s exampl ewoul d have saved many a one; but he woul d not have become t he Fat her of Fai t h. For i t i s gr eat t o sur r ender one' s hope, but gr eat er st i l l t oabi de by i t st eadf ast l y af t er havi ng sur r ender ed i t ; f or i t i s gr eat t osei ze hol d of t he et er nal hope, but gr eat er t i l l t o abi de st eadf ast l y

by one' s wor l dl y hopes af t er havi ng r endered t hem.

Then came the f ul ness of t i me. I f Abr ahamhad not had f ai t h, t hen Sarahwoul d pr obabl y have di ed of sor r ow, and Abr aham, dul l ed by hi s gr i ef ,woul d not have underst ood t he f ul f i l ment , but woul d have smi l ed abouti t as a dr eam of hi s yout h. But Abr ahamhad f ai t h, and t heref ore her emai ned young; f or he who al ways hopes f or t he best , hi m l i f e wi l ldecei ve, and he wi l l gr ow ol d; and he who i s al ways prepared f or t hewor st , he wi l l soon age; but he who has f ai t h, he wi l l pr eser ve et ernalyout h. Pr ai se, t her ef or e, be t o t hi s st or y! For Sar ah, t hough advancedi n age, was young enough to wi sh f or t he pl easures of a mot her , andAbraham, t hough gr ey of hai r , was young enough t o wi sh to become af at her. I n a super f i ci al sense i t may be consi dered mi r acul ous t hat


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what t hey wi shed f or came t o pass, but i n a deeper sense t he mi r acl e of f ai t h i s t o be seen i n Abr aham' s and Sar ah' s bei ng young enough t owi sh, and t hei r f ai t h havi ng pr eserved t hei r wi sh and t her ewi t h t hei ryout h. The pr omi se he had r ecei ved was f ul f i l l ed, and he accept ed i t i nf ai t h, and i t came to pass accor di ng t o the pr omi se and hi s f ai t h;whereas Moses smote t he r ock wi t h hi s s t af f but bel i eved not .

There was j oy i n Abraham' s house when Sarah cel ebr at ed t he day of herGol den Weddi ng. But i t was not t o r emai n thus; f or once more wasAbr aham t o be t empt ed. He had st r uggl ed wi t h that cunni ng power t o

whi ch not hi ng i s i mpossi bl e, wi t h t hat ever watchf ul enemy who neversl eeps, wi t h t hat ol d man who out l i ves al l - - he had st r uggl ed wi t h Ti meand had pr eserved hi s f ai t h. And now al l t he t er r or of t hat f i ght wasconcent r at ed i n one moment . "And God t empted Abraham, sayi ng t o hi m:t ake now t hi ne onl y son I saac, whomt hou l ovest , and get t hee i nt o thel and of Mor i ah; and of f er hi m t here f or a bur nt of f er i ng upon one of t he mount ai ns whi ch I wi l l t el l t hee of . [ 75]

Al l was l ost , t hen, and mor e ter r i bl y t han i f a son had never beengi ven hi m! The Lord had onl y mocked Abraham, t hen! Mi r acul ousl y he hadr eal i zed the unr easonabl e hopes of Abraham; and now he wi shed t o t akeaway what be had gi ven. A f ool i sh hope i t had been, but Abraham had notl aughed when t he promi se had been made hi m. Now al l was l ost - - t het r ust i ng hope of sevent y year s, t he br i ef j oy at t he f ul f i l ment of hi s

hopes. Who, t hen, i s he t hat snat ches away t he ol d man' s st af f , whot hat demands t hat he hi msel f shal l br eak i t i n t wo? Who i s he t hatr enders di sconsol ate t he gr ey hai r of ol d age, who i s he that demandst hat he hi msel f shal l do i t ? I s t her e no pi t y f or t he vener abl e ol dman, and none f or t he i nnocent chi l d? And yet was Abraham God' s chosenone, and yet was i t t he Lord t hat t empted hi m. And now al l was t o bel ost I The gl or i ous r emembr ance of hi m by a whol e race, t he pr omi se of Abr aham' s seed?al l t hat was but a whi m, a passi ng f ancy of t he Lor d,whi ch Abr aham was now t o dest r oy f orever ! That gl ori ous t r easure, asol d as t he f ai t h i n Abr aham' s hear t , and many, many year s ol der t hanI saac, t he f r ui t of Abr aham' s l i f e, sancti f i ed by pr ayer s, mat ur ed i nst r uggl es- - t he bl essi ng on t he l i ps of Abr aham: t hi s f r ui t was now t obe pl ucked bef ore t he appoi nt ed t i me, and to remai n wi t houtsi gni f i cance; f or of what si gni f i cance wer e i t i f I saac was t o be

sacr i f i ced? That sad and yet bl essed hour when Abr aham was t o t akel eave f r om al l t hat was dear t o hi m, t he hour when he woul d once morel i f t up hi s vener abl e head, when hi s f ace woul d shi ne l i ke t hecount enance of t he Lor d, t he hour when he woul d col l ect hi s whol e soulf or a bl essi ng st r ong enough t o render I saac bl essed al l t he days, of hi s l i f e?t hat hour was not t o come! He was t o say f ar ewel l t o I saac, t obe sur e, but i n such wi se t hat he hi msel f was t o r emai n behi nd; deat hwas t o par t t hem, but i n such wi se t hat I saac was t o di e. The ol d manwas not i n happi ness t o l ay hi s hand on I saac' s head when t he hour of deat h came, but , t i r ed of l i f e, t o l ay vi ol ent hands on I saac. And i twas God who t empt ed hi m. Woe, woe t o t he messenger who woul d have comebef or e Abraham wi t h such a command! Who woul d have dared to be t hemessenger of such dr ead t i di ngs? But i t was God that t empted Abraham.

But Abr aham had f ai t h, and had f ai t h f or t hi s l i f e. I ndeed, had hi sf ai t h been but concerni ng t he l i f e to come, t hen mi ght he more easi l yhave cast away al l , i n order t o hast en out of t hi s wor l d whi ch was nothi s. . . .

But Abr ahamhad f ai t h and doubt ed not , but t r ust ed t hat t he i mpr obabl ewoul d come t o pass. I f Abraham had doubted, t hen woul d he haveunder t aken somethi ng el se, somethi ng great and nobl e; f or what coul dAbraham have under t aken but was gr eat and nobl e! He woul d havepr oceeded t o Mount Mor i ah, he woul d have cl oven t he wood, and f i r ed i t ,and unsheathed hi s kni f e- - he woul d have cr i ed out t o God: "Despi se nott hi s sacri f i ce; i t i s not , i ndeed, t he best I have; f or what i s an ol dman agai nst a chi l d f or et ol d of God; but i t i s t he best I can gi ve


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t hee. Let I saac never know t hat he must f i nd consol at i on i n hi s yout h. "He woul d have pl unged the st eel i n hi s own br east . And he woul d havebeen admi r ed t hroughout t he wor l d, and hi s name woul d not have beenf or gott en; but i t i s one thi ng t o be admi r ed and anot her , t o be al ode?st ar whi ch gui des one t r oubl ed i n mi nd.

But Abr aham had f ai t h. He pr ayed not f or mercy and t hat he mi ghtpr evai l upon t he Lor d: i t was onl y when j ust r et r i but i on was t o bevi si t ed upon Sodom and Gomorr ha t hat Abraham vent ured t o beseech Hi mf or mercy.

We r ead i n Scr i pture: "And God di d t empt Abraham, and sai d unto hi m,Abr aham: and he sai d, Behol d here I am. " [ 76] You, whom I am nowaddr essi ng di d you do l i kewi se? When you saw t he di r e di spensat i ons of Provi dence appr oach t hr eat eni ngl y, di d you not t hen say t o themount ai ns, Fal l on me; and t o the hi l l s, Cover me? [77] Or , i f you werest r onger i n f ai t h, di d not your st ep l i nger al ong t he way, l ongi ng f ort he ol d accust omed paths, as i t were? And when t he voi ce cal l ed you,di d you answer , t hen, or not at al l , and i f you di d, per chance i n a l owvoi ce, or whi sper i ng? Not t hus Abr aham, but gl adl y and cheer f ul l y andt r ust i ngl y, and wi t h a resonant voi ce he made answer: "Here am I " Andwe read f ur t her : "And Abr aham r ose up earl y i n t he morni ng. [ 78] Hemade hast e as t hough f or some j oyous occasi on, and ear l y i n the morni nghe was i n the appoi nt ed pl ace, on Mount Mor i ah. He sai d not hi ng t o

Sarah, nothi ng t o El i ezer , hi s st eward; f or who woul d have unders t oodhi m? Di d not hi s t empt at i on by i t s very nat ur e demand of hi m t he vow of si l ence? " He l ai d t he wood i n or der , and bound I saac hi s son, and l ai dhi m on t he al t ar upon t he wood. And Abr aham st r etched f ort h hi s hand,and t ook the kni f e t o sl ay hi s son. " My l i st ener ! Many a f at her t herehas been who t hought t hat wi t h hi s chi l d he l ost t he dear est of al lt here was i n t he wor l d f or hi m; yet assur edl y no chi l d ever was i n t hatsense a pl edge of God as was I saac t o Abraham. Many a f at her t her e hasbeen who l ost hi s chi l d; but t hen i t was God, t he unchangeabl e andi nscr ut abl e wi l l of t he Al mi ght y and Hi s hand whi ch t ook i t . Not t huswi t h Abr aham. For hi m was reser ved a more severe t r i al , and I saac' sf ate was put i nt o Abr aham' s hand together wi t h the kni f e. And there hest ood, t he ol d man, wi t h hi s onl y hope! Yet di d he not doubt , nor l ookanxi ousl y t o the l ef t or r i ght , nor chal l enge Heaven wi t h hi s pr ayer s.

He knew i t was God t he Al mi ght y who now put hi m t o t he t est ; he knew i twas t he gr eat est sacr i f i ce whi ch coul d be demanded of hi m; but he knewal so t hat no sacr i f i ce was t oo gr eat whi ch God demanded- - and he dr ewf ort h hi skni f e.

Who st r engt hened Abraham' s ar m, who support ed hi s r i ght arm t hat i tdr ooped not power l ess? For he who cont empl at es t hi s scene i s unnerved.Who st r engt hened Abraham' s soul so t hat hi s eyes grew not t oo di m t osee ei t her I saac or t he ram? For he who cont empl ates t hi s scene wi l l best r uck wi t h bl i ndness. And yet , i t i s r ar e enough t hat one i s unner vedor i s st r uck wi t h bl i ndness, and st i l l mor e r ar e t hat one nar r at eswort hi l y what t here di d t ake pl ace bet ween f ather and son. To be sure,we know wel l enough- - i t was but a t r i al !

I f Abraham had doubted, when st andi ng on Mount Mor i ah; i f he had l ookedabout hi m i n per pl exi t y; i f he had acci dent al l y di scover ed t he r ambef or e dr awi ng hi s kni f e; i f God had per mi t t ed hi m t o sacr i f i ce i ti nst ead of I saac- - t hen woul d he have retur ned home, and al l woul d havebeen as bef ore, he woul d have had Sarah and woul d have kept I saac; andyet how di f f erent al l woul d have been! For t hen had hi s r etur n been af l i ght , hi s sal vat i on an acci dent , hi s r ewar d di sgr ace, hi s f ut ur e,perchance, perdi t i on. Then woul d he have borne wi t ness nei t her t o hi sf ai t h nor t o God' s mercy, but woul d have wi t nessed onl y to the terr orof goi ng t o Mount Mor i ah. Then Abraham woul d not have been f orgot t en,nor ei t her Mount Mor i ah. I t woul d be ment i oned, t hen, not as i s MountAr ar at on whi ch t he Ar k l anded, but as a si gn of t er r or , because i t wast her e Abraham doubt ed.


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Venerabl e pat r i arch Abraham! When you r et urned home f r om Mount Mor i ahyou requi r ed no encomi ums t o consol e you f or what you had l ost ; f or ,i ndeed, you di d wi n al l and st i l l kept I saac, as we al l know. And t heLor d di d no more t ake hi m f r omyour si de, but you sate gl adl y at t abl ewi t h hi m i n your t ent as i n t he l i f e t o come you wi l l , f or al l t i mes.Venerabl e pat r i arch Abr aham! Thousands of years have passed si nce t hoset i mes, but st i l l you need no l ate?born l over t o snatch your memory f r omt he power of obl i vi on, f or every l anguage remember s you- - and yet do your eward your l over more gl ori ousl y t han any one, r ender i ng hi m bl essed

i n your bosom, and t aki ng hear t and eyes capt i ve by t he marvel of yourdeed. Venerabl e pat r i arch Abr aham! Second f ather of t he race! You whof i r st percei ved and bore wi t ness t o t hat unbounded passi on whi ch hasbut scor n f or t he ter r i bl e f i ght wi t h t he ragr i ng el ement s and t hest r engt h of br ut e cr eat i on, i n or der t o st r uggl e wi t h God; you whof i r st f el t t hat subl i mest of al l passi ons, you who f ound t he hol y,pur e, humbl e expr essi on f or t he di vi ne madness whi ch was a marvel t ot he heat hen- - f or gi ve hi m who woul d speak i n your pr ai se, i n case he di di t not f i t t i ngl y. He spoke humbl y, as i f i t concer ned t he desi r e of hi shear t ; he spoke br i ef l y, as i s seeml y; but he wi l l never f or get t hatyou requi r ed a hundr ed years t o obt ai n a son of your ol d age, agai nstal l expect i ons; t hat you had to dr aw t he kni f e bef or e bei ng permi t t edt o keep I saac; he wi l l never f or get t hat i n a hundr ed and t hi r t y year syou never got f ar t her t han t o f ai t h.

PRELI MI NARY EXPECTORATI ON

An ol d sayi ng, der i ved f r om t he wor l d of exper i ence, has i t t hat "hewho wi l l not wor k shal l not eat . [ 79] But , st r ange to say, t hi s doesnot hol d t r ue i n t he wor l d wher e i t i s t hought appl i cabl e; f or i n t heworl d of mat t er t he l aw of i mperf ect i on pr evai l s, and we see, agai n andagai n, t hat he al so who wi l l not wor k has bread t o eat- - i ndeed, t hat hewho sl eeps has a gr eat er abundance of i t t han he who works. I n thewor l d of mat t er everyt hi ng bel ongs to whosoever happens t o possess i t ;i t i s t hr al l t o t he l aw of i ndi f f er ence, and he who happens t o possesst he Ri ng al so has t he Spi r i t of t he Ri ng at hi s beck and cal l , whet hernow he be Nour eddi n or Al addi n [80] and he who cont r ol s t he t r easuresof t hi s worl d, cont r ol s t hem, howsoever he managed t o do so. I t i s

di f f er ent i n t he wor l d of spi r i t . Ther e, an et er nal and di vi ne or derobt ai ns, t her e t he r ai n does not f al l on t he j ust and t he unj ust al i ke,nor does t he sun shi ne on t he good and t he evi l al i ke; [ 81] but t heret he sayi ng does hol d t r ue t hat he who wi l l not work shal l not eat , andonl y he who was t r oubl ed shal l f i nd rest , and onl y he who descends i nt ot he nether wor l d shal l r escue hi s bel oved, and onl y he who unsheatheshi s kni f e shal l be gi ven I saac agai n. Ther e, he who wi l l not wor k shal lnot eat , but shal l be decei ved, as t he gods decei ved Or pheus wi t h ani mmat er i al f i gur e i nst ead of hi s bel oved Eur i di ce, [ 82] decei ved hi mbecause he was l ove?si ck and not cour ageous, decei ved hi m because hewas a pl ayer on t he ci t har a r at her t han a man. . Ther e, i t avai l s not t ohave an Abr aham f or one' s f ather, [ 83] or t o have sevent een ancest ors.But i n t hat worl d t he sayi ng about I sr ael ' s mai dens wi l l hol d t r ue of hi m who wi l l not work: he shal l br i ng f or t h wi nd; [ 84] but he who wi l l

wor k shal l gi ve bi r t h t o hi s own f at her .

There i s a ki nd of l ear ni ng whi ch woul d pr esumpt uousl y i nt r oduce i nt ot he wor l d of spi r i t t he same l aw of i ndi f f erence under whi ch t he worl dof mat t er gr oans. I t i s t hought t hat t o know about gr eat men and gr eatdeeds i s qui t e suf f i ci ent , and t hat ot her exer t i on i s not necessar y.And t her ef or e t hi s l ear ni ng shal l not eat , but shal l per i sh of hungerwhi l e seei ng al l t hi ngs t r ansf or med i nt o gol d by i t s t ouch. And what,f orsooth, does t hi s l ear ni ng r eal l y know? There were many thousands of cont emporar i es, and count l ess men i n af t er t i mes, who knew al l aboutt he t r i umphs of Mi l t i ades; but t here was onl y one whom t hey r enderedsl eepl ess. [ 85] There have exi st ed count l ess generat i ons t hat knew byhear t , word f or word, t he st ory of Abr aham; but how many has i t


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r endered sl eepl ess?

Now t he st ory of Abr aham has t he r emarkabl e pr opert y of al ways bei nggl or i ous, i n however l i mi t ed a sense i t i s under st ood; st i l l , her e al sot he poi nt i s whether one means t o l abor and exer t one' s sel f . Nowpeopl e do not car e t o l abor and exert t hemsel ves, but wi sh nevert hel esst o underst and the st ory. They ext ol Abraham, but how? By expr essi ng thematt er i n the most general t erms and sayi ng: " t he gr eat t hi ng about hi mwas t hat he l oved God so ar dent l y that he was wi l l i ng t o sacr i f i ce t oHi m hi s most pr eci ous possessi on. " That i s ver y t r ue; but "t he most

pr eci ous possessi on" i s an i ndef i ni t e expr essi on. As one' s t hought s,and one' s mout h, r un on one assumes, i n a ver y easy f ashi on, t hei dent i t y of I saac and " t he most pr eci ous possessi on" - - and meanwhi l e hewho i s medi t at i ng may smoke hi s pi pe, and hi s audi ence comf ort abl yst r et ch out t hei r l egs. I f t he ri ch yout h whom Chr i st met on hi s way[ 86] had sol d al l hi s possessi ons and gi ven al l t o t he poor, we woul dext ol hi m as we ext ol al l whi ch i s gr eat - - aye, woul d not under st andeven hi m wi t hout l abor ; and yet woul d he never have become an Abraham,not wi t hst andi ng hi s sacr i f i ci ng t he most pr eci ous possessi ons he had.That whi ch peopl e gener al l y f or get i n t he st or y of Abr aham i s hi s f earand anxi ety; f or as r egards money, one i s not et hi cal l y r esponsi bl e f ori t , whereas f or hi s son a f ather has t he hi ghest and most sacredr esponsi bi l i t y. However , f ear i s a dr eadf ul t hi ng f or t i mor ous spi r i t s,so t hey omi t i t . And yet t hey wi sh t o speak of Abr aham.

So they keep on speaki ng, and i n t he cour se of t hei r speech t he t wot erms I saac and " t he most pr eci ous t hi ng" ar e used al t ernat el y, andeveryt hi ng i s i n t he best order . But now suppose that among t heaudi ence t here was a man who suf f ered wi t h sl eepl essness- - and then t hemost t err i bl e and pr of ound, t he most t r agi c, and at t he same t i me t he,most comi c, mi sunderst andi ng i s wi t hi n t he range of possi bi l i t y. Thati s, suppose t hi s man goes home and wi shes t o do as di d Abraham; f or hi sson i s hi s most pr eci ous possessi on. I f a cer t ai n pr eacher l earned of t hi s he woul d, per haps, go t o hi m, he woul d gat her up al l hi s spi r i t ualdi gni t y and excl ai m: " ' Thou abomi nabl e creat ur e, t hou scum of humani t y,what devi l possessed thee t o wi sh t o mur der son?" And t hi s preacher ,who had not f el t any part i cul ar warmt h, nor per spi r ed whi l e speaki ngabout Abr aham, t hi s preacher woul d be ast oni shed hi msel f at t he ear nest

wr ath wi t h whi ch he pour ed f or t h hi s t hunders agai nst t hat poor wr etch;i ndeed, he woul d r ej oi ce over hi msel f , f or never had he spoken wi t hsuch power and unct i on, and he woul d have sai d to hi s wi f e: " I amanor at or, t he onl y thi ng I have l acked so f ar was t he occasi on. LastSunday, when speaki ng about Abr aham, I di d not f eel t hr i l l ed i n t hel eas t . "

Now, i f t hi s same or at or had j ust a bi t of sense t o spar e, I bel i evehe woul d l ose i t i f t he si nner woul d r epl y, i n a qui et and di gni f i edmanner : "Why, i t was on t hi s very same mat t er you preached, l astSunday!" But however coul d t he preacher have ent er t ai ned such t houghts?St i l l , such was t he case, and the pr eacher' s mi st ake was merel y notknowi ng what he was t al ki ng about . Ah, woul d that some poet mi ght seehi s way cl ear t o pr ef er such a si t uat i on t o the st uf f and nonsense of

whi ch novel s and comedi es ar e f ul l ! For t he comi c and the t r agi c herer un par al l el t o i nf i ni t y. The ser mon pr obabl y was r i di cul ous enough i ni t sel f , but i t became i nf i ni t el y r i di cul ous t hr ough t he ver y nat ur alconsequence i t had. Or , suppose now t he si nner was conver t ed by t hi sl ect ur e wi t hout dar i ng t o r ai se any obj ect i on, and t hi s zeal ous di vi nenow went home el ated, gl ad i n the consci ousness of bei ng ef f ect i ve, notonl y i n t he pul pi t , but chi ef l y, and wi t h i r r esi st i bl e power , as aspi r i t ual gui de, i nspi r i ng hi s congr egat i on on Sunday, whi l st on Mondayhe woul d pl ace hi msel f l i ke a cherub wi t h f l ami ng sword bef ore the manwho by hi s act i ons t r i ed t o gi ve t he l i e t o t he ol d sayi ng t hat "t hecour se of t he wor l d f ol l ows not t he pr i est ' s wor d. "

I f , on t he ot her hand, t he si nner wer e not convi nced of hi s er r or hi s


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posi t i on woul d become t r agi c. He woul d pr obabl y be execut ed, or el sesent t o t he l unat i c asyl um- - at any r at e, he woul d become a suf f er er i nt hi s wor l d; but i n anot her sense I shoul d t hi nk t hat Abr aham r ender edhi m happy; f or he who l abor s, he shal l not per i sh.

Now how shal l we expl ai n the cont r adi ct i on cont ai ned i n t hat sermon? I si t due t o Abr aham' s havi ng the reput at i on of bei ng a gr eat man- - so t hatwhatever he does i s great , but i f another shoul d undert ake to do thesame i t i s a si n, a hei nous si n ? I f t hi s be t he case I pr ef er not t opar t i ci pat e i n such t hought l ess l audat i ons. I f f ai t h cannot make i t a

sacred t hi ng t o wi sh to sacr i f i ce one' s son, t hen l et t he same j udgmentbe vi si t ed on Abr aham as on any other man. And i f we perchance l ack thecour age t o dr i ve our t hought s t o t he l ogi cal concl usi on and t o say t hatAbr ahamwas a mur derer, t hen i t were bet t er t o acqui r e t hat cour age,r ather t han to wast e one' s t i me on undeser ved encomi ums. The f act i s,t he et hi cal expr essi on f or what Abr aham di d i s t hat he want ed t o mur derI saac; t he r el i gi ous, t hat he want ed t o sacri f i ce hi m. But pr eci sel y i nt hi s cont r adi ct i on i s cont ai ned t he f ear whi ch may wel l r ob one of one' s sl eep. And yet Abr aham were not Abr ahamwi t hout t hi s f ear . Or ,agai n, supposi ng Abr aham di d not do what i s att r i but ed t o hi m, i f hi sact i on was an ent i r el y di f f er ent one, based on condi t i ons of t hoset i mes, t hen l et us f or get hi m; f or what i s t he use of cal l i ng t o mi ndt hat past whi ch can no l onger become a pr esent r eal i t y?- - Or , t hespeaker had perhaps f or got t en the essent i al f act t hat I saac was t he

son. For i f f ai t h i s el i mi nat ed, havi ng been r educed t o a mer e not hi ng,t hen onl y t he br ut al f act r emai ns t hat Abr aham want ed t o mur derI saac- - whi ch i s easy f or ever ybody to i mi t ate who has not t hef ai t h- - t he f ai t h, t hat i s , whi ch renders i t most di f f i cul t f or hi m. . ..

Love has i t s pri est s i n t he poets , and one bears at t i mes a poet ' svoi ce whi ch wort hi l y extol s i t . But not a wor d does one hear of f ai t h.Who i s t here t o speak i n honor of t hat passi on? Phi l osophy "goes r i ghton. " Theol ogy si t s at t he wi ndow wi t h a pai nt ed vi sage and sues f orphi l osophy' s f avor , of f er i ng i t her char ms. I t i s sai d t o be di f f i cul tt o underst and t he phi l osophy of Hegel ; but t o underst and Abr aham, why,t hat i s an easy mat t er! To pr oceed f ur t her t han Hegel i s a wonderf ulf eat , but t o pr oceed f ur t her t han Abr aham, why, nothi ng i s easi er!

Per sonal l y, I have devoted a consi derabl e amount of t i me t o a st udy of Hegel i an phi l osophy and bel i eve I under st and i t f ai r l y wel l ; i n f act, Iam r ash enough to say t hat when, not wi t hst andi ng an ef f or t , I am notabl e t o under st and hi m i n some passages, i s because he i s not ent i r el ycl ear about t he mat t er hi msel f . Al l t hi s i nt el l ectual ef f or t I per f or measi l y and natur al l y, and i t does not cause my head to ache. On theother hand, whenever I at t empt t o thi nk about Abraham I am, as i t were,overwhel med. At every moment I am awar e of t he enor mous paradox whi chf orms t he cont ent of Abr aham' s l i f e, at every moment I am r epul sed, andmy thought , notwi t hst andi ng i t s passi onate at t empt s, cannot penet r atei nt o i t , cannot f or ge on t he br eadt h of a hai r . I st r ai n ever y muscl ei n order t o envi sage the pr obl em- - and become a par al yt i c i n t he samemoment .

I am by no means unacquai nt ed wi t h what has been admi r ed as gr eatand nobl e, my soul f eel s ki nshi p wi t h i t , bei ng sat i sf i ed, i n al lhumi l i t y, t hat i t was al so my cause t he hero espoused; and whencont empl ati ng hi s deed I say t o mysel f : "j amt ua causa agi t ur . " [ 87] Iam abl e t o i dent i f y mysel f wi t h t he hero; but I cannot do so wi t hAbr aham, f or whenever I have reached hi s hei ght I f al l down agai n,si nce he conf r ont s me as t he paradox. I t i s by no means my i nt ent i on t omai nt ai n t hat f ai t h i s somet hi ng i nf er i or , but , on t he cont r ar y, t hati t i s the hi ghest of al l t hi ngs; al so t hat i t i s di shonest i nphi l osophy to of f er somethi ng el se i nst ead, and t o pour scor n on f ai t h;but i t ought t o unders t and i t s own natur e i n order t o know what i t canof f er . I t shoul d t ake away not hi ng; l east of al l , f ool peopl e out of somet hi ng as i f i t wer e of no val ue. I am not unacquai nt ed wi t h t he


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suf f er i ngs and danger s of l i f e, but I do not f ear t hem, and cheer f ul l ygo f or t h t o meet t hem. . . . But my cour age i s not , f or al l t hat , t hecour age of f ai t h, and i s as not hi ng compar ed wi t h i t . I cannot car r yout t he movement of f ai t h: I cannot cl ose my eyes and conf i dent l ypl unge i nt o the absur d- - i t i s i mpossi bl e f or me; but nei t her do I boastof i t . . .

Now I wonder i f every one of my cont emporar i es i s r eal l y abl e t operf orm t he movement s of f ai t h. Unl ess I am much mi st aken t hey ar e,r ather , i ncl i ned t o be pr oud of maki ng what t hey perhaps t hi nk me

unabl e to do, vi z. , t he i mper f ect movement . I t i s r epugnant t o my soult o do what i s so of t en done, t o speak i nhumanl y about gr eat deeds, asi f a f ew t housands of years were an i mmense space of t i me. I pref er t ospeak about t hem i n a human way and as t hough they had been done butyest er day, t o l et t he gr eat deed i t sel f be the di st ance whi ch ei t heri nspi r es or condemns me. Now i f I , i n t he capaci t y of t r agi c her o- - f ora hi gher f l i ght I am unabl e to take- - i f I had been summoned t o such anext r aor di nary r oyal pr ogr ess as was t he one t o Mount Mori ah, I knowvery wel l what I woul d have done. I woul d not have been cr aven enought o remai n at home; nei t her woul d I have dawdl ed on t he way; nor woul d Ihave f or got my kni f e- - j ust t o dr aw out t he end a bi t . But I am r at hersure t hat I woul d have been pr ompt l y on t he spot , wi t h every t hi ng i norder - - i n f act , woul d pr obabl y have been t here bef ore t he appoi nt edt i me, so as t o have the busi ness soon over wi t h. But I know al so what I

woul d have done besi des. I n t he moment I mount ed my horse I woul d havesai d t o mysel f : "Now al l i s l ost , God demands I saac, I shal l sacri f i cehi m, and wi t h hi m al l my j oy- - but f or al l t hat , God i s l ove and wi l lr emai n so f or me; f or i n thi s wor l d God and I cannot speak together , wehave no l anguage i n common. "

Possi bl y, one or t he ot her of my cont emporar i es wi l l be st upi d enough,and j eal ous enough of gr eat deeds, t o wi sh t o persuade hi msel f and met hat i f I had act ed t hus I shoul d have done somethi ng even gr eat er t hanwhat Abr ahamdi d; f or my subl i me resi gnat i on was ( he thi nks) by f armore i deal and poet i c t han Abr aham' s l i t eral ?mi nded act i on. And yett hi s i s absol ut el y not so, f or my subl i me r esi gnat i on was onl y asubst i t ut e f or f ai t h. I coul d not have made mor e than t he i nf i ni t emovement ( of r esi gnat i on) t o f i nd mysel f and agai n repose i n mysel f .

Nor woul d I have l oved I saac as Abr aham l oved hi m. The f act t hat I wasr esol ut e enough t o resi gn i s suf f i ci ent t o pr ove my cour age i n a humansense, and t he f act t hat I l oved hi m wi t h my whol e hear t i s t he ver ypr esupposi t i on wi t hout whi ch my act i on woul d be n. me; but st i l l I di dnot l ove as di d Abr aham, f or el se I oul d have hesi t ated even i n t hel ast mi nut e, wi t hout , f or t hat mat t er , ar r i vi ng t oo l at e on MountMor i ah. Al so, I woul d have spoi l ed t he whol e busi ness by my behavi or ;f or i f I had had I saac rest ored t o me I woul d have been embarr assed.That whi ch was an easy mat t er f or Abr aham woul d have been di f f i cul t f orme, I mean, t o rej oi ce agai n i n I saac; f or he who wi t h al l t he ener gyof hi s soul pr opr i o mot u et pr opr i i s auspi ci i s [ 88] has made t hei nf i ni t e movement of r esi gnat i on and can do no more, he wi l l r etai npossessi on of I saac onl y i n hi s sorr ow.

But what di d Abr aham? He ar r i ved nei t her t oo ear l y nor t oo l ate. Hemount ed hi s ass and rode sl owl y on hi s way. And al l t he whi l e he hadf ai t h, bel i evi ng that God woul d not demand I saac of hi m, t hough readyal l t he whi l e to sacr i f i ce hi m, shoul d i t be demanded of hi m. Hebel i eved t hi s on t he st r engt h of t he absur d; f or t her e was no quest i onof human cal cul at i on any l onger. And t he absurdi t y consi st ed i n God' s,who yet made t hi s demand of hi m, r ecal l i ng hi s demand t he very nextmoment . Abraham ascended t he mountai n and whi l st t he kni f e al r eadygl eamed i n hi s hand he bel i eved- - t hat God woul d not demand I saac of hi m. He was, t o be sur e, surpr i sed at t he out come; but by a doubl emovement he had r etur ned at hi s f i r st st ate of mi nd and theref orer ecei ved I saac back mor e gl adl y than t he f i r st t i me. . . .


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On t hi s hei ght , t hen, st ands Abr aham. The l ast st age he l oses si ght of i s t hat of i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on. He does real l y pr oceed f ur t her , hear r i ves at f ai t h. For al l t hese car i cat ur es of f ai t h, wr et ched l ukewar msl ot h, whi ch t hi nks. "Oh, t her e i s no hur r y, i t i s not necessar y t oworr y bef ore the t i me comes"; and mi ser abl e hopef ul ness, whi ch says:"One cannot know what wi l l happen, t here mi ght per haps, " al l t hesecar i cat ur es bel ong t o t he sor di d vi ew of l i f e and have al r eady f al l enunder t he i nf i ni t e scor n of i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on.

Abr aham, I am not abl e to unders t and; and i n a cer t ai n sense I can

l ear n nothi ng f r om hi m wi t hout bei ng st r uck wi t h wonder. They whof l at t er t hemsel ves t hat by merel y consi der i ng t he out come of Abr aham' sst or y t hey wi l l necessar i l y ar r i ve at f ai t h, onl y decei ve t hemsel vesand wi sh t o cheat God out of t he f i r st movement of f ai t h- - i t weret ant amount t o deri vi ng worl dl y wi sdom f r om t he paradox. But who knows,one or t he other of t hem may succeed i n doi ng t hi s; f or our t i mes ar enot sat i sf i ed wi t h f ai t h, and not even wi t h t he mi r acl e of changi ngwater i nt o wi ne- - t hey "go r i ght on" changi ng wi ne i nt o water.

I s i t not pr ef er abl e t o r emai n sat i sf i ed wi t h f ai t h, and i s i t notout r ageous t hat ever y one wi shes t o "go ri ght on". I f peopl e i n ourt i mes decl i ne t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h l ove, as i s pr ocl ai med f r om var i oussi des, wher e wi l l we f i nal l y l and? I n wor l dl y shr ewdness, i n meancal cul at i on, i n pal t r i ness and baseness, i n al l t hat whi ch r ender s

man' s di vi ne or i gi n doubt f ul . Wer e i t not bet t er t o st and f ast i n t hef ai t h, and bet t er t hat he t hat st andet h t ake heed l est he f al l ; [ 89]f or t he movement of f ai t h must ever be made by vi r t ue of t he absur d,but , not e wel l , i n such wi se t hat one does not l ose t he t hi ngs of t hi sworl d but whol l y and ent i r el y regai ns t hem.

As f ar as I am concer ned, I am abl e to descri be most excel l ent l y themovement s of f ai t h; but I cannot make t hem mysel f . When a per son wi shest o l ear n how t o swi m he has hi msel f suspended i n a swi mmi ng?bel t andt hen goes t hrough t he mot i ons; but t hat does not mean t hat he can swi m.I n the same f ashi on I t oo can go t hr ough the mot i ons of f ai t h; but whenI am t hr own i nt o t he wat er I swi m, t o be sur e ( f or I am not a wader i nt he shal l ows) , but I go thr ough a di f f er ent set of movement s, t o?wi t ,t hose of i nf i ni t y; wher eas f ai t h does t he opposi t e, t o?wi t , makes t he

movement s t o regai n the f i ni t e af t er havi ng made t hose of i nf i ni t er esi gnat i on. Bl essed i s he who can make t hese movement s, f or heperf orms a marvel l ous f eat , and I shal l never wear y of admi r i ng hi m,whether now i t be Abr aham hi msel f or t he sl ave i n Abr aham' s house,whet her i t be a pr of essor of phi l osophy or a poor ser vant ?gi r l : i t i sal l t he same t o me, f or I have regard onl y t o the movement s. But t hesemovement s I wat ch cl osel y, and I wi l l not be decei ved, whet her bymysel f or by any one el se. The kni ght s of i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on ar eeasi l y recogni zed, f or t hei r gai t i s danci ng and bol d. But t hey whopossess t he j ewel of f ai t h f r equent l y decei ve one because t hei r beari ngi s cur i ousl y l i ke t hat of a cl ass of peopl e hear t i l y despi sed byi nf i ni t e resi gnat i on as wel l as by f ai t h- - t he phi l i st i nes.

Let me admi t f r ankl y t hat I have not i n my exper i ence encountered any

cer t ai n speci men of t hi s t ype; but I do not r ef use to admi t t hat as f aras I know, ever y ot her per son may be such a speci men. At t he same t i meI wi l l say t hat I have sear ched vai nl y f or year s. I t i s t he cust om of sci ent i st s t o tr avel ar ound t he gl obe to see r i ver s and mount ai ns, newst ar s, gay?col or ed bi r ds, mi sshapen f i sh, r i di cul ous r aces of men. Theyabandon t hemsel ves t o a bovi ne st upor whi ch gapes at exi st ence andbel i eve t hey have seen somethi ng wort h whi l e. Al l t hi s does noti nt er est me; but i f I knew wher e t her e l i ved such a kni ght of f ai t h Iwoul d j our ney t o hi m on f oot , f or t hat marvel occupi es my t hought sexcl usi vel y. Not a moment woul d I l eave hi m out of si ght , but woul dwat ch how he makes t he movements, and I woul d consi der mysel f provi dedf or l i f e, and woul d di vi de my t i me bet ween watchi ng hi m and mysel f pr act i ci ng t he movement s, and woul d thus use al l my t i me i n admi r i ng


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hi m,

As I sai d, I have not met wi t h such a one; but I can easi l y i magi nehi m. Here he i s. I make hi s acquai nt ance and am i nt r oduced t o hi m. Thef i r st moment I l ay my eyes on hi m I push hi m back, l eapi ng back mysel f ,I hol d up my hands i n amazement and say t o mysel f : "Good Lor d! t hatper son? I s i t r eal l y he- - why, he l ooks l i ke a par i sh?beadl e! " But i t i sr eal l y he. I become more cl osel y acquai nt ed wi t h hi m, watchi ng hi sever y movement t o see whet her some t r i f l i ng i ncongr uous movement of hi shas escaped me, some t r ace, perchance, of a si gnal l i ng f r om t he

i nf i ni t e, a gl ance, a l ook, a gest ur e, a mel anchol y ai r , or a smi l e,whi ch mi ght bet r ay t he pr esence of i nf i ni t e resi gnat i on cont r ast i ngwi t h t he f i ni t e.

But no! I exami ne hi s f i gur e f r om t op t o t oe t o di scover whet her t her ebe anywhere a chi nk t hr ough whi ch the i nf i ni t e mi ght be seen to peerf or t h. But no! he i s of a pi ece, al l t hr ough. And how about hi sf oot i ng? Vi gor ous, al t oget her t hat of f i ni t eness, no ci t i zen dr essed i nhi s very best , pr epared to spend hi s Sunday af t ernoon i n t he park,t r eads t he gr ound mor e f i r ml y. He bel ongs al t ogether t o thi s wor l d, nophi l i st i ne more so. There i s no t r ace of t he somewhat excl usi ve andhaught y demeanor whi ch marks of f t he kni ght of i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on. Het akes pl easur e i n al l , t hi ngs, i s i nt er est ed i n ever yt hi ng, andper sever es i n what ever he does wi t h the zest characteri st i c of per sons

whol l y gi ven to wor l dl y t hi ngs. He at t ends t o hi s busi ness, and whenone sees hi m one mi ght t hi nk he was a cl erk who had l ost hi s soul i ndoi ng doubl e bookkeepi ng, he i s so exact . He t akes a day of f onSundays. He goes t o chur ch. But no hi nt of anythi ng supernat ur al or anyother si gn of t he i ncommensurabl e bet r ays hi m, and i f one di d not knowhi m i t woul d be i mpossi bl e to di st i ngui sh hi m i n t he congr egat i on, f orhi s br i sk and manl y si ngi ng pr oves onl y that he has a pai r of goodl ungs.

I n t he af t er noon he wal ks out t o the f or est . He takes del i ght i n al lhe sees, i n the crowds of men and women, t he new omni busses, t heSound- - i f one met hi m on t he promenade one mi ght t hi nk he was someshopkeeper who was havi ng a good t i me, so si mpl e i s hi s j oy; f or he i snot a poet, and i n vai n have I t r i ed t o l ur e hi m i nt o bet r ayi ng some

si gn of t he poet ' s detachment . Toward eveni ng he wal ks home agai n, wi t ha gai t as st eady as t hat of a mai l ?carr i er. On hi s way he happens t owonder whet her hi s wi f e wi l l have some l i t t l e speci al war m di sh r eadyf or hi m, when he comes home- - as she sur el y has- - as, f or i nst ance, ar oast ed l amb' s head gar ni shed wi t h greens. And i f he met one mi ndedl i ke hi m he i s ver y l i kel y t o cont i nue t al ki ng about t hi s di sh wi t h hi mt i l l t hey reach t he East Gat e, and t o tal k about i t wi t h a zestbef i t t i ng a chef . As i t happens, he has not f our shi l l i ngs t o spar e,and yet he f i r ml y bel i eves t hat hi s wi f e sur el y has t hat di sh r eady f orhi m. I f she has, i t woul d be an envi abl e si ght f or di st i ngui shedpeopl e, and an i nspi r i ng one f or common f ol ks, t o see hi m eat , f or hehas an appet i t e gr eat er t han Esau' s. Hi s wi f e has not preparedi t - - st r ange, he remai ns al t oget her t he same.

Agai n, on hi s way he passes a bui l di ng l ot and there meet s anotherman. They f al l t o t al ki ng, and i n a t r i ce he er ects a bui l di ng, f r eel ydi sposi ng of ever yt hi ng necessar y. And the st r anger wi l l l eave hi m wi t ht he i mpr essi on t hat he has been t al ki ng wi t h a capi t al i st - - t he f actbei ng t hat t he kni ght of my admi r at i on i s busy wi t h t he t hought t hat i f i t r eal l y came t o t he poi nt he woul d unquest i onabl y have t he meanswher ewi t hal at hi s di sposal .

Now he i s l yi ng on hi s el bows i n t he wi ndow and l ooki ng over t hesquar e on whi ch he l i ves. Al l t hat happens t her e, i f i t be onl y a r atcreepi ng i nt o a gut t er ?hol e, or chi l dr en pl ayi ng t oget her - - ever yt hi ngengages hi s at t ent i on, and yet hi s mi nd i s at r est as t hough i t wer et he mi nd of a gi r l of si xteen. He smokes hi s pi pe i n t he eveni ng, and


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t o l ook at hi m you woul d swear i t was t he gr een?gr ocer f r omacr oss t hest r eet who i s l oungi ng at t he wi ndow i n t he eveni ng t wi l i ght . Thus heshows as much unconcern as any wor t hl ess happy?go?l ucky f el l ow; andyet , every moment he l i ves he pur chases hi s l ei sure at t he hi ghestpr i ce, f or he makes not t he l east movement except by vi r t ue of t heabsur d; and yet , yet - - i ndeed, I mi ght become f ur i ous wi t h anger, i f f orno ot her r eason t han t hat of envy- - and yet , t hi s man has per f ormed, andi s per f ormi ng ever y moment , t he movement of i nf i ni t y . . . He hasr esi gned ever ythi ng absol ut el y, and t hen agai n sei zed hol d of i t al l ont he str engt h of t he absur d. . .

But t hi s mi r acl e may so easi l y decei ve one t hat i t wi l l be best i f Idescr i be t he movement s i n a gi ven case whi ch may i l l ust r ate t hei raspect i n cont act wi t h r eal i t y; and t hat i s t he i mpor t ant poi nt .Suppose, t hen, a young swai n f al l s i n l ove wi t h a pr i ncess, and al l hi sl i f e i s bound up i n t hi s l ove. But ci r cumst ances ar e such t hat i t i sout of t he quest i on t o t hi nk of mar r yi ng her , an i mpossi bi l i t y tot r ansl at e hi s dr eams i nt o r eal i t y. The sl aves of pal t r i ness, t he f r ogsi n t he sl oughs of l i f e, t hey wi l l shout , of cour se: "Such a l ove i sf ol l y, t he r i ch br ewer ' s wi dow i s qui t e as good and sol i d a match. " Lett hem but croak. The kni ght of i nf i ni t e resi gnat i on does not f ol l owt hei r advi ce, he does not sur r ender hi s l ove, not f or al l t he r i ches i nt he wor l d. He i s no f ool , he f i r st makes sur e t hat t hi s l ove r eal l y i st he cont ent s of hi s l i f e, f or hi s soul i s t oo sound and t oo pr oud t o

wast e i t sel f on a mer e i nt oxi cat i on. He i s no cowar d, he i s not af r ai dt o l et hi s l ove i nsi nuat e i t sel f i nt o hi s most secret and most r emot et hought s, t o l et i t wi nd i t sel f i n i nnumer abl e coi l s about ever y f i berof hi s consci ousness- - i f he i s di sappoi nt ed i n hi s l ove he wi l l neverbe abl e t o ext r i cat e hi msel f agai n. He f eel s a del i ci ous pl easur e i nl et t i ng l ove t hr i l l hi s ever y ner ve, and yet hi s soul i s sol emn as i st hat of hi m who has dr ai ned a cup of poi son and who now f eel s t he vi r usmi ngl e wi t h every drop of hi s bl ood, poi sed i n t hat moment between l i f eand death.

Havi ng thus i mbi bed l ove, and bei ng whol l y absorbed i n i t , he does notl ack the cour age to t r y and dar e al l . He sur veys t he whol e si t uat i on,he cal l s t oget her hi s swi f t t hought s whi ch l i ke t ame pi geons obey hi sever y beck, he gi ves t he si gnal , and t hey dar t i n al l di r ect i ons. But

when t hey return, every one bear i ng a message of sor r ow, and expl ai n tohi m t hat i t i s i mpossi bl e, t hen he becomes si l ent , he di smi sses t hem,he remai ns al one; and t hen he makes t he movement . Now i f what I sayher e i s t o have any si gni f i cance, i t i s of pr i me i mpor t ance t hat t hemovement be made i n a normal f ashi on. The kni ght of r esi gnat i on i ssupposed t o have suf f i ci ent energy t o concent r ate t he ent i r e cont ent sof hi s l i f e and t he r eal i zat i on of exi st i ng condi t i ons i nt o one si ngl ewi sh. But i f one l acks t hi s concent r at i on, t hi s devot i on t o a si ngl et hought ; i f hi s soul f r omt he ver y begi nni ng i s scat t er ed on a numberof obj ect s, he wi l l never be abl e t o make t he movement - - he wi l l be aswor l dl y?wi se i n t he conduct of hi s l i f e as t he f i nanci er who i nvest shi s capi t al i n a number of secur i t i es t o wi n on t he one i f he shoul dl ose on t he ot her ; t hat i s, he i s no kni ght . Fur t her mor e, t he kni ght i ssupposed t o possess suf f i ci ent ener gy t o concent r at e al l hi s t hought

i nt o a si ngl e act of consci ousness. I f he l acks t hi s concent r at i on hewi l l onl y r un er r ands i n l i f e and wi l l never be abl e t o assume t heat t i t ude of i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on; f or t he ver y mi nut e he appr oaches i the wi l l suddenl y di scover t hat he f orgot somethi ng so that he mustr emai n behi nd. The next mi nut e, t hi nks he, i t wi l l be at t ai nabl e agai n,and so i t i s; but such i nhi bi t i ons wi l l never al l ow hi m t o make t hemovement but wi l l , r at her, t end t o hi m si nk ever deeper i nt o t he mi r e.

Our kni ght , t hen, per f orms t he movement - - whi ch movement ? I s he i ntenton f orget t i ng t he whol e af f ai r , whi ch, t oo, woul d pr esuppose muchconcent r ati on? No, f or t he kni ght does not cont r adi ct hi msel f , and i ti s a cont r adi cti on t o f or get t he mai n cont ent s of one' s l i f e and st i l lr emai n the same per son. And he has no desi r e t o become anot her per son;


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nei t her does he consi der such a desi r e t o smack of gr eat ness. Onl yl ower nat ur es f orget t hemsel ves and become somet hi ng di f f erent . Thust he but t erf l y has f or got t en t hat i t once was a cat er pi l l ar - - who knowsbut i t may f or get her t hat i t once was a but t er f l y, and t ur n i nt o af i sh! Deeper natur es never f orget t hemsel ves and never change thei ressent i al qual i t i es. So t he kni ght r emember s al l ; but pr eci sel y t hi sr emembr ance i s pai nf ul . Never t hel ess, i n hi s i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on hehas become r econci l ed wi t h exi st ence. Hi s l ove f or t he pr i ncess hasbecome f or hi m t he expr essi on of an eternal l ove, has assumed ar el i gi ous char act er , has been t r ansf i gur ed i nt o a l ove f or t he et er nal

bei ng whi ch, t o be sur e, deni ed hi m t he f ul f i l ment of hi s l ove, yetr econci l ed hi m agai n by pr esent i ng hi m wi t h t he abi di ng consci ousnessof hi s l ove' s bei ng pr eser ved i n an ever l ast i ng f or m of whi ch nor eal i t y can r ob hi m. . . .

Now, he i s no l onger i nt erest ed i n what t he pr i ncess may do, andpr eci sel y t hi s proves t hat he has made t he movement of i nf i ni t er esi gnat i on cor r ectl y. I n f act, t hi s i s a good cri t er i on f or det ecti ngwhether a person' s movement i s s i ncere or j ust make?bel i eve. Take aperson who bel i eves t hat he too has resi gned, but l o! t i me passed, t hepr i ncess di d somethi ng on her par t , f or exampl e, marr i ed a pr i nce, andt hen hi s soul l ost t he el ast i c i t y of i t s resi gnat i on. Thi s ought t oshow hi m t hat he di d not make t he movement cor r ect l y, f or he who hasr esi gned absol ut el y i s suf f i ci ent unt o hi msel f . The kni ght does not

cancel hi s r esi gnat i on, but pr eserves hi s l ove as f r esh and young as i twas at t he f i r st moment , he never l et s go of i t j ust because hi sr esi gnat i on i s absol ut e. What ever t he pr i ncess does, cannot di st ur bhi m, f or i t i s onl y the l ower nat ur es who have t he l aw f or t hei ract i ons i n some ot her person, i . e. have t he pr emi ses of t hei r act i onsout si de of t hemsel ves. . . .

I nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on i s t he l ast st age whi ch goes bef or e f ai t h, so t hatever y one who has not made t he movement of i nf i ni t e r esi gnat i on cannothave f ai t h; f or onl y t hr ough absol ut e r esi gnat i on do I become consci ousof my et ernal wor t h, and onl y t hen can ther e ar i se t he pr obl em of agai ngr aspi ng hol d of t hi s wor l d by vi r t ue of f ai t h.

We wi l l now suppose t he kni ght of f ai t h i n the same case. He does

pr eci sel y as t he ot her kni ght , he absol ut el y resi gns t he l ove whi ch i st he cont ent s of hi s l i f e, he i s r econci l ed t o t he pai n; but t hen t hemi r acul ous happens, he makes one mor e movement , st r ange beyondcompar i son, sayi ng: "And st i l l I bel i eve t hat I shal l mar r y her - - mar r yher by vi r t ue of t he absur d, by vi r t ue of t he act t hat t o God not hi ngi s i mpossi bl e. " Now t he absur d i s not one of t he cat egor i es whi chbel ong t o t he under st andi ng pr oper . I t i s not i dent i cal wi t h t hei mprobabl e, t he unf oreseen, t he unexpect ed. The ver y moment our kni ghtr esi gned hi msel f he made sur e of t he absol ut e i mpossi bi l i t y, i n anyhuman sense, of hi s l ove. Thi s was t he resul t r eached by hi sr ef l ect i ons, and he had suf f i ci ent energy t o make t hem. I n at r anscendent sense, however, by hi s ver y r esi gnat i on, t he at t ai nment of hi s end i s not i mpossi bl e; but t hi s ver y act of agai n t aki ng possessi onof hi s l ove i s at t he same t i me a r el i nqui shment of i t . Never t hel ess

t hi s ki nd of possessi on i s by no means an absur di t y t o t he i nt el l ect ;f or t he i nt el l ect al l t he whi l e cont i nues t o be r i ght , as i t i s awar et hat i n t he wor l d of f i nal i t i es, i n whi ch r eason r ul es, hi s l ove wasand i s, an i mpossi bi l i t y. The kni ght of f ai t h r eal i zes thi s f ul l y aswel l . Hence t he onl y thi ng whi ch can save hi m i s r ecour se t o theabsur d, and t hi s r ecour se he has t hr ough hi s f ai t h. That i s, he cl ear l yr ecogni zes t he i mpossi bi l i t y, and i n the same moment he bel i eves t heabsurd; f or i f he i magi ned he had f ai t h, wi t hout at t he same t i mer ecogni zi ng, wi t h al l t he passi on hi s soul i s capabl e of , t hat hi s l ovei s i mpossi bl e, he woul d be merel y decei vi ng hi msel f , and hi s t est i monywoul d be of no val ue, si nce he had not ar r i ved even at t he st age of absol ut e r esi gnat i on. . . .


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Thi s l ast movement , t he paradoxi cal movement of f ai t h, I cannot make,whether or no i t be my dut y, al t hough I desi r e nothi ng more ar dent l yt han t o be abl e t o make i t . I t must be l ef t t o a per son' s di scret i onwhet her he car es t o make t hi s conf essi on; and at any rat e, i t i s amatt er bet ween hi m and t he Et ernal Bei ng, who i s t he obj ect of hi sf ai t h, whet her an ami cabl e adj ust ment can be af f ected. But what everyper son can do i s t o make t he movement of absol ute resi gnat i on, and If or my par t woul d not hesi t at e to decl are hi m a coward who i magi nes hecannot per f or m i t . I t i s a di f f er ent mat t er wi t h f ai t h. But what noper son has a r i ght t o, i s t o del ude ot her s i nt o t he bel i ef t hat f ai t h

i s somet hi ng of no gr eat si gni f i cance, or t hat i t i s an easy mat t er ,wher eas i t i s t he gr eat est and most di f f i cul t of al l t hi ngs.

But t he st or y of Abr aham i s gener al l y i nt er pr et ed i n a di f f er ent way.God' s mer cy i s pr ai sed whi ch r est or ed I saac t o hi m- - i t was but a t r i al !A t r i al . Thi s word may mean much or l i t t l e, and yet t he whol e of i tpasses of f as qui ckl y as t he st ory i s t ol d: one mount s a wi nged horse,i n t he same i nst ant one ar r i ves on Mount Mor i ah, and pr est o one seest he r am. I t i s not r emembered t hat Abr aham onl y r ode on an ass whi cht r avel s but sl owl y, t hat i t was a t hr ee days' j our ney f or hi m, and t hathe r equi r ed some addi t i onal t i me t o col l ect t he f i r ewood, t o bi ndI saac, and t o whet hi s kni f e.

And yet one ext ol s Abraham. He who i s t o pr each the sermon may sl eep

comf ort abl y unt i l a quar t er of an hour bef ore he i s t o pr each i t , andt he l i st ener may comf or t abl y sl eep dur i ng t he ser mon, f or ever ythi ng i smade easy enough, wi t hout much exer t i on ei t her t o pr eacher or l i st ener.But now suppose a man was pr esent who suf f ered wi t h sl eepl essness andwho went home and sat i n a corner and ref l ect ed as f ol l ows: "The whol el ast ed but a mi nut e, you need onl y wai t a l i t t l e whi l e, and t hen t her am wi l l be shown and t he t r i al wi l l be over . " Now i f t he pr eachershoul d f i nd hi m i n t hi s f r ame of mi nd, I bel i eve he woul d conf r ont hi mi n al l hi s di gni t y and say t o hi m: "Wr et ch t hat t hou ar t , t o l et t hysoul l apse i nt o such f ol l y; mi r acl es do not happen, al l l i f e i s at r i al . " And as he proceeded he woul d gr ow more and more passi onat e, andwoul d become ever more sat i sf i ed wi t h hi msel f ; and wher eas he had notnot i ced any congest i on i n hi s head whi l st preachi ng about Abr aham, henow f eel s t he vei ns on hi s f orehead swel l . Yet who knows but he woul d

st and aghast i f t he si nner shoul d answer hi m i n a qui et and di gni f i edmanner t hat i t was preci sel y t hi s about whi ch he pr eached t he Sundaybef or e.

Let us t hen ei t her wai ve t he whol e st ory of Abr ahar n, or el se l ear n t ost and i n awe of t he enormous par adox whi ch const i t ut es hi s si gni f i cancef or us, so t hat we may l ear n t o unders t and t hat our age, l i ke everyage, may rej oi ce i f i t has f ai t h. I f t he st or y of Abr aham i s not a mer enot hi ng, an i l l usi on, or i f i t i s j ust used f or show and as a past i me,t he mi st ake cannot by any means be i n the si nner ' s wi shi ng to dol i kewi se; but i t i s necessary t o f i nd out how gr eat was t he deed whi chAbr aham per f ormed, i n or der t hat t he man may j udge f or hi msel f whet herhe has t he cour age and the mi ssi on t o do l i kewi se. The comi calcont r adi ct i on i n t he pr ocedur e of t he pr eacher was hi s r educt i on of t he

st ory of Abr ahamt o i nsi gni f i cance whereas he rebuked the ot her man f ordoi ng t he very same t hi ng.

But shoul d we t hen cease t o speak about Abr aham? I cer t ai nl y t hi nk not .But i f I wer e t o speak about hi m I woul d f i r st of al l descri be t het er r or s of hi s t r i al . To t hat end l eechl i ke I woul d suck al l t hesuf f er i ng and di st r ess out of t he angui sh of a f at her , i n or der t o beabl e t o descri be what Abr aham suf f er ed whi l st yet pr eser vi ng hi s f ai t h.I woul d remi nd the hear er t hat t he j our ney l ast ed t hr ee days and agoodl y par t of t he f our t h- - i n f act , t hese three and hal f days ought t obecome i nf i ni t el y l onger t han t he f ew t housand years whi ch separ ate mef r om Abr aham. I woul d r emi nd hi m, as I t hi nk r i ght , t hat ever y per soni s st i l l per mi t t ed t o t ur n about bef or e t r yi ng hi s st r engt h on t hi s


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f or mi dabl e t ask; i n f act , t hat he may ret ur n ever y i nst ant i nr epent ence. Pr ovi ded t hi s i s done, I f ear f or not hi ng. Nor do I f ear t oawaken gr eat desi r e among peopl e t o at t empt t o emul at e Abraham. But t oget out a cheap edi t i on of Abraham and yet f orbi d every one t o do as hedi d, t hat I cal l r i di cul ous. [ 90]

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[ 74] Freel y af t er Genesi s 22.

[ 75] Genesi s 20, 11 f .

[ 76] Genesi s 22, 1.

[ 77] Luke 23, 30.

[ 78] Genesi s 22, 3 and 9.

[ 79] Cf . Thessal oni ans 3, 10.

[ 80] I n Al adi n, Oehl enschl äger ' s f amous dr amat i c poem, Al addi n, " t hecheer f ul son of nat ur e, " i s cont r ast ed wi t h Nour eddi n, r epr esent i ng t hegl oom of doubt and ni ght .

[ 81] Mat t hew 5, 45.

[ 82] Cf . not t he l egend but Pl ato' s Symposi on.

[ 83] Mat t hew 3, 9.

[ 84] I sai ah 26, 18.

[ 85] Themi st ocl es, t hat i s; see Pl ut ar ch, Li ves.

[ 86] Mat t hew 19, 16f .

[ 87] Your cause, t oo, i s at st ake.

[ 88] By hi s own i mpul se and on hi s own r esponsi bi l i t y.

[ 89] Cf . I Cor . 10, 12.

[ 90] The above, wi t h t he omi ssi ons i ndi cat ed, const i t ut es aboutone- t hi r d of " Fear and Trembl i ng. "

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PREPARATI ON FOR A CHRI STI AN LI FE

I [ 91]

"COME HI THER UNTO ME,

ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,

AND I WI LL GI VE YOU REST. "

( MATTHEW 11, 28. )

THE I NVI TATI ON

I

"C o m e h i t h e r ! "- - I t i s not at al l st r ange i f he who i s i ndanger and needs hel p- - speedy, i mmedi ate hel p, perhaps- - i t i s notst r ange i f he cr i es out : "come hi t her "! Nor i t i s st r ange that a quackcri es hi s war es: "come hi t her , I cur e al l mal adi es"; al as, f or i n t he


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case of t he quack i t i s onl y t oo t r ue t hat i t i s t he physi ci an who hasneed of t he si ck. "Come hi t her al l ye who at extor t i onat e pr i ces canpay f or t he cur e- - or at any rat e f or t he medi ci ne; her e i s physi c f orever ybody- - who can pay; come hi t her ! "

I n al l ot her cases, however , i t i s gener al l y tr ue that he who can hel pmust be sought ; and, when f ound, may be di f f i cul t of access; and, i f access i s had, hi s hel p may have t o be i mpl ored a l ong t i me; and whenhi s hel p has been i mpl ored a l ong t i me, he may be moved onl y wi t hdi f f i cul t y, t hat i s, he set s a hi gh pr i ce on hi s ser vi ces; and

somet i mes, pr eci sel y when he r ef uses payment or generousl y asks f ornone, i t i s onl y an expr essi on of how i nf i ni t el y hi gh he val ues hi sservi ces. On t he ot her hand, he [92] who sacr i f i ced hi msel f , hesacri f i ces hi msel f , her e too; i t i s i ndeed he who seeks t hose i n needof hel p, i s hi msel f t he one who goes about and cal l s, al mosti mpl or i ngl y: " come hi t her! " He, t he onl y one who can hel p, and hel pwi t h what al one i s i ndi spensabl e, and can save f r om t he one tr ul ymort al di sease, he does not wai t f or peopl e t o come t o hi m, but comeshi msel f , wi t hout havi ng been cal l ed; f or i t i s he who cal l s out t ot hem, i t i s he who hol ds out hel p- - and what hel p! I ndeed, t hat s i mpl esage of ant i qui t y [93] was as i nf i ni t el y ri ght as t he maj or i t y who dot he opposi t e ar e wr ong, i n set t i ng no gr eat pr i ce, whet her on hi msel f or hi s i nst r uct i on; even i f he t hus i n a cer t ai n sense pr oudl yexpr essed t he ut t er di f f erence i n ki nd between payment and hi s

servi ces. But he was not so sol i ci t ous as t o beg any one t o come t ohi m, not wi t hst andi ng- - or shal l I say because?- - he was not al t oget hersur e what hi s hel p si gni f i ed; f or t he mor e sur e one i s t hat hi s hel p i st he onl y one obt ai nabl e, t he more r eason has he, i n a human sense, t oask a gr eat pr i ce f or i t ; and t he l ess sure one i s, t he more r eason hashe t o of f er f r eel y the possi bl e hel p he has, i n or der t o do at l eastsomethi ng f or others. But he who cal l s hi msel f t he Savi or, and knowst hat he i s, he cal l s out sol i ci t ousl y: "come hi t her unt o me! "

"Come hi t her a l l y e! " - - St r ange! For i f he who, when i t comes t ot he poi nt , per haps cannot hel p a si ngl e one- - i f such a one shoul dboast f ul l y i nvi t e ever ybody, t hat woul d not seem so ver y st r ange, man' snat ur e bei ng such as i t i s. But i f a man i s absol ut el y sur e of bei ngabl e to hel p, and at t he same ti me wi l l i ng t o hel p, wi l l i ng t o devot e

hi s al l i n doi ng so, and wi t h al l sacr i f i ces, t hen he gener al l y makesat l east one r eser vat i on; whi ch i s, t o make a choi ce among those hemeans t o hel p. That i s, however wi l l i ng one may be, st i l l i t i s notever ybody one car es t o hel p; one does not car e t o sacr i f i ce one' s sel f t o t hat ext ent . But he, t he onl y one who can r eal l y hel p, and r eal l yhel p ever ybody- - t he onl y one, t heref or e, who r eal l y can i nvi t eever ybody- - he makes no condi t i ons what ever ; but ut t er s t he i nvi t at i onwhi ch, f r omt he begi nni ng of t he worl d, seems t o have been reserved f orhi m: "Come hi t her al l ye! " Ah, human sel f - sacr i f i ce, even when t hou artmost beaut i f ul and nobl e, when we admi r e t hee most : t hi s i s a sacr i f i cesti l l gr eat er , whi ch i s, t o sacri f i ce ever y pr ovi si on f or one' s ownsel f , so t hat i n one' s wi l l i ngness t o hel p t her e i s not even t he l eastpar t i al i t y. Ah, t he l ove t hat set s no pr i ce on one' s sel f , t hat makesone f orget al t ogether t hat he i s t he hel per , and makes one al t ogether

bl i nd as t o who i t i s one hel ps, but i nf i ni t el y car ef ul onl y t hat he bea suf f er er, what ever el se he may be; and t hus wi l l i ng uncondi t i onal l yt o hel p ever ybody- - di f f er ent , al as! i n t hi s f r om ever ybody!

"Come hi t her u n t o m e! " St r ange! For human compassi on al so, andwi l l i ngl y, does somet hi ng f or t hemt hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden; onef eeds t he hungr y, cl ot hes the naked, makes char i t abl e gi f t s, bui l dschar i t abl e i nst i t ut i ons, and i f t he compassi on be hear t f el t , per hapseven vi si t s t hose t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden. But t o i nvi t e t hemt ocome t o one, t hat wi l l never do, because t hen al l one' s househol d andmanner of l i vi ng woul d have t o be changed. For a man cannot hi msel f l i ve i n abundance, or at any rate i n wel l ?bei ng and happi ness, and att he same t i me dwel l i n one and t he same house t oget her wi t h, and i n


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dai l y i nt er cour se wi t h, t he poor and mi ser abl e, wi t h t hem t hat l aborand are heavy l aden! I n or der t o be abl e to i nvi t e them i n such wi se, aman must hi msel f l i ve al t oget her i n t he same way, as poor as t hepoor est , as l owl y as t he l owl i est , f ami l i ar wi t h t he sor r ows andsuf f er i ngs of l i f e, and al t oget her bel ongi ng t o the same st at i on ast hey, whomhe i nvi t es, t hat i s, t hey who l abor and ar e heavy l aden. I f he wi shes t o i nvi t e a suf f er er, he must ei t her change hi s own condi t i ont o be l i ke t hat of t he suf f er er , or el se change t hat of t he suf f er er t obe l i ke hi s own; f or i f t hi s i s not done t he di f f er ence wi l l st and outonl y t he mor e by cont r ast . And i f you wi sh to i nvi t e al l t hose who

suf f er - - f or you may make an except i on wi t h one of t hem and change hi scondi t i on- - i t can be done onl y i n one way, whi ch i s, t o change yourcondi t i on so as t o l i ve as t hey do; pr ovi ded your l i f e be not al r eadyl i ved t hus, as was t he case wi t h hi m who sai d: "Come hi t her unto me,al l ye t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden! " Thus sai d he; and they whol i ved wi t h hi m saw hi m, and behol d! t here was not even t he l east t hi ngi n hi s manner of l i f e t o cont r adi ct i t . Wi t h t he si l ent and t r ut hf ulel oquence of actual perf ormance hi s l i f e expr esses- - even t hough he hadnever i n hi s l i f e sai d t hese wor ds- - hi s l i f e expr esses: "Come hi t herunt o me, al l ye t hat l abor and are heavy l aden"! He abi des by hi s word,or he hi msel f i s t he wor d; he i s what he says, and al so i n t hi s sensehe i s t he Word. [ 94]

"A l l y e t h a t l a b o r a n d a r e h e a v y l a d e n. " St r ange!

Hi s onl y concern i s l est t here be a si ngl e one who l abors and i s heavyl aden who does not hear t hi s i nvi t at i on. Nei t her does he f ear t hat t oomany wi l l come. Ah, hear t - r oom makes house?r oom; but where wi l t t houf i nd hear t - r oom, i f not i n hi s hear t ? He l eaves i t t o each one how t ounder st and hi s i nvi t at i on: he has a cl ear consci ence about i t , f or hehas i nvi t ed al l t hose t hat l abor and are heavy l aden.

But what means i t , t hen, t o l abor and be heavy l aden? Why does he notof f er a cl ear er expl anat i on so t hat one may know exact l y whom he means,and why i s he so chary of hi s words? Ah, t hou nar r ow- mi nded one, he i sso chary of hi s words, l est he be narr ow?mi nded; and t hounarr ow?hear t ed one, he i s so chary of hi s words l est he benar r ow?hear t ed. For such i s hi s l ove- - and l ove has r egar d t o al l - - as t opr event any one f r om t r oubl i ng and sear chi ng hi s heart whether he too

be among those i nvi t ed. And he who woul d i nsi st on a more def i ni t eexpl anat i on, i s he not l i kel y to be some sel f ?l ovi ng per son who i scal cul at i ng whet her t hi s expl anat i on does not par t i cul ar l y f i t hi msel f ;one who does not consi der t hat t he more of such exact expl anat i ons ar eof f ered, t he more cer t ai nl y some f ew woul d be l ef t i n doubt as t owhether t hey were i nvi t ed? Ah man, why does t hi ne eye see onl y t hysel f ,why i s i t evi l because he i s good? [ 95] The i nvi t at i on t o al l men openst he ar ms of hi m who i nvi t es, and thus he st ands of aspect ever l ast i ng;but no sooner i s a cl oser expl anat i on at t empt ed whi ch mi ght hel p one ort he ot her t o anot her ki nd of cer t ai nt y, t han hi s aspect woul d bet r ansf ormed and, as i t were, a shadow of change woul d pass over hi scount enance.

"I w i l l g i v e y o u r e s t . " St r ange! For t hen t he wor ds

"come hi t her unt o me" must be underst ood t o mean: st ay wi t h me, I amr est; or , i t i s r est t o r emai n wi t h me. I t i s not , t hen, as i n ot hercases wher e he who hel ps and says " come hi t her " must af t erwards say:"now depar t agai n, " expl ai ni ng t o each one where t he hel p he needs i st o be f ound, where t he heal i ng herb gr ows whi ch wi l l cur e hi r n, orwhere t he qui et spot i s f ound where he may r est f r orn l abor , or wheret he happi er cont i nent exi st s where one i s not heavy l aden. But no, hewho opens hi s arms, i nvi t i ng ever y one- - ah, i f al l , al l t hey that l aborand are heavy l aden came t o hi m, he woul d f ol d t hemal l t o hi s heart ,sayi ng: " st ay wi t h me now; f or t o st ay wi t h me i s r est . " The hel perhi msel f i s t he hel p. Ah, st r ange, he who i nvi t es ever ybody and wi shest o hel p ever ybody, hi s manner of t r eat i ng t he si ck i s as i f cal cul at edf or every si ck man, and as i f every si ck man who comes t o hi m were hi s


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onl y pat i ent . For otherwi se a physi ci an di vi des hi s t i me among manypat i ent s who, however gr eat t hei r number , st i l l ar e f ar , f ar f r om bei ngal l manki nd. He wi l l pr escr i be t he medi ci ne, he wi l l say what i s t o bedone, and how i t i s t o be used, and then he wi l l go- - t o some ot herpat i ent ; or , i n case t he pat i ent shoul d vi si t hi m, he wi l l l et hi mdepar t . The physi ci an cannot r emai n si t t i ng al l day wi t h one pat i ent ,and st i l l l ess can he have al l hi s pat i ent s about hi m i n hi s home, andyet si t al l day wi t h one pat i ent wi t hout negl ect i ng t he ot her s. Fort hi s r eason t he hel per and hi s hel p are not one and t he same thi ng. Thehel p whi ch t he physi ci an pr escr i bes i s kept wi t h hi m by the pat i ent al l

day so t hat he may const ant l y use i t , whi l st t he physi ci an vi si t s hi mnow and agai n; or he vi si t s t he physi ci an now and agai n. But i f t hehel per i s al so the hel p, why, t hen he wi l l st ay wi t h t he si ck man al lday, or t he si ck man wi t h hi m- - ah, st r ange t hat i t i s j ust t hi s hel perwho i nvi t es al l men!

I I

COME HI THER ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,

I WI LL GI VE YOU REST.

What enormous mul t i pl i ci t y, what an al most boundl ess adver si t y, of peopl e i nvi t ed; f or a man, a l owl y man, may, i ndeed, t r y t o enumerat e

onl y a f ew of t hese di ver si t i es- - t hat he who i nvi t es must i nvi t e al lmen, even i f ever y one especi al l y and i ndi vi dual l y.

The i nvi t at i on goes f or t h, t hen- - al ong t he hi ghways and byways, andal ong t he l onel i est pat hs; aye, goes f or t h er e t her e i s a pat h sol onel y that one man onl y, and no one el se, knows of i t , and goes f or t hwhere t here i s but one t r ack, t he t r ack of t he wr etched one who f l edal ong t hat pat h wi t h hi s mi sery, t hat and no ot her t r ack; goes f or t heven wher e t here i s no path t o show how one may ret urn: even wher e t hei nvi t at i on penet r at es and by i t sel f easi l y and sur el y f i nds i t s wayback- - most easi l y, i ndeed, when i t br i ngs t he f ugi t i ve al ong t o hi mt hat i ssued t he i nvi t at i on. Come hi t her , come hi t her al l ye, al so t hou,and t hou, and t hou, t oo, t hou l onel i est of al l f ugi t i ves!

Thus t he i nvi t at i on goes f ort h and r emai ns st andi ng, wheresoever t herei s a par t i ng of t he ways, i n or der t o cal l out . Ah, j ust as t he t r umpetcal l of t he sol di er s i s di r ected t o t he f our quar t er s of t he gl obe,l i kewi se does t hi s i nvi t at i on sound wher ever t here i s a meet i ng of r oads; wi t h no uncert ai n sound- - f or who woul d then come?- - but wi t h t hecer t i t ude of et er ni t y.

I t st ands by the part i ng of t he ways where wor l dl y and ear t hl ysuf f eri ngs have set down t hei r cr osses, and cal l s out : Come hi t her , al lye poor and wr etched ones, ye who i n povert y must sl ave i n or der t oassur e your sel ves, not of a car e?f r ee, but of a toi l some, f ut ur e; ah,bi t t er cont r adi cti on, t o have t o sl ave f or - - a s s u r i n g one' s sel f of t hat under whi ch one gr oans, of t hat whi ch one f l e e s! Yedespi sed and over l ooked ones, about whose exi st ence no one, aye, no one

i s concer ned, not so much even as about some domest i c ani mal whi ch i sof gr eat er val ue! Ye si ck, and hal t , and bl i nd, and deaf , and cri ppl ed,come hi t her ! - - Ye bed?r i dden, aye, come hi t her , ye t oo; f or t hei nvi t at i on makes bol d t o i nvi t e even t he bed?r i dden- - t o come! Yel eper s; f or t he i nvi t at i on br eaks down al l di f f er ences i n or der t ouni t e al l , i t wi shes t o make good the har dshi p caused by t he di f f er encei n men, t he di f f er ence whi ch seat s one as a r ul er over mi l l i ons, i npossessi on of al l gi f t s of f or t une, and dr i ves anot her one out i nt o t hewi l derness- - and why? ( ah, t he cruel t y of i t ! ) because ( ah, t he cruelhuman i nf erence!) b e c a u s e he i s wr etched, i ndescr i babl ywr etched. Why t hen? Because he st ands i n need of hel p, or at any r at e,of compassi on. And why, t hen? Because human compassi on i s a wr et chedt hi ng whi ch i s cr uel when t here i s t he gr eatest need of bei ng


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compassi onate, and compassi onate onl y when, at bot t om, i t i s not t r uecompassi on! Ye si ck of heart , Ye who onl y thr ough your angui sh l ear nedt o know t hat a man' s heart and an ani mal ' s heart are t wo di f f erentt hi ngs, and what i t means t o be si ck at hear t - - what i t means when t hephysi ci an may be r i ght i n decl ar i ng one sound of hear t and yethear t ?si ck; ye whom f ai t hl essness decei ved and whom human sympat hy- - f ort he sympathy of man i s r arel y l at e i n comi ng- - whomhuman sympathy madea tar get f or mocker y; al l ye wr onged and aggr i eved and i l l ?used; al l yenobl e ones who, as any and everybody wi l l be abl e t o tel l you,deser vedl y reap t he reward of i ngr at i t ude ( f or why were ye si mpl e

enough t o be nobl e, why f ool i sh enough t o be ki ndl y, and di si nt erest ed,and f ai t hf ul ) - - al l ye vi ct i ms of cunni ng, of decei t , of backbi t i ng, of envy, whombaseness chose as i t s vi ct i m and cowardi ce l ef t i n t hel ur ch, whet her now ye be sacr i f i ced i n remote and l onel y pl aces, af t erhavi ng cr ept away i n order t o di e, or whether ye be t r ampl ed under f ooti n t he t hrongi ng cr owds wher e no one asks what r i ght s ye have, and noone, what wr ongs ye suf f er , and no one, wher e ye smar t or how ye smar t ,whi l st t he cr owd wi t h br ut e f orce t r ampl es you i nt o the dust - - come yehi t her !

The i nvi t at i on st ands at t he par t i ng of t he ways, wher e death part sdeat h and l i f e. Come hi t her al l ye t hat sorr ow and ye t hat vai nl yl abor ! For i ndeed t her e i s r est i n t he gr ave; but t o si t by a gr ave, ort o st and by a gr ave, or t o vi si t a gr ave, al l t hat i s f ar f r om l yi ng i n

t he gr ave; and t o read t o one' s sel f agai n and agai n one' s own wordswhi ch he knows by hear t , t he epi t aph whi ch one devi sed one' s sel f andunder st ands best , namel y, who i t i s t hat l i es bur i ed h e r e, al l t hati s not t he same as t o l i e bur i ed one' s sel f . I n t he gr ave t her e i sr est , but by t he gr ave t her e i s no r est ; f or i t i s sai d: so f ar and nof ar t her , and so you may as wel l go home agai n. But however of t en,whet her i n your t hought s or i n f act , you r eturn t o t h a t gr ave- - youwi l l never get any f ar t her , you wi l l not get away f r om t he spot , andt hi s i s ver y t r yi ng and i s by no means r est . Come ye hi t her, t her ef or e:here i s t he way by whi ch one may go f ar t her , here i s r est by t he gr ave,r est f r om t he sor r ow over l oss, or r est i n t he sor r ow of l oss- - t hr oughhi m who ever l ast i ngl y r e?uni t es t hose that ar e par t ed, and mor e f i r ml yt han nat ur e uni t es par ent s wi t h t hei r chi l dr en, and chi l dr en wi t h t hei rpar ent s- - f or , al as! t hey wer e par t ed; and mor e cl osel y than t he

mi ni st er uni t es husband and wi f e- - f or , al as! t hei r separ at i on di d comet o pass; and mor e i ndi ssol l ubl y than t he bond of f r i endshi p uni t esf r i end wi t h f r i end- - f or , al as! i t was br oken. Separ at i on penet r at edeverywhere and br ought wi t h i t sor r ow and unr est ; but here i sr est ! - - Come hi t her al so ye who had your abodes ass i gned you among t hegr aves, ye who ar e consi dered dead to human soci ety, but nei t her mi ssednor mour ned- - not bur i ed and yet dead; t hat i s, bel ongi ng nei t her t ol i f e nor t o deat h; ye, al as! t o whom human soci et y cruel l y cl osed i t sdoor s and f or whom no gr ave has as yet opened i t sel f i n pi t y- - comehi t her , ye al so, her e i s rest , and her e i s l i f e!

The i nvi t at i on st ands at t he part i ng of t he ways, where t he r oad of si n t ur ns away f r om t he i ncl osur e of i nnocence- - ah, come hi t her, ye ar eso cl ose to hi m; but a si ngl e step i n t he opposi t e di r ect i on, and ye

ar e i nf i ni t el y f ar f r om hi m. Ver y possi bl y ye do not yet st and i n needof r est , nor gr asp f ul l y what t hat means; but st i l l f ol l ow t hei nvi t at i on, so t hat he who i nvi t es may save you f r om a pr edi cament outof whi ch i t i s so di f f i cul t and danger ous t o be saved; and so that ,bei ng saved, ye may stay wi t h hi m who i s t he Savi or of al l , l i kewi se of i nnocence. For even i f i t wer e possi bl e that i nnocence be f oundsomewher e, and al t oget her pur e: why shoul d not i nnocence al so need asavi or t o keep i t saf e f r om evi l ?- - The i nvi t at i on st ands at t he par t i ngof t he ways, where the road of si n t ur ns away, t o ent er more deepl yi nt o si n. Come hi t her al l ye who have st r ayed and have been l ost ,what ever may have been your er r or and si n: whet her one mor e par donabl ei n t he si ght of man and nevert hel ess perhaps more f r i ght f ul , or onemore terr i bl e i n t he si ght of man and yet , perchance, more pardonabl e;


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whet her i t be one whi ch became known here on ear t h or one whi ch, t houghhi dden, yet i s known i n heaven- - and even i f ye f ound pardon here onear t h wi t hout f i ndi ng r est i n your soul s, or f ound no pardon because yedi d not seek i t , or because ye sought i t i n vai n: ah, r et ur n and comehi t her , her e i s rest !

The i nvi t at i on st ands at t he part i ng of t he ways, where t he r oad of si n t ur ns away f or t he l ast t i me and t o t he eye i s l ost i n per di t i on.Ah, r et ur n, r eturn, and come hi t her ! Do not shr i nk f r om t hedi f f i cul t i es of t he retr eat , however gr eat ; do not f ear t he i r ksome way

of conver si on, however l abor i ousl y i t may l ead t o sal vat i on; wher eassi n wi t h wi nged speed and gr owi ng pace l eads f orward or - - downward, soeasi l y, so i ndescri babl y easy- - as easi l y, i n f act , as when a hor se,al t oget her f r eed f r om havi ng t o pul l , cannot even wi t h al l hi s mi ghtst op t he vehi cl e whi ch pushes hi m i nt o the abyss. Do not despai r overeach rel apse whi ch the God of pat i ence has pat i ence enough t o pardon,and whi ch a si nner shoul d sur el y have pat i ence enough t o humbl e hi msel f under . Nay, f ear nothi ng and despai r not : he t hat sayeth " come hi t her, "he i s wi t h you on t he way, f r om hi m come hel p and pardon on t hat way of conver si on whi ch l eads t o hi m; and wi t h hi m i s r est .

Come hi t her al l , al l ye- - wi t h hi m i s r est ; and he wi l l r ai se nodi f f i cul t i es, he does but one thi ng: he opens hi s arms. He wi l l notf i r st ask you, you suf f erer - - as r i ght eous men, al as, ar e accust omed t o,

even when wi l l i ng t o hel p- - "Ar e you not perhaps your sel f t he cause of your mi sf ort une, have you nothi ng wi t h whi ch t o r epr oach your sel f ?" I ti s so easy to f al l i nt o t hi s ver y human er r or , and f r om appear ances t oj udge a man' s success or f ai l ur e: f or i nst ance, i f a man i s a cri ppl e,or def ormed, or has an unpr epossessi ng appear ance, t o i nf er t hatt her ef ore he i s a bad man; or , when a man i s unf or t unat e enough t osuf f er r ever ses so as t o be rui ned or so as t o go down i n the wor l d, t oi nf er t hat t her ef or e he i s a vi ci ous man. Ah, and t hi s i s such anexqui si t el y cr uel pl easur e, t hi s bei ng consci ous of one' s ownr i ght eousness as agai nst t he suf f er er - - expl ai ni ng hi s af f l i cti ons asGod' s puni shment , so t hat one does not even- - dare to hel p hi m; oraski ng hi m t hat quest i on whi ch condemns hi m and f l at t ers our ownr i ght eousness, bef ore bel pi ng hi m. But he wi l l not ask you t hus, wi l lnot i n such cr uel f ashi on be your benef act or. And i f you are your sel f

consci ous of your si n he wi l l not ask about i t , wi l l not br eak st i l lf ur t her t he bent r eed, but r ai se you up, i f you wi l l but j oi n hi m. Hewi l l not poi nt you out by way of cont r ast , and pl ace you out si de of hi msel f , so t hat your si n wi l l st and out as st i l l mor e t er r i bl e, but hewi l l gr ant you a hi di ng pl ace wi t hi n hi m; and hi dden wi t hi n hi m yoursi ns wi l l be hi dden. For he i s t he f r i end of si nner s. Let hi m butbehol d a si nner, and he not onl y st ands st i l l , openi ng hi s arms andsayi ng "come hi t her , " nay, but he st ands- - and wai t s, as di d t he f at herof t he pr odi gal son; or he does not merel y r emai n st andi ng and wai t i ng,but goes out t o search, as t he shepherd went f or t h t o search f or t hest r ayed sheep, or as t he woman went t o sear ch f or t he l ost pi ece of si l ver . He goes- - nay, he has gone, but an i nf i ni t el y l onger way t hanany shepher d or any woman, f or di d he not go t he i nf i ni t el y l ong wayf r om bei ng God t o becomi ng man, whi ch he di d to seek si nners?

I I I

COME HI THER UNTO ME

ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVYLADEN,

AND I WI LL GI VE YOU REST.

"C o m e h i t h e r ! " For he supposes t hat t hey t hat l abor and areheavy l aden f eel t hei r bur den and thei r l abor , and t hat t hey st andt here now, perpl exed and si ghi ng- - one cast i ng about wi t h hi s eyes t odi scover whether t here i s hel p i n si ght anywhere; another wi t h hi s eyes


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f i xed on the gr ound, because he can see no consol at i on; and a t hi r dwi t h hi s eyes st ar i ng heavenward, as t hough hel p was bound t o come f r omheaven- - but al l seeki ng. Ther ef or e he sayet h: "come hi t her ! " But hei nvi t es not hi m who has ceased t o seek and t o sor r ow. ?"C o m e h i t he r ! " For he who i nvi t es knows t hat i t i s a mar k of t r ue suf f er i ng, i f one wal ks al one and br oods i n si l ent di sconsol ateness, wi t hout cour aget o conf i de i n any one, and wi t h even l ess sel f ?conf i dence t o dar e tohope f or hel p. Al as, not onl y he whom we read about was possessed of adumb devi l . [ 96] No suf f er i ng whi ch does not f i r st of al l r ender t hesuf f erer dumb i s of much si gni f i cance, no more than t he l ove whi ch does

not r ender one si l ent ; f or t hose suf f erer s who r un on about t hei raf f l i ct i ons nei t her l abor nor ar e heavy l aden. Behol d, t her ef or e t hei nvi t er wi l l not wai t t i l l t hey t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden come t ohi m, but cal l s t hem l ovi ngl y; f or al l hi s wi l l i ngness t o hel p mi ght ,perhaps, be of no avai l i f he di d not say t hese words and thereby t aket he f i r st st ep; f or i n t he cal l of t hese wor ds: "come hi t her unt o me! "he comes hi msel f t o t hem. Ah, human compass i on- - somet i mes, per haps, i ti s i ndeed pr ai sewor t hy sel f ?r est r ai nt , someti mes, per haps, even t r uecompassi on, whi ch may cause you t o r ef r ai n f r om quest i oni ng hi m whomyou suppose t o be br oodi ng over a hi dden af f l i ct i on; but al so, howof t en i ndeed i s t hi s compassi on but wor l dl y wi sdom whi ch does not caret o know t oo much! Ah, human compassi on- - how of t en was i t not pur ecur i osi t y, and not compassi on, whi ch pr ompt ed you to vent ur e i nt o t hesecr et of one af f l i ct ed; and how bur densome i t was- - al most l i ke a

puni shment of your cur i osi t y- - when he accepted your i nvi t at i on and camet o you! But he who sayet h these r edeemi ng words "Come hi t her ! " he i snot decei vi ng hi msel f i n sayi ng t hese wor ds, nor wi l l he decei ve youwhen you come t o hi m i n or der t o f i nd rest by t hrowi ng your burden onhi m. He f ol l ows t he pr ompt i ngs of hi s heart i n sayi ng t hese words, andhi s hear t f ol l ows hi s wor ds; i f you t hen f ol l ow t hese wor ds, t hey wi l lf ol l ow you back agai n t o hi s hear t . Thi s f ol l ows as a mat t er of cour se- - ah, wi l l you not f ol l ow t he i nvi t at i on?- - "C o m e h i t h er ! " For supposes t hat t hey t hat l abor and are heavy l aden are so or nout and overt axed, and so near swooni ng t hat t hey have f orgot t en, ast hough i n a st upor , t hat t her e i s such t hi ng as consol at i on. Al as, orhe knows f or sur e t hat t her e i s no consol at i on and no hel p unl ess i t i ssought f r omhi m; and t heref ore must he cal l out t o t hem"Come hi t her! "

"C o m e h i t h e r ! " For i s i t not so t hat ever y soci et y has somesymbol or t oken whi ch i s worn by t hose who bel ong t o i t ? When a younggi r l i s adorned i n a cer t ai n manner one knows t hat she i s goi ng t o thedance: Come hi t her al l ye t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden- - come hi t her!You need not car r y an ext ernal and vi si bl e badge; come but wi t h A yourhead anoi nt ed and your f ace washed, i f onl y you l abor i n your hear t andare heavy l aden.

"Come hi t her! " Ah, do not st and st i l l and consi der ; nay, consi der,consi der t hat wi t h every moment you st and st i l l af t er havi ng hear d t hei nvi t at i on you wi l l hear t he cal l mor e f ai nt l y and t hus wi t hdr aw f r omi t , even t hough you ar e standi ng st i l l . - - "Come hi t her ! " Ah, however

wear y and f ai nt you be f r om wor k, or f r om t he l ong, l ong and yethi t hert o f r ui t l ess sear ch f or hel p and sal vat i on, and even t hough youmay f eel as i f you coul d not t ake one more st ep, and not wai t one moremoment , wi t hout dr oppi ng to t he gr ound: ah, but t hi s one st ep and herei s r est ! - - "Come hi t her ! " But i f , al as, t her e be one who i s so wr et chedt hat he cannot come?- - Ah, a si gh i s suf f i ci ent ; your mer e si ghi ng f orhi m i s al so t o come hi t her .

THE PAUSE

COME HI THER UNTO ME

ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,


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AND I SHALL GI VE YOU REST.

Pause now! But what i s t her e to gi ve pause? That whi ch i n t he samei nst ant makes al l undergo an absol ut e change- - so t hat , i nst ead of seei ng an i mmense t hr ong of t hem t hat l abor and ar e heavy l adenf ol l owi ng t he i nvi t at i on, you wi l l i n t he end behol d t he ver y opposi t e,t hat i s, an i mmense t hrong of men who f l ee back shudder i ngl y,scr ambl i ng t o get away, t r ampl i ng al l down bef ore t hem; so that , i f onewer e to i nf er t he sense of what had been sai d f r om t he r esul t i t

pr oduced, one woul d have t o i nf er t hat t he words had been "procul opr ocul est e pr of ani ", r ather t han "come hi t her "- - t hat gi ves pause whi chi s i nf i ni t el y mor e i mpor t ant and i nf i ni t el y mor e deci si ve: THE PERSONOF HI M WHO I NVI TES. Not i n the sense t hat he i s not t he man t o do whathe has sai d, or not God, t o keep what he has pr omi sed; no, i n a ver ydi f f er ent sense.

Pause i s gi ven by t he f act t hat he who i nvi t es i s, and i nsi st s onbei ng, t he def i ni t e hi st ori c person he was 1800 years ago, and t hat heas t hi s def i ni t e per son, and l i vi ng under t he condi t i ons t henobt ai ni ng, spoke t hese wor ds of i nvi t ati on. - - He i s not, and does notwi sh t o be, one about whom one may si mpl y know somet hi ng f r om hi st ory( i . e. wor l d hi st or y, hi st or y pr oper , as agai nst Sacred Hi st or y) ; f orf r om hi st or y one cannot "l ear n" anythi ng about hi m, t he si mpl e r eason

bei ng t hat not hi ng can be "known" about hi m. - - He does not wi sh t o bej udged i n a human way, f r om t he r esul t s of hi s l i f e; t hat i s, he i s andwi shes to be, a r ock of of f ense and t he obj ect of f ai t h. To j udge hi maf t er t he consequences of hi s l i f e i s a bl asphemy, f or bei ng God, hi sl i f e, and t he ver y f act t hat he was t hen l i vi ng and r eal l y di d l i ve, i si nf i ni t el y mor e i mpor t ant t han al l t he consequences of i t i n hi st or y.

a.

Who spoke t hese words of i nvi t at i on?

He that i nvi t es. Who i s he? J esus Chr i st . Whi ch J esus Chr i st ? He thatsi t s i n gl or y on t he r i ght si de of hi s Fat her ? No. Fromhi s seat of gl or y he spoke not a si ngl e wor d. Ther ef or e i t i s J esus Chr i st i n hi s

l owl i ness, and i n t he condi t i on of l owl i ness, who spoke these wor ds.

I s t hen J esus Chr i st not t he same? Yes, ver i l y, he i s t oday, and wasyest erday, and 1800 year s ago, t he same who abased hi msel f , assumi ngt he f or m of a ser vant - - t he J esus Chr i st who spake t hese words of i nvi t at i on. I t i s al so he who hat h sai d t hat he woul d r et ur n agai n i ngl or y. I n hi s r et ur n i n gl or y he i s, agai n, t he same J esus Chr i st ; butt hi s has not yet come to pass.

I s he t hen not i n gl ory now? Assur edl y, t hat t he Chr i st i an b e l ie v e s. But i t was i n hi s l owl y condi t i on that he spoke t hese wor ds;he di d not speak them f r om hi s gl or y. And about hi s r et ur n i n gl or ynothi ng can be known, f or t hi s can i n t he st r i ct est sense be a matt erof bel i ef onl y. But a bel i ever one cannot become except by havi ng gone

t o hi m i n hi s l owl y condi t i on- - t o hi m, t he r ock of of f ense and t heobj ect of f ai t h. I n ot her shape he does not exi st , f or onl y t hus di d heexi st . That he wi l l r et ur n i n gl or y i s i ndeed expect ed, but can beexpected and bel i eved onl y by hi m who bel i eves, and has bel i eved, i nhi m as he was her e on ear t h.

J esus Chr i st i s, t hen, t he same; yet l i ved he 1800 year s ago i ndebasement , and i s t r ansf i gur ed onl y at hi s r etur n. As yet he has notr et ur ned; t her ef or e he i s st i l l t he one i n l owl y gui se about whom webel i eve t hat he wi l l r et ur n i n gl or y. What ever he sai d and t aught ,every word he spoke, becomes eo i pso unt r ue i f we gi ve i t t heappear ance of havi ng been spoken by Chr i st i n hi s gl ory. Nay, he i ssi l ent . I t i s the l o w l y Chr i st who speaks. The space of t i me


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between ( i . e. between hi s debasement and hi s r etur n i n gl ory) whi ch i sat pr esent about 1800 year s, and wi l l possi bl y become many t i mes1800- - t hi s space of t i me, or el se what t hi s space of t i me t r i es t o makeof Chr i st , t he wor l dl y i nf or mat i on about hi m f ur ni shed by wor l d hi st or yor chur ch hi st ory, as to who Chr i st was, as t o who i t was who real l yspoke t hese words- - al l t hi s does not concer n us, i s nei t her her e nort her e, but onl y ser ves t o cor r upt our concept i on of hi m, and ther ebyr enders unt r ue t hese wor ds of i nvi t at i on.

I t i s unt r ut hf ul of me to i mput e to a person words whi ch he never

used. But i t i s l i kewi se unt r ut hf ul , and t he wor ds he used l i kewi sebecome unt r ut hf ul , or i t becomes unt r ue t hat he used t hem, i f I assi gnt o hi m a natur e essent i al l y unl i ke t he one he had when he di d use t hem.Essent i al l y unl i ke; f or an unt r ut h concer ni ng t hi s or t he ot hert r i f l i ng ci r cumst ance wi l l not make i t unt r ue t hat "he" sai d t hem. Andt her ef or e, i f i t pl ease God t o wal k on ear t h i n such st r i ct i ncogni t oas onl y one al l ?powerf ul can assume, i n gui se i mpenet r abl e t o al l men;i f i t pl ease hi m- - and why he does i t , f or what pur pose, t hat he knowsbest hi msel f ; but what ever t he r eason and t he pur pose, i t i s cer t ai nt hat t he i ncogni t o i s of essent i al s i gni f i cance- - I say, i f i t pl easeGod t o wal k on ear t h i n the gui se of a ser vant and, t o j udge f r om hi sappearance, exact l y l i ke any ot her man; i f i t pl ease hi m t o teach meni n t hi s gui se- - i f , now, any one r epeat s hi s ver y wor ds, but gi ves t hesayi ng t he appearance that i t was God t hat spoke t hese words: t hen i t

i s unt r ut hf ul ; f or i t i s unt r ue t hat he sai d t hese wor ds.

b.

Can one f r om hi st or y [ 97] l ear n to know anythi ng about Chr i st ?

No. And why not ? Because one cannot "know" anyt hi ng at al l about"Chr i st "; f or he i s t he par adox, t he obj ect of f ai t h, and exi st s onl yf or f ai t h. But al l hi st or i c i nf or mat i on i s communi cat i on of "knowl edge. " Theref ore one cannot l ear n anyt hi ng about Chr i st f r omhi st ory. For whet her now one l ear n l i t t l e or much about hi m, i t wi l lnot r epr esent what he was i n real i t y. Hence one l ear ns somethi ng el seabout hi m t han what i s st r i ct l y t r ue, and t her ef or e l ear ns not hi ng

about hi m, or get s t o know somethi ng wr ong about hi m; t hat i s, one i sdecei ved. Hi st or y makes Chr i st l ook di f f er ent f r om what he l ooked i nt r ut h, and t hus one l ear ns much f r om hi st or y about - - Chr i st ? No, notabout Chr i st ; because about hi m not hi ng can be "known, " he can onl y bebel i eved.

c.

Can one pr ove f r om hi st ory t hat Chr i st was God?

Let me f i r st ask anot her quest i on: i s any mor e absur d cont r adi ct i ont hi nkabl e t han wi shi ng to PROVE (no mat t er, f or t he pr esent , whetherone wi shes t o do so f r om hi st or y, or f r om what ever el se i n the wi de

worl d one wi shes t o pr ove i t ) t hat a cer t ai n person i s God? To mai nt ai nt hat a cer t ai n per son i s God- - t hat i s, pr of esses t o be God- - i s i ndeed ast umbl i ng bl ock i n the pur est sense. But what i s t he nat ur e of ast umbl i ng bl ock? I t i s an asser t i on whi ch i s at var i ance wi t h al l( human) r eason. Now t hi nk of pr ovi ng that ! But t o pr ove somethi ng i s t or ender i t r easonabl e and r eal . I s i t possi bl e, t hen, t o r enderr easonabl e and r eal what i s at var i ance wi t h al l r eason? Scar cel y;unl ess one wi shes t o cont r adi ct one' s sel f . One can pr ove onl y that i ti s at var i ance wi t h al l r eason. The pr oof s f or t he di vi ni t y of Chr i stgi ven i n Scri pt ur e, such as t he mi r acl es and hi s r esur r ect i on f r om t hegr ave exi st, t oo, onl y f or f ai t h; t hat i s, t hey ar e no "pr oof s, " f ort hey are not meant t o pr ove t hat al l t hi s agr ees wi t h r eason but , ont he cont r ar y, ar e meant t o pr ove t hat i t i s at var i ance wi t h r eason and


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t her ef or e a mat t er of f ai t h.

Fi r st , t hen, l et us t ake up t he pr oof s f r om hi st or y. " I s i t not 1800years ago now t hat Chr i st l i ved, i s not hi s name pr ocl ai med andr ever enced t hr oughout t he wor l d, has not hi s t eachi ng ( Chr i st i ani t y)changed t he aspect of t he wor l d, havi ng vi ct or i ousl y af f ect ed al laf f ai r s: has t hen hi story not suf f i c i ent l y, or mor e t han suf f i c i ent l y,made good i t s c l ai m as t o who he was, and that he was?God?" No, i ndeed,hi st ory has by no means suf f i ci ent l y, or more t han suf f i ci ent l y, madegood i t s cl ai m, and i n f act hi st or y cannot accompl i sh t hi s i n al l

et er ni t y. However , as t o t he f i r st par t of t he st at ement , i t i s t r ueenough t hat hi s name i s procl ai med t hr oughout t he wor l d- - as t o whet heri t i s r ever enced, t hat I do not pr esume t o deci de. Al so, i t i s t r ueenough t hat Chr i st i ani t y has t r ansf ormed t he aspect of t he wor l d,havi ng vi ctor i ousl y af f ected al l af f ai r s, so vi ctor i ousl y i ndeed, t hateverybody now cl ai ms t o be a Chr i st i an.

But what does t hi s prove? I t pr oves, at most , t hat J esus Chr i st was agr eat man, t he gr eat est , perhaps, who ever l i ved. But t hat he wasGod- - st op now, t hat concl usi on shal l wi t h God' s hel p f al l t o t heground.

Now, i f one i nt ends t o i nt r oduce t hi s concl usi on by assumi ng t hatJ esus Chr i st was a man, and then consi ders t he 1800 year s of hi st ory

( i . e. t he consequences of hi s l i f e) , one may i ndeed concl ude wi t h aconst ant l y r i si ng super l at i ve: he was gr eat , gr eat er , t he gr eat est ,extr aor di nar i l y and ast oni shi ngl y t he gr eat est man who ever l i ved. I f one begi ns, on the ot her hand, wi t h t he assumpt i on ( of f ai t h) t hat hewas God, one has by so doi ng st r i cken out and cancel l ed t he 1800 year sas not maki ng t he sl i ght est di f f erence, one way or t he other, becauset he cer t ai nt y of f ai t h i s on i nf i ni t el y hi gher pl ane. And one cour se ort he ot her one must t ake; but we shal l ar r i ve at sensi bl e concl usi onsonl y i f we t ake t he l at t er .

I f one t akes t he f or mer cour se one wi l l f i nd i t i mpossi bl e- - unl essby commi t t i ng t he l ogi cal er r or of passi ng over i nt o di f f er entcat egor y- - one wi l l f i nd i t i mpossi bl e i n t he concl usi on suddenl y t oarr i ve at t he new category "God" ; t hat i s, one cannot make t he

consequence, or consequences, of - - a man' s l i f e suddenl y pr ove at acer t ai n poi nt i n t he ar gument t hat t hi s man was God. I f such apr ocedur e wer e cor r ect one ought t o be abl e t o answer sati sf act or i l y aquest i on l i ke t hi s: what must t he consequence be, how gr eat t heef f ect s, how many cent ur i es must el apse, i n or der t o i nf er f r omt heconsequences of a man' s l i f e- - f or such was t he assumpt i on- - t hat he wasGod; or whet her i t i s r eal l y the case that i n t he year 300 Chr i st hadnot yet been ent i r el y pr oved t o be God, t hough cer t ai nl y t he mostextr aor di nar i l y, ast oni shi ngl y, gr eat est man who had ever l i ved, butt hat a f ew more cent ur i es woul d be necessar y t o pr ove t hat he was God.I n t hat case we woul d be obl i ged t o i nf er t hat peopl e the f our t hcent ur y di d not l ook upon Chr i st as God, and st i l l l ess they who l i vedi n t he f i r st cent ur y; whereas t he cert ai nt y that he was God woul d gr owwi t h ever y cent ur y. Al so, t hat i n our cent ur y thi s cer t ai nt y woul d be

gr eat er t han i t had ever been, a cert ai nt y i n compari son wi t h whi ch t hef i r st cent ur i es hardl y so much as gl i mpsed hi s di vi ni t y. You may answert hi s quest i on or not , i t does not mat t er .

I n gener al , i s i t at al l possi bl e by the consi der at i on of t hegr adual l y unf ol di ng consequences of somethi ng t o arr i ve at concl usi ondi f f er ent i n qual i t y f r om what we st ar t ed wi t h? I s i t not sheeri nsani t y ( pr ovi di ng man i s sane) t o l et one' s j udgment become soal t ogether conf used as t o l and i n the wr ong cat egory? And i f one begi nswi t h such a mi st ake, t hen how wi l l one be abl e, at any subsequentpoi nt , t o i nf er f r omt he consequences of somet hi ng, t hat one has t odeal wi t h an al t oget her di f f erent , i n f act , i nf i ni t el y di f f erent ,cat egor y? A f oot ?pr i nt cer t ai nl y i s t he consequence of some creat ur e


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havi ng made i t . Now I may mi st ake the t r ack f or t hat of , l et us say, abi r d; whereas by near er i nspect i on, and by f ol l owi ng i t f or somedi st ance, I may make sur e t hat i t was made by some ot her ani mal . Verygood; but t her e was no i nf i ni t e di f f er ence i n qual i t y bet ween i ny f i r stassumpt i on and my l ater concl usi on. But can I on f ur t her consi derat i onand f ol l owi ng t he t r ack st i l l f ur t her , ar r i ve at t he concl usi on:t her ef or e i t was a spi r i t - - a spi r i t t hat l eaves no t r acks? Pr eci sel yt he same hol ds t r ue of t he ar gument t hat f r om t he consequences of ahuman l i f e- - f or t hat was t he assumpt i on- - we may i nf er t hat t heref or e i twas God.

I s God t hen so l i ke man, i s t her e so l i t t l e di f f er ence bet ween t he t wot hat , whi l e i n possessi on of my r i ght senses, I may begi n wi t h t heassumpt i on t hat Chr i st was human? And, f or t hat mat t er , has not Chr i sthi msel f af f i r med t hat he was God? On the ot her hand, i f God and manr esembl e each other so cl osel y, and are rel ated t o each other t o such adegr ee- - t hat i s, essent i al l y bel ong t o t he same cat egor y of bei ngs,t hen t he concl usi on " t heref ore he was God" i s never t hel ess j ust humbug,because i f t hat i s al l t her e i s t o bei ng God, t hen God does not exi stat al l . But i f God does exi st and, t her ef or e, bel ongs t o a cat egor yi nf i ni t el y di f f er ent f r om man, why, t hen nei t her I nor any one el se canst ar t wi t h the assumpt i on t hat Chr i st was human and end wi t h theconcl usi on t hat t heref ore he was God. Any one wi t h a bi t of l ogi calsense wi l l easi l y recogni ze t hat t he whol e quest i on about t he

consequences of Chr i st ' s l i f e on ear t h i s i ncommensur abl e wi t h thedeci si on t hat he i s God. I n f act , t hi s deci si on i s t o be made on anal t ogether di f f erent pl ane: man must deci de f or hi msel f whether he wi l lbel i eve Chr i st t o be what he hi msel f af f i r med he was, t hat i s, God, orwhet her he wi l l not bel i eve so.

What has been sai d- - mi nd you, pr ovi di ng one wi l l t ake t he t i me t ounder st and i t - - i s suf f i ci ent t o make a l ogr i cal mi nd st op dr awi ng anyi nf er ences f r om t he consequences of Chr i st ' s l i f e: t hat t her ef or e hewas God. But f ai t h i n i t s own r i ght pr ot est s agai nst ever y at t empt t oappr oach J esus Chr i st by t he hel p of hi st or i cal i nf or mat i on about t heconsequences of hi s l i f e. Fai t h cont ends that t hi s whol e att empt i s bl a s p h e m o u s. Fai t h cont ends t hat t he onl y pr oof l ef t uni mpai r edby unbel i ef when i t di d away wi t h al l t he other pr oof s of t he tr ut h of

Chr i st i ani t y, t he pr oof whi ch- - i ndeed, t hi s i s compl i cat ed busi ness- - Isay, whi ch unbel i ef i nvent ed i n order t o pr ove t he t r ut h of Chr i st i ani t y- - t he pr oof about whi ch so excessi vel y much ado has beenmade i n Chr i st endom, t he pr oof of 1800 year s: as t o thi s, f ai t hcont ends t hat i t i s- - b l a s p h e m y.

Wi t h r egar d t o a man i t i s t r ue t hat t he consequences of hi s l i f ear e mor e i mpor t ant t han hi s l i f e. I f one, t hen, i n or der t o f i nd outwho Chr i st was, and i n order t o f i nd out by some i nf erence, consi derst he consequences of hi s l i f e: why, t hen one changes hi m i nto a man byt hi s ver y act - - a man who, l i ke ot her men, i s t o pass hi s exami nat i on i nhi st ory, and hi st or y i s i n t hi s case as medi ocre an exami ner as anyhal f ?baked t eacher i n Lat i n.

But st r ange! By t he hel p of hi st or y, t hat i s, by consi der i ng t heconsequences of hi s l i f e, one wi shes t o ar r i ve at t he concl usi on t hatt heref ore, t heref ore he was God; and f ai t h makes t he exact l y opposi t econt ent i on t hat he who even begi ns wi t h t hi s syl l ogi sm i s gui l t y of bl asphemy. Nor does t he bl asphemy consi st i n assumi ng hypot het i cal l yt hat Chr i st was a man. No, t he bl asphemy consi st s i n t he thought whi chl i es at t he bott om of t he whol e busi ness, t he thought wi t hout whi ch onewoul d never st ar t i t , and of whose val i di t y one i s f ul l y and f i r ml yassur ed t hat i t wi l l hol d al so wi t h r egar d t o Chr i st - - t he t hought t hatt he consequences of hi s l i f e ar e mor e i mpor t ant t han hi s l i f e; i n otherwords, t hat he i s a man. The hypothesi s i s: l et us assume that Chr i stwas a man; but at t he bot t om of t hi s hypothesi s, whi ch i s not bl asphemyas yet , t here l i es t he assumpt i on t hat , t he consequences of a man' s


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l i f e bei ng mor e i mpor t ant t han hi s l i f e, t hi s wi l l hol d t r ue al so of Chr i st . Unl ess t hi s i s assumed one must admi t t hat one' s whol e ar gumenti s absur d, must admi t i t bef ore begi nni ng- - so why begi n at al l ? Butonce i t i s assumed, and t he argument i s st ar t ed, we have t he bl asphemy.And the more one becomes absor bed i n the consequences of Chr i st ' s l i f e,wi t h the ai m of bei ng abl e t o make sure whet her or no he was God, t hemore bl asphemous i s one' s conduct ; and i t r emai ns bl asphemous so l ongas thi s consi der at i on i s per si st ed i n.

Cur i ous coi nci dence: one tr i es t o make i t appear t hat , pr ovi di ng one

but t hor oughl y consi der s t he consequences of Chr i st ' s l i f e, t hi s"t her ef or e" wi l l sur el y be ar r i ved at - - and f ai t h condemns t he ver ybegi nni ng of t hi s at t empt as bl asphemy, and hence the cont i nuance i n i tas a wor se bl asphemy.

"Hi st or y, " says f ai t h, "has not hi ng t o do wi t h Chr i st . " Wi t h r egar d t ohi m we have onl y Sacred Hi st or y (whi ch i s di f f er ent i n ki nd f r omgener al hi st or y) , Sacred Hi st or y whi ch t el l s of hi s l i f e and car eerwhen i n debasement , and t el l s al so t hat he af f i r med hi msel f t o be God.He i s t he par adox whi ch hi st ory never wi l l be abl e to di gest or conver ti nt o a general syl l ogi sm. He i s i n hi s debasement t he same as he i s i nhi s exal t at i on- - but t he 1800 year s, or l et i t be 18, 000 year s, havenot hi ng what soever t o do wi t h t hi s. The br i l l i ant consequences i n t hehi st or y of t he wor l d whi ch ar e suf f i ci ent , al most , t o convi nce even a

pr of essor of hi st or y that he was God, t hese br i l l i ant consequencessur el y do not r epr esent hi s r et ur n i n gl or y! For soot h, i n t hat case i twere i magi ned r ather meanl y! The same thi ng over agai n: Chr i st i st hought t o be a man whose r et urn i n gl or y can be, and can become,not hi ng el se t han t he consequences of hi s l i f e i n hi st or y- - whereasChr i st ' s r et ur n i n gl or y i s somet hi ng absol ut el y di f f er ent and a mat t erof f ai t h. He abased hi msel f and was swat hed i n r ags- - he wi l l r et ur n i ngl or y; but t he br i l l i ant consequences i n hi st or y, especi al l y whenexami ned a l i t t l e mor e cl osel y, are t oo shabby a gl or y- - at any rat e agl or y of an al t oget her i ncongr uous nat ur e, of whi ch f ai t h ther ef or enever speaks, when speaki ng about hi s gl ory. Hi st ory i s a ver yr espectabl e sci ence i ndeed, onl y i t must not become so concei t ed as t ot ake upon i t sel f what t he Fat her wi l l do, and cl ot he Chr i st i n hi sgl or y, dr essi ng hi m up wi t h t he br i l l i ant gar ment s of t he consequences

of hi s l i f e, as i f t hat const i t ut ed hi s r et ur n. That he was God i n hi sdebasement and t hat he wi l l r et ur n i n gl or y, al l t hi s i s f ar beyond t hecompr ehensi on of hi st or y; nor can al l t hi s be got f r om hi st or y,except i ng by an i ncomparabl e l ack of l ogi c, and however i ncompar abl eone' s vi ew of hi st ory may be ot herwi se.

How st r ange, t hen, t hat one ever wi shed t o use hi st ory i n order t opr ove Chr i st di vi ne.

d.

Ar e t he consequences of Chr i st ' s l i f e mor e i mpor t ant t han hi s l i f e?

No, by no means, but r ather t he opposi t e; f or el se Chr i st were but a

man.

There i s r eal l y nothi ng r emarkabl e i n a man havi ng l i ved. There havecer t ai nl y l i ved mi l l i ons upon mi l l i ons of men. I f t he fact i sr emarkabl e, t her e must have been somet hi ng remarkabl e i n a man' s l i f e.I n ot her wor ds, t here i s not hi ng r emar kabl e i n hi s havi ng l i ved, buthi s l i f e was r emar kabl e f or t hi s or t hat . The remar kabl e t hi ng may,among ot her mat t ers , al so be what he accompl i shed; t hat i s, t heconsequences of hi s l i f e.

But t hat God l i ved here on ear t h i n human f or m, t hat i s i nf i ni t el yr emar kabl e. No mat t er i f hi s l i f e had had no consequences at al l - - i tr emai ns equal l y r emar kabl e, i nf i ni t el y r emar kabl e, i nf i ni t el y mor e


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r emar kabl e t han al l possi bl e consequences. J ust t r y to i nt r oduce t hatwhi ch i s r emarkabl e as somethi ng secondary and you wi l l st r ai ght way seet he absur di t y of doi ng so: now, i f you pl ease, what ever r emar kabl e i st here i n God' s l i f e havi ng had r emarkabl e consequences? To speak i nt hi s f ashi on i s mer el y t waddl i ng.

No, t hat God l i ved her e on ear t h, t hat i s what i s i nf i ni t el yr emar kabl e, t hat whi ch i s r emar kabl e i n i t sel f . Assumi ng t hat Chr i st ' sl i f e had had no consequences what soever - - i f any one t hen under t ook t osay t hat t heref ore hi s l i f e was not r emarkabl e i t woul d be bl asphemy.

For i t woul d be r emarkabl e al l t he same; and i f a secondary r emarkabl echar act er i st i c had t o be i nt r oduced i t woul d consi st i n t he r emar kabl ef act t hat hi s l i f e had no consequences. But i f one shoul d say t hatChr i st ' s l i f e was r emar kabl e because of i t s consequences, t hen t hi sagai n wer e a bl asphemy; f or i t i s hi s l i f e whi ch i n i t sel f i s t her emarkabl e t hi ng.

Ther e i s not hi ng ver y remar kabl e i n a man' s havi ng l i ved, but i t i si nf i ni t el y remarkabl e that God has l i ved. God al one can l ay so muchemphasi s on hi msel f t hat t he f act of hi s havi ng l i ved becomesi nf i ni t el y more i mport ant t han al l t he consequences whi ch may f l owt heref r om and whi ch t hen become a mat t er of hi st ory.

e.

A compar i son bet ween Chr i st and a man who i n hi s l i f e endur ed the samet r eat ment by hi s t i mes as Chr i st endur ed.

Let us i magi ne a man, one of t he exal t ed spi r i t s, one who was wr ongedby hi s t i mes, but whom hi st or y l at er r ei nst at ed i n hi s r i ght s bypr ovi ng by t he consequences of hi s l i f e who he was. I do not deny, byt he way, t hat al l t hi s busi ness of pr ovi ng f r om t he consequences i s acour se wel l sui t ed t o "a worl d whi ch ever wi shes t o be decei ved. " Forhe who was contemporary wi t h hi m and di d not underst and who he was, her eal l y onl y i magi nes t hat he underst ands when he has got t o know i t byhel p of t he consequences of t he nobl e one' s l i f e. St i l l , I do not wi sht o i nsi st on t hi s poi nt , f or wi t h r egar d t o a man i t cer t ai nl y hol dst r ue that t he consequences of hi s l i f e ar e more i mport ant t han t he f act

of hi s havi ng l i ved.

Let us i magi ne one of t hese exal t ed spi r i t s. He l i ves among hi scont empor ar i es wi t hout bei ng underst ood, hi s si gni f i cance i s notr ecogni zed- - he i s mi sunder st ood, and t hen mocked, persecut ed, andf i nal l y put t o deat h l i ke a common evi l ?doer . But t he consequences of hi s l i f e make i t pl ai n who he was; hi st ory whi ch keeps a record of t hese consequences r e?i nst at es hi m i n hi s r i ght f ul posi t i on, and now hei s named i n one centur y af t er anot her as t he gr eat and t he nobl espi r i t , and t he ci r cumst ances of hi s debasement are al most compl etel yf or gott en. I t was bl i ndness on t he par t of hi s cont empor ar i es whi chpr event ed t hem f r om comprehendi ng hi s t r ue natur e, and wi ckedness whi chmade them mock hi m and deri de hi m, and f i nal l y put hi m t o deat h. But beno more concer ned about t hi s; f or onl y af t er hi s deat h di d he real l y

become what he was, t hr ough t he consences of hi s l i f e whi ch, af t er al l ,ar e by f ar mor e i mpor t ant t han hi s l i f e.

Now i s i t not possi bl e that t he same hol ds t r ue wi t h r egar d t oChr i st ? I t was bl i ndness and wi ckedness on t he part of t hose t i mes [ 98]but be no more concerned about t hi s, hi st ory has now r e?i nst at ed hi m,f r om hi st ory we know now who J esus Chr i st was, and t hus j ust i ce i s donehi m.

Ah, wi cked t hought l essness whi ch t hus i nt er pr ets Sacred i st ory l i kepr of ane hi st ory, whi ch makes Chr i st a man! But can one, t hen, l ear nanyt hi ng f r om hi st or y about J esus? ( cf . b) No, not hi ng. J esus Chr i st i st he obj ect of f ai t h Agai n- - ah, t he i mpi ous thought l essness! - - f or one


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t o pr esume to say about Chr i st ' s abasement : "Let us be concer ned o moreabout hi s abasement . " Sur el y, Chr i st ' s abasement as not somethi ng whi chmerel y happened t o hi m- - even i f was t he si n of t hat generat i on t ocr uci f y hi m; was surel y ot somethi ng that si mpl y happened t o hi m and,perhaps, woul d not have happened t o hi m i n bet t er t i mes. Chr i sthi msel f w i s h e d t o be abased and l owl y. Hi s abasement ( t hat i s,hi s wal ki ng on ear t h i n humbl e gui se, t hough bei ng God) i s t heref ore acondi t i on of hi s own maki ng, somet hi ng he wi shed to be knot t edt ogether, a di al ect i c knot no one shal l pr esume t o unt i e, and whi ch noone wi l l f or t hat mat t er , unt i l he hi msel f shal l unt i e i t when

r et ur ni ng i n hi s gl or y.Hi s case i s, t heref ore, not t he same as t hat of a man who, t hr ough

t he i nj ust i ce i nf l i ct ed on hi m by hi s t i mes, was not al l owed t o behi msel f or t o be val ued at hi s wort h, whi l e hi st or y r eveal ed who hewas; f or Chr i st hi msel f wi shed t o be abased- - i t i s pr eci sel y thi scondi t i on whi ch he desi r ed. Ther ef or e, l et hi st or y not t r oubl e i t sel f t o do hi m j ust i ce, and l et us not i n i mpi ous t hought l essnesspresumptuousl y i magi ne that we as a mat t er of course know who he was.For t hat no one knows; and he who bel i eves i t must becomecont empor aneous wi t h hi m i n hi s abasement . When God chooses t o l ethi msel f be bor n i n l owl i ness, when he who hol ds al l possi bi l i t i es i nhi s hand assumes t he f orm of a humbl e servant , when he f ares aboutdef ensel ess, l et t i ng peopl e do wi t h hi m what t hey l i st : he sur el y knows

what he does and why he does i t ; f or i t i s at al l event s he who haspower over men, and not men who have power over hi m so l et not hi st orybe so i mper t i nent as t o wi sh t o reveal , who he was.

Last l y- - ah t he bl asphemy! - - i f one shoul d pr esume t o say t hat t heper secut i on whi ch Chr i st suf f er ed expr esses somethi ng acci dent al ! I f aman i s persecut ed by hi s generat i on i t does not f ol l ow t hat he has t her i ght t o say t hat t hi s woul d happen t o hi m i n ever y age. I nsof ar t her ei s r eason i n what post er i t y says about l et t i ng bygones be bygones. Buti t i s di f f er ent wi t h Chr i st! I t i s not he who by l et t i ng hi msel f beborn, and by appear i ng i n Pal est i ne, i s bei ng exami ned by hi st ory; buti t i s he who exami nes, hi s l i f e i s t he exami nat i on, not onl y of t hatgenerat i on, but of m a n k i n d. Woe unt o t he generat i on t hat woul dpr esumpt uousl y dare t o say: " l et bygones be bygones, and f orget what he

suf f ered, f or hi st ory has now r eveal ed who he was and has done j ust i ceby hi m. "

I f one assumes t hat hi st or y i s r eal l y abl e t o do t hi s, t hen t heabasement of Chr i st bear s an acci dent al r el at i on t o hi m; t hat i s t osay, he t her eby i s made a man, an ext r aor di nar y man t o whom t hi shappened t hr ough the wi ckedness of t hat generat i on- - a f ate whi ch he wasf ar f r om wi shi ng t o suf f er , f or he woul d gl adl y ( as i s human) havebecome a gr eat man; whereas Chr i st vol unt ar i l y chose to be the l owl yone and, al t hough i t was hi s pur pose t o save t he worl d, wi shed al so t ogi ve expr essi on t o what t he " t r ut h" suf f er ed t hen, and must suf f er i never y gener at i on. But i f t hi s i s hi s st r ongest desi r e, and i f he wi l lshow hi msel f i n hi s gl or y onl y at hi s r et ur n, and i f he has notr etur ned as yet ; and i f no generat i on may be wi t hout r epent ance, but on

t he cont r ar y ever y gener at i on must consi der i t sel f a par t ner i n t hegui l t of t hat generat i on: t hen woe t o hi m who pr esumes to depr i ve hi mof hi s l owl i ness, or t o cause what he suf f ered t o be f or gott en, and t ocl ot he hi m i n the f abl ed human gl or y of t he hi st or i c consequences of hi s l i f e, whi ch i s nei t her her e nor t her e.

f .

The Mi sf or t une of Chr i st endom

But pr eci sel y t hi s i s t he mi sf ort une, and has been t he mi sf ort une, i nChr i st endom t hat Chr i st i s nei t her t he one nor t he ot her - - nei t her t heone he was when l i vi ng on ear t h, nor he who wi l l r etur n i n gl ory, but


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r at her one about whom we have l earned t o know somet hi ng i n ani nadmi ssi bl e way f r omhi st ory- - t hat he was somebody or other of gr eataccount . I n an i nadmi ssi bl e and unl awf ul way we have l ear ned t o k n ow hi m; whereas t o bel i eve i n hi m i s t he onl y permi ssi bl e mode of appr oach. Men have mut ual l y conf i r med one another i n t he opi ni on t hatt he sum t ot al of i nf or mat i on about hi m i s avai l abl e i f t hey butconsi der t he r esul t of hi s l i f e and t he f ol l owi ng 1800 year s, i . e. t heconsequences. Gr adual l y, as t hi s became accept ed as t he t r ut h, al l pi t hand st r engt h was di st i l l ed out of Chr i st i ani t y; t he par adox wasr el axed, one became a Chr i st i an wi t hout not i ci ng i t , wi t hout not i ci ng

i n t he l east t he possi bi l i t y of bei ng of f ended by hi m. One took overChr i st ' s t eachi ngs, t ur ned t hemi nsi de out and smoot hed t hemdown- - hehi msel f guarant eei ng t hem, of cour se, t he man whose l i f e had had suchi mmense consequences i n hi st ory! Al l became pl ai n as day- - ver ynat ur al l y, si nce Chr i st i ani t y i n t hi s f ashi on became heat hendom.

There i s i n Chr i st endom an i ncessant t waddl i ng on Sundays about t hegl or i ous and i nval uabl e t r ut hs of Chr i st i ani t y, i t s mi l d consol at i on.But i t i s i ndeed evi dent t hat Chr i st l i ved 1800 year s ago; f or t he rockof of f ense and obj ect of f ai t h has become a most charmi ng f ai r y?st orycharact er , a ki nd of di vi ne good ol d man. [ 99] Peopl e have not t her emotest i dea of what i t means t o be of f ended by hi m, and st i l l l ess,what i t means t o worshi p. The qual i t i es f or whi ch Chr i st i s magni f i edare pr eci sel y t hose whi ch woul d have most enr aged one, i f one had been

cont empor aneous wi t h hi m; wher eas now one f eel s al t oget her secure,pl aci ng i mpl i ci t conf i dence i n t he resul t and, r el yi ng al t oget her ont he ver di ct of hi st or y t hat he was t he gr eat man, concl udes t her ef oret hat i t i s cor r ect t o do so. That i s t o say, i t i s t he cor r ect, and t henobl e, and t he exal t ed, and t he t r ue, t hi ng- - i f i t i s he who does i t ;whi ch i s t o say, agai n, t hat one does not i n any deeper sense t ake t hepai ns t o under st and what i t i s he does, and that one t r i es even l ess,t o t he best of one' s abi l i t y and wi t h t he hel p of God, t o be l i ke hi mi n act i ng r i ght l y and nobl y, and i n an exal t ed manner , and t r ut hf ul l y.For , not r eal l y f at homi ng i t i n any deeper sense, one may, i n theexi gency of a cont empor aneous si t uat i on, j udge hi m i n exact l y t heopposi t e way. One i s sat i sf i ed wi t h admi r i ng and extol l i ng and i s,per haps, as was sai d of a t r ansl ator who render ed hi s or i gi nal wor d f orwor d and ther ef or e wi t hout maki ng sense, "t oo consci ent i ous, " - - one i s,

perhaps, al so t oo cowardl y and t oo weak t o wi sh t o underst and hi s r ealmeani ng.

Chr i st endom has done away wi t h Chr i st i ani t y, wi t hout bei ng aware of i t .Theref ore, i f anythi ng i s t o be done about i t , t he at t empt must be madet o r e?i nt r oduce Chr i st i ani t y.

I I

He who i nvi t es i s, t hen, J esus Chr i st i n hi s abasement , i t i s he whospoke t hese wor ds of i nvi t at i on. I t i s not f r om hi s gl or y t hat t hey ar espoken. I f t hat wer e t he case, t hen Chr i st i ani t y wer e heat hendom andt he name of Chr i st t aken i n vai n, and f or t hi s r eason i t cannot be so.But i f i t wer e t he case t hat he who i s ent hr oned i n gl or y had sai d

t hese words: Come hi t her - - as t hough i t were so al t oget her easy a mat t ert o be cl asped i n t he ar ms of gl or y- - wel l , what wonder , t hen, i f cr owdsof men r an t o hi m! But t hey who t hus t hr ong t o hi m merel y go on a wi l dgoose chase, i magi ni ng t hey k n o w who Chr i st i s. But t hat no one kn o w s; and i n or der t o bel i eve i n hi m one has t o begi n wi t h hi sabasement .

He who i nvi t es and speaks t hese words, t hat i s, he whose words t heyare- - wher eas t he same words i f spoken by some one el se ar e, as we haveseen, an hi stori c f al si f i cat i on- - he i s t he same l owl y J esus Chr i st, t hehumbl e man, born of a despi sed mai den, whose f at her i s a carpent er ,r el at ed t o ot her si mpl e f ol k of t he ver y l owest cl ass, t he l owl y manwho at t he same t i me ( whi ch, t o be sure, i s l i ke oi l pour ed on t he


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f i r e) af f i r ms hi msel f t o be God.

I t i s t he l owl y J esus Chr i st who spoke t hese words. And no word of Chr i st , not a si ngl e one, have you per mi ssi on t o appr opr i ate t oyour sel f , you have not t he l east shar e i n hi m, are not i n any way of hi s company, i f you have not become hi s cont emporary i n l owl i ness i nsuch f ashi on t hat you have become aware, pr eci sel y l i ke hi scont emporari es, of hi s warni ng: "Bl essed i s he whosoever shal l not beof f ended i n me. " [ 100] You have no r i ght t o accept Chr i st ' s words, andt hen l i e hi m away; you have no ri ght t o accept Chr i st ' s words, and t hen

i n a f ant ast i c manner , and wi t h t he ai d of hi st ory, ut t er l y change t henat ur e of Chr i st; f or t he chat t er of hi story about hi m i s l i t er al l y notwor t h a f i g.

I t i s J esus Chr i st i n hi s l owl i ness who i s the speaker . I t i shi st or i cal l y t r ue t hat he sai d t hese words; but so soon as one makes achange i n hi s hi st or i c stat us, i t i s f al se t o say t hat t hese wor ds wer espoken by hi m.

Thi s poor and l owl y man, t hen, wi t h t wel ve poor f el l ows as hi sdi sci pl es, al l f r om t he l owest cl ass of soci et y, f or some t i me anobj ect of cur i osi t y, but l at er on i n company onl y wi t h si nner s,publ i cans, l eper s, and madmen; f or one ri sked honor , l i f e, andpr opert y, or at any rat e (and t hat we know f or sur e) excl usi on f r om t he

synagogue, by even l et t i ng one' s sel f be hel ped by hi m- - come hi t her no w, al l ye t hat l abor and are heavy l aden! Ah, my f r i end, even i f youwere deaf and bl i nd and l ame and l epr ous, i f you, whi ch has never beenseen or heard bef ore, uni t ed al l human mi ser i es i n your mi sery- - and i f he wi shed to hel p you by a mi r acl e: i t i s possi bl e that ( as i s human)you woul d f ear more t han al l your suf f er i ngs t he puni shment whi ch wasset on accept i ng ai d f r omhi m, t he puni shment of bei ng cast out f r omt he soci ety of other men, of bei ng r i di cul ed and mocked, day af t er day,and per haps of l osi ng your l i f e. I t i s human ( and i t i s char acteri st i cof bei ng human) were you t o thi nk as f ol l ows: "no, t hank you, i n t hatcase I pr ef er t o remai n deaf and bl i nd and l ame and l epr ous, r athert han accept ai d under such condi t i ons. "

"Come hi t her, come hi t her , al l , ye t hat l abor and are heavy l aden, ah,

come hi t her , " l o! he i nvi t es you and opens hi s arms. Ah, when agent l emanl y man cl ad i n a si l ken gown says t hi s i n a pl easant ,harmoni ous voi ce so t hat t he words pl easant l y r esound i n t he handsomevaul t ed chur ch, a man i n si l k who r adi ates honor and respect on al l whol i st en t o hi m; ah, when a ki ng i n pur pl e and vel vet says t hi s, wi t h t heChr i st mas t r ee i n t he backgr ound on whi ch are hangi ng al l t he spl endi dgi f t s he i nt ends t o di st r i but e, why, t hen of cour se ther e i s somemeani ng i n these wor ds! But what ever meani ng you may at t ach t o t hem, somuch i s sur e t hat i t i s not Chr i st i ani t y, but t he exact opposi t e,somet hi ng as di amet r i cal l y opposed t o Chr i st i ani t y as may wel l be; f orr emember who i t i s t hat i nvi t es!

And now j udge f or your sel f - - f or t hat you have a r i ght t o do; whereasmen r eal l y do not have a r i ght t o do what i s so of t en done, vi z. t o

decei ve t hemsel ves. That a man of such appearance, a man whose companyevery one shuns who has t he l east bi t of sense i n hi s head, or t hel east bi t t o l ose i n t he wor l d, t hat he- - wel l , t hi s i s the absur destand maddest t hi ng of al l , one hardl y knows whether t o l augh or t o weepabout i t - - t hat he- - i ndeed, t hat i s t he ver y l ast wor d one woul d expectt o i ssue f r om hi s mout h, f or i f he had sai d: "Come hi t her and hel p me, "or : " Leave me al one, " or : "Spar e me, " or proudl y: "I despi se you al l , "we coul d underst and that per f ect l y- - but t hat such a man says: "Comehi t her t o me! " why, I decl ar e, t hat l ooks i nvi t i ng i ndeed! And st i l lf ur t her : "Al l ye t hat l abor and are heavy l aden" - - as t hough such f ol kwere not bur dened enough wi t h t r oubl es, as t hough t hey now, t o cap al l ,shoul d be exposed t o t he consequences of associ at i ng wi t h hi m. Andt hen, f i nal l y: "I shal l gi ve you r est . " What ' s that ?- - h e hel p t hem?


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Ah, I am sur e even t he most good?natured j oker who was cont empor arywi t h hi m woul d have to say: "Sur el y, t hat was t he thi ng he shoul d haveunder t aken l ast of al l - - t o wi sh t o hel p ot her s, bei ng i n t hat condi t i onhi msel f ! Why, i t i s about t he same as i f a beggar were t o i nf or m t hepol i ce that he had been robbed. For i t i s a cont r adi ct i on that one whohas not hi ng, and has had nothi ng, i nf orms us t hat he has been r obbed;and l i kewi se, t o wi sh t o hel p others when one' s sel f needs hel p most . "I ndeed i t i s, humanl y speaki ng, t he most harebr ai ned cont r adi ct i on,t hat he who l i t er al l y "hat h not wher e to l ay hi s head, " t hat he aboutwhom i t was spoken t r ul y, i n a human sense, "Behol d t he man! " - - t hat he

shoul d say: "Come hi t her unt o me al l ye t hat suf f er - - I shal l hel p! "Now exami ne your sel f - - f or t hat you have a r i ght t o do, You have a

r i ght t o exami ne your sel f , but you r eal l y do not have a r i ght t o l etyour sel f wi t hout sel f ?exami nati on be del uded by "t he ot her s" i nt o thebel i ef , or t o del ude your sel f i nt o t he bel i ef , t hat you ar e aChr i st i an- - t heref ore exami ne your sel f : supposi ng you were cont emporarywi t h hi m! True enough he- - al as! he af f i r med hi msel f t o be God! But manyanot her madman has made that cl ai m- - and hi s t i mes gave i t as t hei ropi ni on t hat he ut t ered bl asphemy. Why, was not t hat pr eci sel y t her eason why a puni shment was t hr eat ened f or al l owi ng one' s sel f t o beai ded by hi m? I t was t he godl y care f or t hei r soul s ent er t ai ned by t heexi st i ng or der and by publ i c opi ni on, l est any one shoul d be l edast r ay: i t was t hi s godl y car e t hat l ed t hem t o per secut e hi m i n t hi s

f ashi on. Ther ef or e, bef ore any one resol ves t o be hel ped by hi m, l ethi m consi der t hat he must not onl y expect t he ant agoni sm of men,but - - consi der i t wel l ! - - even i f you coul d bear t he consequences of t hatst ep- - but consi der wel l , t hat t he puni shment met ed out by men i ssupposed t o be God' s puni shment of hi m, " t he bl asphemer" - - of hi m whoi nvi t es!

Come hi t her n o w al l ye that l abor and ar e heavy l aden!

How now? Sur el y t hi s i s not hi ng t o r un af t er- - some l i t t l e pause i sgi ven, whi ch i s most f i t t i ngl y used t o go ar ound about by way of another st r eet . And even i f you shoul d not t hus sneak out i n someway- - al ways provi di ng you f eel your sel f t o be cont emporar y wi t h hi m- - orsneak i nt o bei ng some ki nd of Chr i st i an by bel ongi ng t o Chr i st endom:

yet t here wi l l be a t r emendous pause gi ven, t he pause whi ch i s t he verycondi t i on t hat f ai t h may ar i se: you ar e gi ven pause by the possi bi l i t yof bei ng of f ended i n hi m.

But i n or der t o make i t ent i r el y cl ear , and br i ng i t home to our mi nds,t hat t he pause i s gi ven by hi m who i nvi t es, t hat i t i s he who gi ves uspause and render s i t by no means an easy, but a pecul i ar l y di f f i cul t ,mat t er t o f ol l ow hi s i nvi t at i on, because one has no ri ght t o accept i twi t hout accept i ng al so hi m who i nvi t es- - i n or der t o make t hi s ent i r el ycl ear I shal l br i ef l y r evi ew hi s l i f e under t wo aspects whi ch, t o besur e, show some di f f er ence t hough bot h e s s e n t i a l l y per t ai nt o hi s abasement . For i t i s al ways an abasement f or God t o become man,even i f he were t o be an emperor of emperors; and theref ore he i s note s s e n t i a l l y more abased because he i s a poor , l owl y man,

mocked, and as Scr i pt ur e adds, [ 101] spat upon.

THE FI RST PHASE OF HI S LI FE

And now l et us speak about hi m i n a homel y f ashi on, j ust as hi scontempor ar i es spoke about hi m, and as one speaks about somecont empor ary- - l et hi m be a man of t he same ki nd as we ar e, whom onemeet s on t he st r eet i n passi ng, of whom one knows where he l i ves and i nwhat st or y, what hi s busi ness i s, who hi s par ent s are, hi s f ami l y, howhe l ooks and how he dr esses, wi t h whom he associ ates, "and there i snot hi ng extr aordi nary about hi m, he l ooks as men general l y l ook"; i nshor t , l et us speak of hi m as one speaks of some cont emporary aboutwhom one does not make a gr eat ado; f or i n l i vi ng l i f e toget her wi t h


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t hese t housands upon t housands of r e a l peopl e t here i s no r oomf or a f i ne di st i nct i on l i ke t hi s: "Possi bl y, t hi s man wi l l ber emember ed i n cent ur i es t o come, " and "at t he same t i me he i s r e a ll y onl y a cl er k i n some shop who i s no whi t bett er t han hi s f el l ows. "Theref ore, l et us speak about hi m as cont emporar i es speak about somecont emporary. I know ver y wel l what I am doi ng; and I want you t obel i eve that t he cant i ng and i ndol ent wor l d?hi st or i c habi t we have of al ways r ever ent l y speaki ng about Chr i st ( si nce one has l earned al labout i t f r om hi st ory, and has hear d so much about hi s havi ng beensomet hi ng ver y extr aor di nar y, i ndeed, or somet hi ng of t hat ki nd) - - t hat

r ever ent habi t , I assur e you, i s not wor t h r ow of pi ns but i s, r at her ,sheer t hought l essness, hypocr i sy, and as such bl asphemy; f or i t i sbl asphemy t o rever ence t hought l essl y hi m whom one i s ei t her t o bel i evei n or t o be of f ended i n.

I t i s t he l owl y J esus Chr i st , a humbl e man, born of a mai den of l owdegr ee, whose f ather i s a carpent er. To be sur e, hi s appear ance i s madeunder condi t i ons whi ch are bound t o at t r act at t ent i on t o hi m. The smal lnat i on among whom he appears, God' s Chosen Peopl e as t hey cal lt hemsel ves, l i ve i n ant i ci pat i on of a Messi ah who i s t o br i ng a gol denperi od t o l and and peopl e. You must gr ant t hat one f orm i n whi ch heappear s i s as di f f erent as possi bl e f r omwhat most peopl e woul d haveexpect ed. On t he other hand, hi s appear ance corr esponds more t o t heanci ent propheci es wi t h whi ch the peopl e ar e thought t o have been

f ami l i ar . Thus he pr esent s hi msel f . A pr edecessor has cal l ed at t ent i ont o hi m, and he hi msel f f ast ens at t ent i on ver y deci dedl y on hi msel f bysi gns and wonders whi ch are noi sed abr oad i n al l t he l and- - and he i st he hero of t he hour , sur r ounded by unnumbered mul t i t udes of peopl ewheresoever he f ares. The sensat i on aroused by hi m i s enormous, everyone' s eyes ar e f ast ened on hi m, ever y one who can go about , aye event hose who can onl y cr awl , must see t he wonder - - and every one must havesome opi ni on about hi m, so t hat t he purveyor s of r eady?made opi ni onsare put t o i t because the demand i s so f ur i ous and t he cont r adi ct i onsso conf usi ng. And yet he, t he worker of mi r acl es, ever r emai ns t hehumbl e man who l i t eral l y hath not where to l ay hi s head.

And l et us not f orget : si gns and wonders as cont emporary event s have amar kedl y gr eat er el ast i ci t y i n r epel l i ng or at t r act i ng t han t he t ame

st or i es gener al l y r e?hashed by t he pr i est s, or t he st i l l t amer st or i esabout si gns and wonder s t hat happened- - 1800 year s ago! Si gns andwonder s as cont empor ary event s are somet hi ng pl aguy and i mpor t unat e,somet hi ng whi ch i n a hi ghl y embar r assi ng manner al most compel s one t ohave an opi ni on, somethi ng whi ch, i f one does not happen t o be di sposedt o bel i eve, may exasperat e one excessi vel y by t hus f orci ng one t o becont emporaneous wi t h i t . I ndeed, i t r enders exi st ence t oo compl i cat ed,and t he more so, t he more t hought f ul , devel oped, and cul t ured one i s.I t i s a pecul i ar l y ti ckl i sh mat t er , t hi s havi ng t o assume t hat a manwho i s contempor aneous wi t h one real l y per f orms si gns and wonder s; butwhen he i s at some di st ance f r om one, when t he consequences of hi s l i f est i mul at e t he i magi nat i on a bi t , t hen i t i s not so har d t o i magi ne, i na f ashi on, t hat one bel i eves i t .

As I sai d, t hen, t he peopl e are car r i ed away wi t h hi m; t hey f ol l ow hi mj ubi l ant l y, and see si gns and wonders , both t hose whi ch he per f orms andt hose whi ch he does not per f orm, and t hey are gl ad i n t hei r hope thatt he gol den age wi l l begi n, once he i s ki ng. But t he cr owd r arel y have acl ear r eason f or t hei r opi ni ons, t hey t hi nk one thi ng t oday and anothert omor r ow. Ther ef or e t he wi se and t he cr i t i cal wi l l not at oncepar t i ci pate. Let us see now what t he wi se and t he cr i t i cal must t hi nk,so soon as the f i r st i mpr essi on of ast oni shment and surpr i se hassubsi ded.

The shrewd and cr i t i cal man woul d probabl y say: "Even assumi ng t hatt hi s per son i s what he cl ai ms t o be, t hat i s, somet hi ngext r aor di nar y- - f or as t o hi s af f i r mi ng hi msel f t o be God I can, of


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cour se, not consi der t hat as anyt hi ng but an exaggerat i on f or whi ch Iwi l l i ngl y make al l owances, and par don hi m, i f I r eal l y consi der ed hi mt o be somethi ng ext r aor di nary; f or I am not a pedant - - assumi ng t hen,whi ch I hesi t at e t o do, f or i t i s a mat t er on whi ch I shal l at any r at esuspend my j udgment - - assumi ng then t hat he i s r eal l y per f ormi ngmi r acl es: i s i t not an i nexpl i cabl e mystery t hat t hi s per son can be sof ool i sh, so weak?mi nded, so al t ogether devoi d of worl dl y wi sdom, sof eebl e, or so good?nat ur edl y vai n, or what ever el se you pl ease t o cal li t - - t hat he behaves i n t hi s f ashi on and al most f or ces hi s benef act i onson men? I nst ead of proudl y and commandi ngl y keepi ng peopl e away f r om

hi msel f at a di st ance marked by t hei r pr of oundest submi ssi on, wheneverhe does al l ow hi msel f t o be seen, at r ar e occasi ons: i nst ead of doi ngso, t hi nk of hi s bei ng accessi bl e to ever y one, or r at her hi msel f goi ngt o ever y one, of havi ng i nt er cour se wi t h ever ybody, al most as i f bei ngt he extr aor di nar y per son consi st ed i n hi s bei ng ever ybody' s ser vant ,[ 102] as i f t he ext r aor di nary per son he cl ai ms t o be were marked by hi sbei ng concer ned onl y l est men shoul d f ai l t o be benef i t ed by hi m- - i nshor t as i f bei ng an ext r aor di nary person consi st ed i n bei ng t he mostsol i ci t ous of al l per sons. The whol e busi ness i s i nexpl i cabl e t ome- - what he want s, what hi s purpose i s, what end he has i n mi nd, whathe expect s t o accompl i sh; i n a word, what t he meani ng of i t al l i s. Hewho by so many a wi se sayi ng reveal s so pr of ound an i nsi ght i nto thehuman hear t , he must cer t ai nl y know what I , usi ng but hal f of my wi t s,can pr edi ct f or hi m, vi z. t hat i n such f ashi on one gets nowher e i n t he

wor l d- - unl ess, i ndeed, despi si ng pr udence, one consi st ent l y ai ms t omake a f ool of one' s sel f or , per chance, goes so f ar i n si ncer i t y as t opr ef er bei ng put t o deat h; but anyone desi r i ng t hat must cer t ai nl y becr azy. Havi ng such pr of ound knowl edge of t he human hear t he cer t ai nl yought t o know t hat t he t hi ng t o do i s t o decei ve peopl e and t hen t ogi ve one' s decept i on t he appear ance of bei ng a benef act i on conf err ed ont he whol e race. By doi ng so one reaps al l advant ages, even t he onewhose enj oyment i s t he sweet est of al l , whi ch i s, t o be cal l ed by one' scont emporari es a benef actor of t he human r ace- - f or, once i n your gr ave,you may snap your f i nger s at what post er i t y may have t o say about you.But t o sur r ender one' s sel f al t oget her , as he does, and not t o t hi nkt he l east of one' s sel f - - i n f act , al most t o beg peopl e t o accept t hesebenef act i ons: no, I woul d not dr eam of j oi ni ng hi s company. And, of cour se, nei t her does he i nvi t e me; f or , i ndeed, he i nvi t es onl y them

t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden. "

Or he woul d r eason as f ol l ows: "Hi s l i f e i s si mpl y a f ant ast i c dr eam.I n f act , t hat i s t he mi l dest expr essi on one can use about i t ; f or , whenj udgi ng hi m i n t hi s f ashi on, one i s good?natured enough t o f or getal t oget her t he evi dence of sheer madness i n hi s cl ai m t o be God. Thi si s wi l dl y f ant ast i cal . One may possi bl y l i ve a f ew year s of one' s yout hi n such f ashi on. But he i s now past t hi r t y year s. And he i s l i t er al l ynot hi ng. St i l l f ur t her , i n a ver y shor t t i me he wi l l necessar i l y l oseal l t he r espect and reput at i on he has gai ned among the peopl e, t he onl yt hi ng, you may say, he has gai ned f or hi msel f . One who wi shes t o keepi n t he good gr aces of t he peopl e- - t he ri ski est chance i magi nabl e, Iwi l l admi t - - he must act di f f erent l y. Not many mont hs wi l l pass bef oret he cr owd wi l l gr ow t i r ed of one who i s so al t oget her at t hei r servi ce.

He wi l l be regarded as a r ui ned person, a ki nd of out cast , who ought t obe gl ad t o end hi s days i n a cor ner , t he worl d f or get t i ng, by the wor l df or got; pr ovi di ng he does not , by cont i nui ng hi s pr evi ous behavi or ,pr ef er t o mai nt ai n hi s present at t i t ude and be f ant ast i c enough t o wi sht o be put t o deat h, whi ch i s t he unavoi dabl e consequence of persever i ngi n that cour se. What has he done f or hi s f ut ur e? Nothi ng. Has he anyassured posi t i on? No. What expect at i ons has he? None. Even t hi st r i f l i ng matt er : what wi l l he do t o pass t he t i me when he gr ows ol der,t he l ong wi nt er ni ght s, what wi l l he do t o make them pass- - why, hecannot even pl ay cards! He i s now enj oyi ng a bi t of popul ar f avor - - i nt r ut h, of al l movabl e pr opert y the most movabl e- - whi ch i n a t r i ce mayt ur n i nt o an enormous popul ar hat r ed of hi m. - - J oi n hi s company? No,t hank you, I am st i l l , t hank God, i n my ri ght mi nd.


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Or he may r eason as f ol l ows: "That t here i s somethi ng exr t aor di naryabout t hi s per son- - even i f one reserves t he r i ght , both one' s own andt hat of common sense, t o ref r ai n f r om vent ur i ng any opi ni on as t o hi scl ai m of bei ng God- - about t hat t her e i s real l y l i t t l e doubt . Rat her ,one mi ght be i ndi gnant at Provi dence' s havi ng ent r ust ed such a personwi t h t hese powers- - a person who does t he ver y opposi t e what he hi msel f bi ds us do: t hat we shal l not cast our pear l s bef or e t he swi ne; f orwhi ch r eason he wi l l , as he hi msel f pr edi ct s, come t o gr i ef by thei rt ur ni ng about and t r ampl i ng hi m under t hei r f eet . One may al ways expect

t hi s of swi ne; but , on t he ot her hand, one woul d not expect t hat he whohad hi msel f cal l ed at t ent i on t o t hi s l i kel i hood, hi msel f woul d dopr eci sel y [ 103] what he knows one shoul d not do. I f onl y t here weresome means of cl ever l y st eal i ng hi s wi sdom- - f or I shal l gl adl y l eavehi m i n i ndi sput ed possessi on of t hat ver y pecul i ar t hought of hi s t hathe i s God- - i f one coul d but r ob hi s wi sdom wi t hout , at t he same t i me,becomi ng hi s di sci pl e! I f one coul d onl y steal up t o hi m at ni ght andl ur e i t f r om hi m; f or I am mor e t han equal t o edi t i ng and publ i shi ngi t , and bet t er t han he, i f you pl ease. I under t ake t o ast oni sh t hewhol e wor l d by get t i ng somet hi ng al t oget her di f f er ent out of i t ; f or Icl ear l y see t here i s somethi ng wondr ousl y pr of ound i n what he says, andt he mi sf or t une i s onl y t hat he i s t he man he i s. But perhaps, whoknows, per haps i t i s f easi bl e, anyway, t o f ool hi m out of i t . Per hapsi n t hat r espect t oo he i s good- - natur ed and si mpl e enough to

communi cat e i t qui t e f r eel y t o me. I t i s not i mpossi bl e; f or i t seemst o me t hat t he wi sdom he unquest i onabl y possesses, evi dent l y has beenent r ust ed t o a f ool , seei ng t her e i s so much cont r adi ct i on i n hi sl i f e. - - But as t o j oi ni ng hi s company and becomi ng hi s di sci pl e- - noi ndeed, t hat woul d be the same as becomi ng a f ool onesel f . "

Or he mi ght r eason as f ol l ows: " I f t hi s per son does i ndeed mean tof ur t her what i s good and t r ue ( I do not vent ur e t o deci de t hi s) , he i shel pf ul at l east , i n t hi s r espect , t o Yout hs and i nexper i enced peopl e.For t hey wi l l be benef i t ed, i n t hi s ser i ous l i f e of our s, by l ear ni ng,t he sooner t he bet t er , and ver y t horoughl y- - he opens t he eyes even of t he bl i ndest t o t hi s- - t hat al l t hi s pr et ense of wi shi ng t o l i ve onl yf or goodness and t r ut h cont ai ns a consi derabl e admi xt ur e of t her i di cul ous. He pr oves how r i ght t he poet s of our t i mes ar e when t hey

l et t r ut h and goodness be repr esent ed by some hal f ?wi t t ed f el l ow, onewho i s so st upi d that you can knock down a wal l wi t h hi m. The i dea of exer t i ng one' s sel f , as t hi s man does, of r enounci ng ever ythi ng butpai ns and t r oubl e, t o be at beck and cal l al l day l ong, more eager t hant he busi est f ami l y physi ci an- - and pr ay why? Because he makes a l i vi ngby i t ? No, not i n t he ver y l east ; i t has never occur r ed t o hi m, as f aras I can see, t o want somet hg i n i n ret urn. Does he ear n any money byi t ? No, not a r ed cent - - he has not a r ed cent t o hi s name, and i f hedi d he woul d f or t hwi t h gi ve i t away. Does he, t hen, aspi r e to aposi t i on of honor and di gni t y i n t he st at e? On t he cont r ar y, he l oathesal l wor l dl y honor . And he who, as I sai d, condemns al l wor l dl y honor,and pr act i ces t he ar t of l i vi ng on not hi ng; he who, i f any one, seemsbest f i t t ed t o pass hi s l i f e i n a most comf or t abl e dol ce f arni ent e- - whi ch i s not such a bad t hi ng- - : he l i ves under a gr eater

st r ai n t han any government of f i ci al who i s r ewarded by honor anddi gni t y, l i ves under a gr eat er st r ai n t han any busi ness man who earnsmoney l i ke sand. Why does he exer t hi msel f t hus, or ( why t hi s quest i onabout a mat t er not open t o quest i on ?) why shoul d any one exer t hi msel f t hus- - i n or der t o att ai n t o t he happi ness of bei ng r i di cul ed, mocked,and so f ort h? To be sur e, a pecul i ar ki nd of pl easur e! That one shoul dpush one' s way t hrough a cr owd to r each t he spot wher e money, honor ,and gl or y ar e di st r i but ed- - why, t hat i s per f ect l y under st andabl e; butt o push f orward t o be whi pped: how exal t ed, how Chr i st i an, how st upi d! "

Or he wi l l r eason as f ol l ows: "One hears so many rash opi ni ons aboutt hi s person f r ompeopl e who underst and nothi ng- - and worshi p hi m; and somany severe condemnat i ons of hi m by t hose who, per haps, mi sunder st and


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hi m af t er al l . As f or me, I am not goi ng t o al l ow mysel f t o be accusedof vent ur i ng a hast y opi ni on. I shal l keep ent i r el y cool and cal m; i nf act , whi ch count s f or st i l l mor e, I am consci ous of bei ng asr easonabl e and moderat e wi t h hi m as i s possi bl e. Gr ant now- - whi ch, t obe sur e, I do onl y t o a cer t ai n ext ent - - gr ant even t hat one' s r eason i si mpr essed by t hi s person. What , t hen, i s my opi ni on about hi m? Myopi ni on i s, t hat f or t he pr esent , I can f or m no opi ni on about hi m. I donot mean about hi s cl ai m of bei ng God; f or about t hat I can never i nal l eterni t y have an opi ni on. No, I mean about hi m as a man. Onl y byt he consequences of hi s l i f e shal l we be abl e t o deci de whether he was

an ext r aor di nary person or whether , decei ved by hi s i magi nat i on, heappl i ed t oo hi gh a st andar d, not onl y t o hi msel f , but al so t o humani t yi n general . More I cannot do f or hi m, t r y as I may- - i f he were my onl yf r i end, my own chi l d, I coul d not j udge hi m mor e l eni ent l y, nordi f f erent l y, ei ther . I t f ol l ows f rom t hi s , to be sure, that i n al lpr obabi l i t y, and f or good r easons, I shal l not ever be abl e t o have anyopi ni on about hi m. For i n or der t o be abl e t o f orm an opi ni on I mustf i r st see t he consequences of hi s l i f e, i ncl udi ng hi s ver y l astmoments; t hat i s, he must be dead t hen, and perhaps not even t hen, mayI f or m an opi ni on of hi m. And, even gr ant i ng t hi s, i t i s not r eal l y anopi ni on about hi m, f or he i s t hen no more. No more i s needed t o say whyi t i s i mpossi bl e f or me t o j oi n hi m whi l e he i s l i vi ng. The a u t h or i t y he i s sai d t o show i n hi s t eachi ng can have no deci si vei nf l uence i n my case; f or i t i s sur el y easy to see t hat hi s t hought

moves i n a ci r cl e. He quotes as aut hor i t y t hat whi ch he i s t o pr ove,whi ch i n i t s t ur n can be pr oved onl y by t he consequences of hi s l i f e;pr ovi ded, of cour se, i t i s not connect ed wi t h t hat f i xed i dea of hi sabout bei ng God, because i f i t i s t h e r e f o r e he has t hi saut hor i t y ( because he i s God) t he answer must be: yes- - i f ! So much,however , I may admi t , t hat i f I coul d i magi ne mysel f l i vi ng i n somel at er age, and i f t he consequences of hi s l i f e as shown i n hi st or y hadmade i t pl ai n t hat he was t he ext r aor di nary person he i n a f ormer agecl ai med t o be, t hen i t mi ght ver y wel l be- - i n f act , I mi ght come ver ynear , becomi ng hi s di sci pl e. "

An eccl esi ast i c woul d r eason as f ol l ows: "For an i mpost or and demagoguehe has, t o say t he t r ut h, a r emarkabl e ai r of honest y about hi m; f orwhi ch r eason he cannot be so absol ut el y dangerous, ei t her , even t hough

t he si t uati on l ooks danger ous enough whi l e t he squal l i s at i t s hei ght ,and ever , t hough the si t uat i on l ooks dangerous enough wi t h hi s enor mouspopul ar i t y- - unt i l t he squal l has passed over and t he peopl e- - yes,pr eci sel y the peopl e- - over t hr ow hi m agai n. The honest t hi ng about hi mi s hi s cl ai m t o be the Messi ah when he resembl es hi m so l i t t l e as hedoes. That i s honest , j ust as i f some one i n pr epari ng boguspaper - money made the bi l l s so poor l y t hat ever y one who knows t he l eastabout i t cannot f ai l t o det ect t he f r aud. - - Tr ue enough, we al l l ookf orward to a Messi ah, but surel y no one wi t h any sense expect s Godhi msel f t o come, and every rel i gi ous per son shudders at t he bl asphemousat t i t ude of t hi s per son. We l ook f or ward t o a Messi ah, we ar e al lagr eed on t hat . But t he governance of t he wor l d does not go f orwardt umul t uousl y, by l eaps and bounds; t he devel opment of t he worl d, as i si ndi cat ed by t he very f act t hat i t i s a devel opment , pr oceeds by

evol ut i on, not by r evol ut i on. The t r ue Messi ah wi l l t her ef or e l ookqui t e di f f er ent , and wi l l ar r i ve as t he most gl or i ous f l ower , and t hehi ghest devel opment , of t hat whi ch al r eady exi st s. Thus wi l l t he t r ueMessi ah come, and he wi l l pr oceed i n an ent i r el y di f f er ent f ashi on: hewi l l r ecogni ze t he exi st i ng or der as t he basi s of t hi ngs, he wi l lsummon al l t he cl er gy t o counci l and pr esent t o t hem t he r esul t saccompl i shed by hi m, as wel l as hi s credent i al s- - and t hen, i f he obt ai nt he maj or i t y of t he vot es when t he bal l ot i s cast , he wi l l be recei vedand sal ut ed as t he ext r aor di nary per son, as t he one he i s: t he Messi ah.[ 104]

"However , t her e i s a dupl i ci t y i n t hi s man' s behavi or ; he assumes t oomuch t he rôl e of j udge. I t seems as i f he wi shed to be, at one and the


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same t i me, bot h the j udge who passes sent ence on t he exi st i ng or der of t hi ngs, and t he Messi ah. I f he does not wi sh t o pl ay the r ôl e of t hej udge, t hen why hi s absol ut e i sol at i on, hi s keepi ng at a di st ance f r omal l whi ch has t o do wi t h t he exi st i ng or der of t hi ngs? And i f he doesnot wi sh t o be t he j udge, t hen why hi s f ant ast i c f l i ght f r om r eal i t y t oj oi n t he i gnorant cr owd, t hen why wi t h t he haught i ness of ar evol ut i onar y does he despi se al l t he i nt el l i gence and ef f i ci ency t o bef ound i n the exi st i ng order of t hi ngs? And why does he begi n af r eshal t oget her , and absol ut el y f r om t he bot t om up, by the hel pof - - f i sher men and ar t i sans? May not t he f act t hat he i s an i l l egi t i mat e

chi l d f i t l y char acter i ze hi s ent i r e r el at i on t o t he exi st i ng or der of t hi ngs? On the ot her hand, i f he wi shes t o be onl y t he Messi ah, whyt hen hi s warni ng about put t i ng a pi ece of new cl oth unt o an ol dgarment . [ 105] For t hese words ar e pr eci sel y the watchwords of everyr evol ut i on si nce t hey ar e expr essi ve of a per son' s di scont ent wi t h t heexi st i ng or der and of hi s wi sh t o dest r oy i t . That i s, t hese wor dsr eveal hi s desi r e t o r emove exi st i ng condi t i ons, r at her t han t o bui l don t hem and bett er t hem, i f one i s a ref or mer , or t o devel op t hem t ot hei r hi ghest possi bi l i t y, i f one i s i ndeed t he Messi ah. Thi s i sdupl i ci t y. I n f act, i t i s not f easi bl e t o be bot h j udge and Messi ah.Such dupl i ci t y wi l l sur el y r esul t i n hi s downf al l . [ 106] The cl i max i nt he l i f e of a j udge i s hi s deat h by vi ol ence, and so the poet pi ct ur esi t cor r ectl y; but t he cl i max i n t he l i f e of t he Messi ah cannot possi bl ybe hi s death. Or el se, by that ver y f act , he woul d not be the Messi ah,

t hat i s, he whom t he exi st i ng or der expect s i n or der t o dei f y hi m. Thi sdupl i ci t y has not as yet been recogni zed by t he peopl e, who see i n hi mt hei r Messi ah; but t he exi st i ng order of t hi ngs cannot by any manner of means r ecogni ze hi m as such. The peopl e, t he i dl e and l oaf i ng cr owd,can do so onl y because t hey r epr esent nothi ng l ess t han t he exi st i ngorder of t hi ngs. But as soon as t he dupl i ci t y becomes evi dent t o them,hi s doom i s seal ed. Why, i n t hi s r espect hi s pr edecessor was a f ar mor edef i ni t el y mar ked per sonal i t y, f or he was but one t hi ng, t he j udge. Butwhat conf usi on and t hought l essness, t o wi sh to be both, and what s t i l lworse conf usi on, t o acknowl edge hi s pr edecessor as t he j udge- - t hat i s,i n ot her wor ds, pr eci sel y t o make t he exi st i ng order of t hi ngsr ecept i ve and r i pe f or t he Messi ah who i s t o come af t er t he j udge, andyet not wi sh t o associ at e hi msel f wi t h t he exi st i ng or der of t hi ngs! "

And t he phi l osopher woul d r eason as f ol l ows: "Such dr eadf ul or , r at her ,i nsane vani t y, t hat a si ngl e i ndi vi dual cl ai ms t o be God, i s a t hi nghi t her t o unhear d of . Never bef ore have we been wi t ness t o such anexcess of pur e subj ect i vi t y and sheer negat i on. He has no doct r i nes, nosyst em of phi l osophy, he knows r eal l y nothi ng, he si mpl y keeps onr epeat i ng, and maki ng var i at i ons on, some unconnect ed aphor i st i csentences, some f ew maxi ms, and a coupl e of par abl es by whi ch hedazzl es t he crowd f or whom he al so per f orms s i gns and wonder s; so t hatt hey, i nst ead of l ear ni ng somethi ng, or bei ng i mpr oved, come t o bel i evei n one who i n a most br azen way const ant l y f orces hi s subj ect i ve vi ewson us. Ther e i s not hi ng obj ect i ve or posi t i ve what ever i n hi m and i nwhat he says. I ndeed, f r om a phi l osophi cal poi nt of vi ew, he does notneed t o f ear dest r uct i on f or he has per i shed al r eady, si nce i t i si nher ent i n t he nat ur e of subj ect i vi t y t o per i sh. One may i n al l

f ai r ness admi t t hat hi s subj ect i vi t y i s r emar kabl e and t hat , be i t asi t may wi t h t he ot her mi r acl es, he const ant l y r epeat s hi s mi r acl e wi t ht he f i ve smal l l oaves, [ 107] vi z. , by means of a f ew l yr i c ut t er ancesand some aphor i sms he r ouses t he whol e count r y. But even i f one werei ncl i ned to over l ook hi s i nsane not i on of af f i r mi ng hi msel f t o be God,i t i s an i ncompr ehensi bl e mi st ake, whi ch, t o be sure, demonst r ates al ack of phi l osophi c t r ai ni ng, t o bel i eve t hat God coul d r eveal hi msel f i n t he f or m of an i ndi vi dual . The r ace, t he uni ver sal , t he t ot al , i sGod; but t he r ace sur el y i s not an i ndi vi dual ! Gener al l y speaki ng, t hati s t he i mpudent assumpt i on of subj ect i vi t y, whi ch cl ai ms t hat t hei ndi vi dual i s somet hi ng ext r aor di nar y. But sheer i nsani t y i s shown i nt he cl ai m of an i ndi vi dual t o be God. Because i f t he i nsane t hi ng wer epossi bl e, vi z. t hat an i ndi vi dual mi ght be God, why, t hen t hi s


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i ndi vi dual woul d have t o be worshi pped, and a more beast l y phi l osophi cst upi di t y i s not concei vabl e. "

The ast ut e st atesman woul d r eason as f ol l ows: "That at pr esent t hi sper son wi el ds great power i s undeni abl e- - ent i r el y di sr egar di ng, of cour se, t hi s not i on of hi s t hat he i s God. Foi bl es l i ke t hese, bei ngi di osyncr asi es, do not count agai nst a man and concer n no one, l east of al l a st at esman. A st at esman i s concerned onl y wi t h what power a manwi el ds; and t hat he does wi el d gr eat power cannot , as I have remarked,be deni ed. But what he i nt ends t o do, what hi s ai m i s, I cannot make

out at al l . I f t hi s be cal cul at i on i t must be of an ent i r el y new andpecul i ar or der , not so al t oget her unl i ke what i s ot her wi se cal l edmadness. He possesses poi nt s of consi der abl e st r engt h; but he seems t odef eat , r at her t han t o use, i t ; he expends i t wi t hout h i m s e l f get t i ng any r etur ns. I consi der hi m a phenomenon wi t h whi ch- - as oughtt o be one' s r ul e wi t h al l phenomena- - a wi se man shoul d not haveanyt hi ng t o do, si nce i t i s i mpossi bl e t o cal cul at e hi m or t hecat ast r ophe t hr eat eni ng hi s l i f e. I t i s possi bl e that he wi l l be madeki ng. I t i s possi bl e, I say; but i t i s not i mpossi bl e, or r at her, i t i sj ust as possi bl e, t hat he may end on t he gal l ows. He l acks ear nest nessi n al l hi s endeavor s. Wi t h al l hi s enormous st r etch of wi ngs he onl yhovers and get s nowhere. He does not seem t o have any def i ni t e pl an of pr ocedur e, but j ust hover s. I s i t f or hi s nat i onal i t y he i s f i ght i ng,or does he ai m at a communi st i c r evol ut i on? Does he wi sh t o est abl i sh a

r epubl i c or a ki ngdom? Wi t h whi ch par t y does he af f i l i at e hi msel f t ocombat whi ch par t y, or does he wi sh t o f i ght al l par t i es ?

"I have anythi ng t o do wi t h hi m?- - No, t hat woul d be t he very l ast t hi ngt o ent er my mi nd. I n f act , I t ake al l possi bl e pr ecaut i ons t o avoi dhi m. I keep qui et , under t ake not hi ng, act as i f I di d not exi st ; f orone cannot even cal cul ate how he mi ght i nt er f ere wi t h one' sundert aki ngs, be t hey ever so uni mport ant , or at any r ate, how onemi ght become i nvol ved i n t he vor t ex of hi s act i vi t i es. Danger ous, i n acer t ai n sense enor mousl y danger ous, i s t hi s man. But I cal cul ate t hat Imay ensnar e hi m pr eci sel y by doi ng not hi ng. For overt hr own he must be.And t hi s i s done most saf el y by l et t i ng hi m do i t hi msel f , by l et t i nghi m st umbl e over hi msel f . I have, at l east at t hi s moment , notsuf f i ci ent power t o br i ng about hi s f al l ; i n f act , I know no one who

has. To undert ake t he l east t hi ng agai nst hi m now, means t o be crushedone' s sel f . No, my pl an i s const ant l y to exer t onl y negat i ve r esi st ancet o hi m, t hat i s, t o do not hi ng, and he wi l l pr obabl y i nvol ve hi msel f i nt he enormous consequences he dr aws af t er hi m, t i l l i n the end he wi l lt r ead on hi s own t r ai n, as i t wer e, and t hus f al l . "

And the st eady ci t i zen woul d reason as f ol l ows ( whi ch woul d thenbecome the opi ni on of hi s f ami l y) : "Now, l et us be human, everythi ngi s good when done i n moderat i on, t oo l i t t l e and t oo much spoi leveryt hi ng, and as a Fr ench sayi ng has i t whi ch I once hear d at r avel i ng sal esman use: every power whi ch exceeds i t sel f comes t o af al l - - and as t o t hi s per son, hi s f al l i s cer t ai nl y sur e enough. I haveear nest l y spoken t o my son and warned and admoni shed hi m not t o dr i f ti nt o evi l ways and j oi n t hat person. And why? Because al l peopl e ar e

r unni ng af t er hi m. That i s t o say, what sor t of peopl e? I dl er s andl oaf ers, st r eet?wal ker s and t r amps, who run af t er everyt hi ng. Butmi ght l y f ew of t he men who have house and pr oper t y, and nobody who i swi se and r espect ed, none af t er whom I set my cl ock, nei t her counci l l orJ ohnson, nor senator Anderson, nor t he weal t hy br oker Nel son- - oh no!t hey know what ' s what . And as t o t he mi ni st r y who ought t o know mostabout such mat t ers - - ah, t hey wi l l have none of hi m. What was i t past orGr een sai d i n the cl ub the ot her eveni ng? ' That man wi l l yet come t o at err i bl e end, ' he sai d. And Gr een, he can do more t han pr each, youought n' t t o hear hi m Sundays i n chur ch so much as Mondays i n t hecl ub- - I j ust wi shed I had hal f hi s knowl edge of af f ai r s! He sai d qui t ecor r ect l y, and as i f spoken out of my own hear t : ' Onl y i dl er s andl oaf ers ar e runni ng af t er t hat man. ' And why do t hey r un af t er hi m?


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Because he per f orms some mi r acl es. But who i s sure t hey are mi r acl es,or t hat he can conf er t he same power on hi s di sci pl es? And, i n anycase, a mi r acl e i s somet hng mi ght l y uncer t ai n, wher eas t he cer t ai n i st he cer t ai n. Ever y ser i ous f ather who has gr own?up chi l dr en must bet r ul y al armed l est hi s sons be seduced and j oi n t hat man t ogether wi t ht he desper ate charact ers who f ol l ow hi m- - desperat e char act ers who havenot hi ng t o l ose. And even t hese, how does he hel p them? Why, one mustbe mad t o wi sh t o be hel ped i n t hi s f ashi on. Even t he poor est beggar i sbr ought t o a worse est ate than hi s f ormer one, i s brought t o a pass hecoul d have escaped by r emai ni ng what he was, t hat i s, a beggar and no

more. "And the mocker , not t he one hat ed on account of hi s mal i ce, but t he

one who i s admi r ed f or hi s wi t and l i ked f or hi s good natur e, he woul dr eason as f ol l ows: " I t i s, af t er al l , a r i ch i dea whi ch i s goi ng t opr ove usef ul t o al l of us, t hat an i ndi vi dual who i s i n no wi sedi f f er ent f r om us cl ai ms t o be God. I f t hat i s not bei ng a benef act orof t he race then I don' t know what char i t y and benef i cence ar e. I f weassume t hat t he characteri st i c of bei ng God- - wel l , who i n al l t he wor l dwoul d have hi t on t hat i dea? How t r ue t hat such an i dea coul d not haveent er ed i nt o the hear t of man [ 108] - - but i f we assume that i t consi st si n l ooki ng i n no wi se di f f er ent f r om t he r est of us, and i n not hi ngel se: why, t hen we ar e al l gods. Q. E. D. Thr ee cheers f or hi m, t hei nvent or of a di scover y so ext r aordi nari l y i mpor t ant f or manki nd!

Tomor r ow I , t he under si gned, shal l pr ocl ai m t hat I am God, and t hedi scover er at l east wi l l not be abl e t o cont r adi ct me wi t houtcont r adi ct i ng hi msel f . At ni ght al l cat s ar e gr ay; and i f t o be Godconsi st s i n l ooki ng l i ke t he r est of us, absol ut el y and al t oget her l i ket he r est of manki nd: why, t hen i t i s ni ght and we al l ar e . . . , orwhat i s i t I want ed t o say: we al l are God, every one of us, and no onehas a r i ght t o say he i sn' t as wel l of f as hi s nei ghbor . Thi s i s t hemost r i di cul ous si t uat i on i magi nabl e, t he cont r adi ct i on her e bei ng t hegr eat est , i magi nabl e, and a cont r adi ct i on al ways maki ng f or a comi calef f ect . But t hi s i s i n no wi se my di scover y, but sol el y t hat of t hedi scoverer : t hi s i dea t hat a man of exact l y t he same appear ance as t her est of us, onl y not hal f so wel l dr essed as the aver age man, t hat i s,a poor l y dr essed person who, r ather t han bei ng God, seems t o i nvi t e t heat t ent i on of t he soci et y f or t he r el i ef of t he poor - - t hat he i s God! I

am onl y sor r y f or t he di r ector of t he char i t abl e soci et y t hat he wi l lnot get a rai se f r om t hi s gener al advancement of t he human r ace butt hat he wi l l , r at her , l ose hi s j ob on account of t hi s, et c. "

Ah, my f r i end, I know wel l what I am doi ng, I know my responsi bi l i t y,and my soul i s al t ogether assur ed of t he cor r ect ness of my pr ocedur e.Now t hen, i magi ne your sel f a cont emporary of hi m who i nvi t es. I magi neyour sel f t o be a suf f er er, but consi der wel l t o what you exposeyour sel f i n becomi ng hi s di sci pl e and f ol l owi ng hi m. You exposeyour sel f t o l osi ng pr acti cal l y ever yt hi ng i n t he eyes of al l wi se andsensi bl e and respect ed men. He who i nvi t es demands of you t hat yousur r ender al l , gi ve up everyt hi ng; but t he common sense of your ownt i mes and of your cont empor ar i es wi l l not gi ve you up, but wi l l j udget hat t o j oi n hi m i s madness. And mocker y wi l l descend cr uel l y upon you;

f or whi l e i t wi l l al most spar e hi m, out of compassi on, you wi l l bet hought madder t han a march?har e f or becomi ng hi s di sci pl e. Peopl e wi l lsay: "That h e i s a wr ong?headed ent husi ast , t hat can' t be hel ped.Wel l and good; but t o become- - i n al l ser i ousness- - hi s di sci pl e, t hat i st he gr eat est pi ece of madness i magi nabl e. There surel y i s but onepossi bi l i t y of bei ng madder t han a madman, whi ch i s t he hi gher madnessof j oi ni ng a madman i n al l ser i ousness and r egardi ng hi m as a sage. "

Do not say that t he whol e pr esent at i on above i s exaggerated. Ah, youknow ( but , possi bl y, have not f ul l y r eal i zed i t ) t hat among al l t her espect abl e men, among al l t he enl i ght ened and sensi bl e men, t here wasbut one- - t hough i t i s easi l y possi bl e t hat one or t he ot her of t hem,i mpel l ed by cur i osi t y, ent er ed i nt o conver sat i on wi t h hi m- - t hat t her e


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was but one among t hem who sought hi m i n al l ser i ousness. [ 109] And hecame t o hi m- - i n t he ni ght ! And as you know, i n t he ni ght one wal ks onf orbi dden paths, one chooses t he ni ght t o go to pl aces of whi ch onedoes not l i ke t o be known as a f r equent er. Consi der t he opi ni on of t hei nvi t er i mpl i d i n t hi s- - i t was a di sgr ace t o vi si t hi m, somet hi ng noman of honor coul d af f or d t o do, as l i t t l e as t o pay a ni ght l y vi si tt o- - but no, I do not car e to say i n so many words what woul d f ol l owt hi s " as l i t t l e as. "

Come hi t her t o me now al l ye t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden, and I wi l l

gi ve you rest .THE SECOND PHASE OF HI S LI FE

Hi s end was what al l t he wi se and t he sensi bl e, t he st at esmen andt he ci t i zens and the mocker s, et c. , pr edi ct ed i t woul d be. And as wasl at er spoken t o hi m, i n a moment when, i t woul d seem, t he most har denedought t o have been moved t o sympat hy, and t he very st ones t o t ear s: "Hesaved ot her s; l et hi m save hi msel f , " [ 110] and as i t has been r epeatedt housands upon thousands of t i mes, by t housands upon thousands: "Whatwas i t he spoke of bef ore, sayi ng hi s hour was not yet come [111] - - i si t come now, perchance?" - - I t has been r epeat ed, al as, t he whi l e t hesi ngl e i ndi vi dual , t he bel i ever , shudder s whenever consi der i ng- - whi l eyet unabl e to r ef r ai n f r om gazi ng i nt o the dept h of what t o men i s a

meani ngl ess absurdi t y- - shudders when consi der i ng t hat God i n humangui se, t hat hi s di vi ne teachi ng, t hat t hese si gns and wonder s whi chmi ght have made a ver y Sodom and Gomorr ha ref orm i t s ways, i n r eal i t yproduced t he exact opposi t e, and caused the t eacher t o be shunned,hated, despi sed.

Who he i s, one can recogni ze more easi l y now when t he power f ul onesand t he r espected ones, and al l t he pr ecaut i onary measures of t hoseuphol di ng t he exi st i ng or der, have cor r ect ed any wr ong concept i on onemi ght have ent ert ai ned about hi m at f i r st - - now when t he peopl e havel ost t hei r pat i ence t o wai t f or a Messi ah, seei ng t hat hi s l i f e,i nst ead of r i si ng i n di gni t y, l apsed i nt o ever gr eat er degr adat i on.Who, pr ay, does not r ecogni ze t hat a man i s j udged accor di ng t o thesoci ety i n whi ch he moves- - and now, t hi nk of hi s soci et y! I ndeed, hi s

soci ety one mi ght wel l desi gnat e as equi val ent t o bei ng expel l ed f r om"human soci et y"; f or hi s soci et y ar e t he l owest cl asses of t he peopl e,wi t h si nners and publ i cans among them, peopl e whom ever ybody wi t h t hesl i ght est sel f ?r espect shuns f or t he sake of hi s good name andr eput at i on- - and a good name and r eput at i on surel y ar e about t he l eastone can wi sh to pr eser ve. I n hi s company there are, f ur t hermore, l eperswhom every one f l ees, madmen who can onl y i nspi r e ter r or, i nval i ds andwr et ches- - squal or and mi sery. Who, t hen, i s t hi s per son t hat , t houghf ol l owed by such a company, st i l l i s t he obj ect of t he per secut i on of t he mi ght y ones? He i s one despi sed as a seducer of men, an i mpost or , abl asphemer! And i f any one enj oyi ng a good r eput at i on r ef r ai ns f r omexpr essi ng cont empt of hi m, i t i s r eal l y onl y a ki nd of compassi on; f ort o f ear hi m i s, t o be sur e, somet hi ng di f f er ent .

Such, t hen, i s hi s appearance; f or t ake car e not t o be i nf l uenced byanythi ng that you may have l ear ned af t er t he event - - as, how hi s exal t edspi r i t , wi t h an al most di vi ne maj est y, never was so markedl y mani f estas j ust t hem. Ah, my f r i end, i f you were the cont emporary of one who i snot onl y hi msel f "excl uded f r omt he synagogue" but , as you wi l lr emember , whose very hel p meant bei ng "excl uded f r om t he synagogue" - - Isay, i f you were t he cont emporary of an out cast , who i n every respectanswers t o that t er m, ( f or ever ythi ng has t wo si des) : t hen you wi l lscar cel y be t he man t o expl ai n al l t hi s i n t er ms di r ect l y cont r ar y toappear ances; [ 112] or, whi ch i s t he same t hi ng, you wi l l not be t he"si ngl e i ndi vi dual " whi ch, as you wel l know, no one want s t o be, and t obe whi ch i s r egarded as a ri di cul ous oddi t y, perhaps even as a cr i me.


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And now- - f or t hey ar e hi s soci et y chi ef l y- - as t o hi s apost l es! Whatabsur di t y; t hough not - - what new absur di t y, f or i t i s qui t e i n keepi ngwi t h t he rest - - hi s apost l es ar e some f i sher men, i gnorant peopl e who butt he ot her day f ol l owed t hei r t r ade. And t omor r ow, t o pi l e one absur di t yon t he ot her , t hey ar e t o go out i nt o t he wi de wor l d and t r ansf or m i t saspect . And i t i s he who cl ai ms t o be God, and t hese are hi s dul yappoi nt ed apost l es! Now, i s he t o make hi s apost l es respected, or ar eper haps t he apost l es t o make hi m r espect ed? I s he, t he i nvi t er , i s hean absurd dr eamer? I ndeed, hi s process i on woul d make i t seem so; nopoet coul d have hi t on a bet t er i dea. A t eacher, a sage, or whatever

you pl ease t o cal l hi m, a ki nd of st r anded geni us, who af f i r ms hi msel f t o be God- - sur r ounded by a j ubi l ant mob, hi msel f accompani ed by somepubl i cans, cri mi nal s, and l eper s; near est t o hi m a chosen f ew, hi sapost l es. And t hese j udges so excel l ent l y competent as t o what t r ut hi s, t hese f i sher men, t ai l or s, and shoe?maker s, t hey do not onl y admi r ehi m, t hei r t eacher and mast er , whose ever y word i s wi sdom and t r ut h;t hey do not onl y see what no one el se can see, hi s exal t edness andhol i ness, nay, but t hey see God i n hi m and wor shi p hi m. Cert ai nl y, nopoet coul d i nvent a bet t er si t uat i on, and i t i s doubt f ul i f t he poetwoul d not f or get t he addi t i onal i t em t hat t hi s same per son i s f ear ed byt he mi ght y ones and that t hey ar e schemi ng to dest r oy hi m. Hi s deat hal one can reassur e and sat i sf y t hem. They have set an i gnomi ni ouspuni shment on j oi ni ng hi s company, on merel y accept i ng ai d f r om hi m;and yet t hey do not f eel secur e, and cannot f eel al t ogether r eassured

t hat t he whol e thi ng i s mere wr ongheaded ent husi asm and absurdi t y. Thust he mi ght y ones. The popul ace who had i dol i zed hi m, t he popul ace havepr et t y near l y gi ven hi m up, onl y i n moment s does t hei r ol d concept i onof hi m bl aze f or t h agai n. I n al l hi s exi st ence t her e i s not a shr ed t hemost envi ous of t he envi ous mi ght envy hi m t o have. Nor do t he mi ghtyones envy hi s l i f e. They demand hi s deat h f or saf et y' s sake, so t hatt hey may have peace agai n, when al l has r et urned t o t he accust omedways, peace havi ng been made st i l l more secure by the warni ng exampl eof hi s deat h.

These are t he t wo phases of hi s l i f e. I t began wi t h t he peopl e' si dol i zi ng hi m, wher eas al l who wer e i dent i f i ed wi t h t he exi st i ng or derof t hi ngs, al l who had power and i nf l uence, vengef ul l y, but i n acowardl y and hi dden manner, l ai d thei r snar es f or hi m- - i n whi ch he was

caught , t hen? Yes, but he per cei ved i t wel l . Fi nal l y the peopl edi scover t hat t hey had been decei ved i n hi m, t hat t he f ul f i l ment hewoul d br i ng t hem answer ed l east of al l t o t hei r expect at i ons of wonder sand mount ai ns of gol d. So t he peopl e desert ed hi m and the mi ghty onesdr ew t he snar e about hi m- - i n whi ch he was caught , t hen? Yes, but hepercei ved i t wel l . The mi ght y ones dr ew t he snare t ogether abouthi m- - and ther eupon the peopl e, who t hen saw t hemsel ves compl et el ydecei ved, t ur ned agai nst hi m i n hat r ed and rage.

And- - t o i ncl ude t hat t oo- - compassi on woul d say; or, among thecompassi onate one- - f or compassi on i s soci abl e, and l i kes t o assembl et ogether, and you wi l l f i nd spi t ef ul ness and envy keepi ng company wi t hwhi ni ng sof t ?headedness: si nce, as a heat hen phi l osopher observed l ongago, no one i s so ready t o sympat hi ze as an envi ous person- - among t he

compassi onat e ones t he ver di ct woul d be: i t i s r eal l y too bad t hat t hi sgood?hear t ed f el l ow i s t o come to such an end. For he was r eal l y a goodsor t of f el l ow. Gr ant i ng i t was an exagger at i on t o cl ai m t o be God, her eal l y was good t o t he poor and t he needy, even i f i n an odd manner , bybecomi ng one of t hem and goi ng about i n t he company of beggars. Butt her e i s somet hi ng t ouchi ng i n i t al l , and one can' t hel p but f eelsorr y f or t he poor f el l ow who i s t o suf f er such a mi serabl e deat h. Foryou may say what you wi l l , and condemn hi m as st r ongl y as you wi l l , Icannot hel p f eel i ng pi t y f or hi m. I am not so hear d?hear t ed as not t of eel compassi on. "

We have ar r i ved at t he l ast phase, not of Sacr ed Hi st ory, as handeddown by the apost l es and di sci pl es who bel i eved i n Chr i st , but of


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pr of ane hi st or y, i t s count er par t .

Come hi t her now, al l ye t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden: t hat i s, i f youf eel t he need, even i f vou ar e of al l suf f er er s t he most mi ser abl e- - i f you f eel t he need of bei ng hel ped i n t hi s f ashi on, t hat i s, t o f al li nt o st i l l gr eat er suf f er i ng, t hen come hi t her , he wi l l hel p you.

I I I

THE I NVI TATI ON AND THE I NVI TER

Let us f or get f or a l i t t l e whi l e what , i n t he str i ctest sense,const i t ut es t he "of f ense"; whi ch i s, t hat t he i nvi t er cl ai ms t o be God.Let us assume t hat he di d not cl ai m t o be more t han a man, and l et ust hen consi der t he i nvi t er and hi s i nvi t at i on.

The i nvi t at i on i s sur el y i nvi t i ng enough. How, t hen, shal l oneexpl ai n t he bad r el at i on whi ch di d exi st , t hi s t er r i bl y wr ong r el at i on,t hat no one, or pr act i cal l y no one, accept ed t he i nvi t at i on; t hat , ont he cont r ar y, al l , or pr acti cal l y al l - - al as! and was i t not pr eci sel yal l who wer e i nvi t ed?- - t hat pr acti cal l y al l wer e at one i n of f er i ngr esi st ance t o t he i nvi t er , i n wi shi ng t o put hi m t o deat h, and i nset t i ng a puni shment on accept i ng ai d f r om hi m? Shoul d one not expectt hat af t er an i nvi t at i on such as he i ssued al l , al l who suf f er ed, woul d

come crowdi ng to hi m, and t hat al l t hey who were not suf f er i ng woul dcr owd t o hi m, t ouched by t he thought of such compass i on and mercy, andt hat t hus t he whol e race woul d be at one i n admi r i ng and ext ol l i ng thei nvi t er ? How i s t he opposi t e to be expl ai ned? For t hat t hi s was theout come i s cer t ai n enough; and the f act t hat i t al l happened i n thoser emot e t i mes i s surel y no pr oof t hat t he gener at i on t hen l i vi ng wasworse t han other generat i ons! How coul d any one be so t hought l ess as t obel i eve that ? For whoever gi ves any thought t o the matt er wi l l easi l ysee t hat i t happened i n t hat generat i on onl y because t hey chanced t o becont emporaneous wi t h hi m. How t hen expl ai n t hat i t happened- - t hat al lcame t o t hat t er r i bl y wr ong end, so opposi t e to what ought t o have beenexpect ed?

Wel l , i n t he f i r st pl ace, i f t he i nvi t er had l ooked t he f i gur e whi ch

pur el y human compassi on woul d have hi m be; and, i n the second pl ace, i f he had ent er t ai ned t he pur el y human concept i on of what const i t ut esman' s mi ser y- - why, t hen i t woul d probabl y not have happened.

I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e: Accor di ng t o t hi s humanconcept i on of hi m he shoul d have been a most gener ous and sympat het i cper son, and at t he same t i me possessed of al l qual i f i cat i ons r equi si t ef or bei ng abl e t o hel p i n al l t r oubl es of t hi s wor l d, ennobl i ng t hehel p thus ext ended by a pr of ound and hear t f el t human compass i on. Wi t hal( so t hey woul d i magi ne hi m) he shoul d al so have been a man of somedi st i nct i on and not wi t hout a cer t ai n amount of humansel f ?asser t i on- - t he consequence of whi ch woul d be, however , t hat hewoul d nei t her have been abl e, i n hi s compassi on, t o r each down t o al lsuf f erer s, nor yet t o have compr ehended, f ul l y what const i t ut es t he

mi ser y of man and of manki nd.

But di vi ne compassi on, t he i nf i ni t e u n c o n c e r n whi ch t akest hought onl y of t hose t hat suf f er , and not i n t he l east of one' s sel f ,and whi ch wi t h absol ut e unconcer n t akes thought of al l t hat suf f er:t hat wi l l al ways seem t o men onl y a ki nd of madness, and t hey wi l l everbe puzzl ed whether t o l augh or t o weep about i t . Even i f nothi ng el sehad mi l i t at ed agai nst t he i nvi t er , t hi s al one woul d have beersuf f i ci ent t o make hi s l ot har d i n t he wor l d.

Let a man but t r y a l i t t l e whi l e to pr act i ce di vi ne compassi on, t hati s, t o be somewhat unconcerned i n hi s compassi on. , and you wi l l at oncepercei ve what t he opi ni on of manki nd woul d be. For exampl e: l et one who


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coul d occupy some hi gher r ank i n soci ety, l et hi m not ( pr eser vi ng al lt he whi l e t he di st i ncti on of hi s posi t i on) l avi shl y gi ve t o t he poor ,and phi l ant hr opi cal l y ( i . e. i n a super i or f ashi on) vi si t t he poor andt he si ck and t he wr et ched- - no, l et hi m gi ve up al t oget her t hedi st i nct i on of hi s posi t i on and i n al l ear nest choose the company of t he poor and t he l owl y, l et hi m l i ve al t oget her wi t h t he peopl e, wi t hworkmen, hodmen, mor t armi xers, and the l i ke! Ah, i n a qui et moment ,when not act ual l y b e h o l d i n g hi m, most of us wi l l be moved t ot ear s by t he mere t hought of i t ; but no sooner woul d t hey s e e hi m i nt hi s company- - hi m who mi ght have at t ai ned t o honor and di gni t y i n t he

worl d- - see hi m wal ki ng al ong i n such goodl y company, wi t h abr i ckl ayer ' s appr ent i ce on hi s r i ght si de and a cobbl er ' s boy on hi sl ef t , but - - wel l , what t hen? Fi r st t hey woul d devi se a t housandexpl anat i ons t o expl ai n t hat i t i s because of queer not i ons, orobst i nacy, or pr i de, or vani t y that he chooses t hi s mode of l i f e. Andeven i f t hey woul d r ef r ai n f r om at t r i but i ng t o hi m t hese evi l mot i vest hey wi l l never be reconci l ed wi t h t he si ght of hi m- - i n t hi s company.The nobl est person i n the wor l d wi l l be t empt ed t o l augh, t he momenthe s e e s i t .

And i f al l t he cl er gymen i n t he wor l d, whet her i n vel vet or i n si l kor i n br oadcl ot h or i n sat i n, cont r adi ct ed me I woul d say: "You l i e,you onl y decei ve peopl e wi t h your Sunday sermons. Because i t wi l lal ways be possi bl e f or a cont emporary t o say about one so compassi onate

( who, i t i s t o be kept i n mi nd, i s our cont empor ar y) : "I bel i eve he i sact uated by vani t y, and that i s why I l augh and mock at hi m; but i f hewere t r ul y compassi onate, or had I been cont emporary wi t h hi m, t henobl e one- - why t hen!" And now, as t o t hose exal t ed ones "who were notunderst ood by men"- - t o speak i n the f ashi on of t he usual r un of sermons- - why, sure enough, t hey are dead. I n t hi s f ashi on t hese peopl esucceed i n pl ayi ng hi de and seek. You si mpl y assume t hat everycont emporary who vent ur es out so f ar i s act uated onl y by vani t y; and ast o the depar t ed, you assume that t hey ar e dead and t hat t hey,t heref ore, were among t he gl or i ous ones.

I t must be remembered, t o be sur e, t hat every person, wi shes t omai nt ai n hi s own l evel i n l i f e, and t hi s f i xed poi nt , t hi s st eadyendeavor , i s one of t he causes whi ch l i mi t h u m a n compassi on t o a

cer t ai n spher e. The cheesemonger wi l l t hi nk t hat t o l i ve l i ke t hei nmate of a poor house i s goi ng too f ar i n expr essi ng one' s sympathy;f or t he sympat hy of t he cheese?monger i s bi ased i n one regard whi ch i s,hi s r egard of t he opi ni on of other cheese?mongers and of t hesal oon?keeper s. Hi s compassi on i s t her ef or e not wi t hout i t sl i mi t at i ons. And t hus wi t h ever y cl ass- - and t he j our nal i st s, l i vi ng ast hey do on t he penni es of t he poor , under t he pr etense of assert i ng anddef endi ng t hei r r i ght s, t hey woul d be t he f i r st t o heap r i di cul e ont hi s unl i mi t ed compassi on.

To i dent i f y one' s sel f whol l y and l i t er al l y wi t h hi m who i s mostmi ser abl e ( and t hi s, onl y t hi s, i s d i v i n e compassi on) , t hat i st o men t he " t oo much" by whi ch one i s moved to t ear s, i n a qui et Sundayhour , and about whi ch one unconsci ousl y bur st s i nt o l aught er when one

sees i t i n r e a l i t y. The f act i s , i t i s t oo exal t ed a s i ght f ordai l y use; one must have i t at some di st ance t o be abl e t o support i t .Men ar e not so f ami l i ar wi t h exal t ed vi r t ue to bel i eve i t at once. Thecont r adi cti on seen her e i s, t her ef or e, t hat t hi s exal t ed vi r t uemani f es t s i t sel f i n real i t y, i n dai l y l i f e, qui te l i t eral l y the dai l yl i f e. When t he poet or t he or at or i l l ust r at es t hi s exal t ed vi r t ue, t hati s, pi ctures i t i n a poet i cal di st ance f r om r eal l i f e, men ar e moved;but t o see t hi s exal t ed vi rt ue i n real i t y, t he r eal i t y of dai l y l i f e,here i n Copenhagen, on t he Market Square, i n the mi dst of busyevery?day l i f e ! And when t he poet or t he or ator does t ouch peopl e i ti s onl y f or a shor t t i me, and j ust so l ong ar e men abl e t o bel i eve,al most , i n t hi s exal t ed vi r t ue. But t o see i t i n r eal l i f e ever y day !To be sur e, t here i s an enormous cont r adi ct i on i n t he st atement t hat


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t he most exal t ed of al l has become the most ever y?day occur r ence!

I nsof ar , t hen, i t was cer t ai n i n advance what woul d be t he i nvi t er ' sf at e, even i f not hi ng el se had cont r i but ed to hi s doom. The absol ut e,[ 113] or al l whi ch makes f or an absol ute st andard, becomes by t hat ver yf act t he vi ct i m. For men are wi l l i ng enough t o pr act i ce sympathy andsel f ?deni al , ar e wi l l i ng enough t o st r i ve f or wi sdom, et c. ; but t heywi sh t hemsel ves t o determi ne the st andar d and t o have that r ead: " t o acer t ai n degr ee. " They do not wi sh to do away wi t h al l t hese spl endi dvi r t ues. On t he cont r ar y, t hey want at a bargai n and i n al l comf or t t o

have t he appear ance and the name of pr act i ci ng t hem. Trul y di vi necompassi on i s t her ef or e necessar i l y t he vi ct i m so soon as i t showsi t sel f i n t hi s wor l d. I t descends on ear t h out of compassi on f ormanki nd, and yet i t i s manki nd who t r ampl e upon i t . And whi l st i t i swanderi ng about among t hem, scar cel y even the

suf f er er dar es to f l ee t o i t , f or f ear of manki nd. The f act i s, i t i smost i mpor t ant f or t he wor l d to keep up t he appear ance of bei ngcompassi onate; but t hi s i t made out by di vi ne compassi on t o be af al sehood and t heref ore: away wi t h di vi ne compassi on!

But now t he i nvi t er r epr esent ed pr eci sel y t hi s di vi ne compassi on andt her ef or e he was sacr i f i ced, and t her ef or e even t hose that suf f er edf l ed f r om hi m; f or t hey compr ehended ( and, humanl y speaki ng, ver y

exact l y) , what i s t r ue of most human i nf i r mi t i es, t hat one i s bet t erof f t o r emai n what one i s t han t o be hel ped by hi m.

I n t he second pl ace: t he i nvi t er l i kewi se had an other , andal t ogether di f f erent , concept i on t han t he pur el y human one as t o whatconst i t ut es man' s mi sery. And i n t hi s sense onl y he was i nt ent onhel pi ng; f or he had wi t h hi m nei t her money, nor medi ci ne, nor anythi ngel se of t hi s ki nd.

I ndeed, t he i nvi t er ' s appear ance i s so al t oget her di f f er ent f r om whathuman compassi on woul d i magi ne i t t hat he i s a downr i ght of f ense t omen. I n a pur el y human sense t here i s somet hi ng posi t i vel y cruelsomet hi ng out r ageous, somet hi ng so exasperat i ng as t o make one wi sh t oki l l t hat per son i n t he f act of hi s i nvi t i ng t o hi m t he poor and t he

' si ck and t he suf f eri ng, and t hen not bei ng abl e to do anythi ng f ort hem, except t o pr omi se t hem r emi ssi on of t hei r si ns. "Let us be human,man i s no spi r i t . And when a person i s about t o di e of st arvat i on andyou say t o hi m: I pr omi se you t he gr aci ous r emi ssi on of your si ns t hati s revol t i ng cruel t y. I n f act i t i s r i di cul ous, t hough t oo ser i ous amatt er t o l augh about . "

Wel l ( f or i n quot i ng t hese sent i ment s I wi sh mer el y to l et of f endedman di scover t he cont r adi ct i on and exagger ate i t i t i s not I who wi sht o exagger at e) , wel l t hen, t he real i nt ent i on of t he i nvi t er was t opoi nt out t hat si n i s t he dest r uct i on of manki nd. Behol d now, t hatmakes r oom, as t he i nvi t at i on al so made room, al most as i f he had sai dpr ocul , o pr ocul est e pr of ani , or as i f , even t hough he had not sai di t , a voi ce had been hear d whi ch t hus i nt erpr eted t he "come hi t her" of

t he i nvi t at i on. Ther e sur el y ar e not many suf f er er s who wi l l f ol l ow t hei nvi t at i on. And ever , i f t her e were one who, al t hough awar e t hat f r omt hi s i nvi t er no act ual wor l dl y hel p was to be expect ed, never t hel esshad sought r ef uge wi t h hi m, t ouched by hi s compass i on: now even he wi l lf l ee f r om hi m. For i s i t not al most a bi t of shar p pr acti ce t o pr of esst o be here out of compassi on, and then t o speak about si n?

I ndeed, i t i s a pi ece of cunni ng, unl ess you ar e al t oget her cer t ai nt hat you ar e a si nner . I f i t i s t oot h?ache whi ch bot her s you, or i f your house i s bur ned t o t he gr ound, but i f i t has escaped you that youar e a si nner why, t hen i t was cunni ng on hi s par t . I t i s a bi t of shar ppr acti ce of hi m t o asser t : "I heal al l manner of di sease, " i n or der t osay, when one appr oaches hi m: " t he f act i s, I r ecogni ze onl y one


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di sease, whi ch i s si n of t hat I shal l cur e al l t hem ' t hat l abor and ar eheavy l aden, ' al l t hem t hat l abor t o wor k t hemsel ves f r ee of t he powerof si n, t hat l abor t o r esi st t he evi l , and t o vanqui sh t hei r weakness,but succeed onl y i n bei ng l aden. " Of t hi s mal ady he cur es " al l "persons; even i f t here were but a si ngl e one who t ur ned t o hi m becauseof t hi s mal ady: he heal s al l persons. But t o come t o hi m on account of any ot her di sease, and onl y because of t hat , i s about as usef ul as t ol ook up an eye?doct or when you have f r act ured your l eg.

CHRI STI ANI TY AS THE ABSOLUTE; CONTEMPORANEOUSNESS

WI TH CHRI ST

Wi t h i t s i nvi t at i on t o al l "t hat l abor and ar e heavy l aden"Chr i st i ani t y has ent er ed the wor l d, not as t he cl er gy whi mper i ngl y andf al sel y i nt r oduce i t as a shi ni ng par agon of mi l d gr ounds of consol at i on; but as t he absol ut e. God wi l l s i t so because of Hi s l ove,but i t i s God who wi l l s i t , and He wi l l s i t as He wi l l s i t . He does notchoose t o have Hi s nat ure changed by man and become a ni ce, t hat i s t osay, humane, God; but He chooses t o change the nat ure of man because of Hi s l ove f or t hem. Nei t her does He car e t o hear any human i mper t i nenceconcerni ng t he why and wheref ore of Chr i st i ani t y, and why i t ent eredt he wor l d: i t i s, and i s t o be, t he absol ut e. Ther ef or e al l t her el at i ve expl anat i ons whi ch may have been vent ur ed as t o i t s why and

wher ef or e ar e ent i r el y besi de the poi nt . Possi bl y, t hese expl anat i onswere suggest ed by a ki nd of human compass i on whi ch bel i eves i tnecessary to haggl e a bi t God ver y l i kel y does not know t he nat ur e of man ver y wel l , Hi s demands are a bi t exorbi t ant , and t heref ore t hecl ergymen j ust haggl e and beat Hi m down a bi t . [ 114] Maybe the cl ergyhi t upon t hat i dea i n order t o st and wel l wi t h men and r eap someadvant age f r om pr eachi ng t he gospel ; f or i f i t s demands are r educed t ot he pur el y human, t o t he demands whi ch ar i se i n man' s hear t , why, t henmen wi l l of cour se thi nk wel l of i t , and of cour se al so of t he ami abl epr eacher who knows how t o make Chri st i ani t y so mi l d i f t he Apost l es hadbeen abl e to do that t he wor l d woul d have est eemed t hem hi ghl y al so i nt hei r t i me. However , al l t hi s i s t he absol ut e. But what i s i t good f or ,t hen i s i t not a downr i ght t orment ? Why, yes, you may say so: f r om t hest andpoi nt of t he r el at i ve, t he absol ut e i s t he gr eat est t or ment . I n

hi s dul l , l anqui d, sl uggi sh moment s, when man i s domi nated by hi ssensual nat ur e, Chr i st i ani t y i s an absur di t y t o hi m si nce i t i s notcommensurabl e wi t h any def i ni t e "wheref ore?" But of what use i s i t ,t hen? Answer: peace! i t i s t he absol ut e. And t hus i t must ber epr esent ed; t hat i s, i n a f ashi on whi ch makes i t appear as anabsur di t y t o t he sensual nat ur e of man. And ther ef or e i s i t , ah, sot r ue and, i n st i l l another sense, so t r ue when t he wor l dl y- wi se man whoi s cont emporaneous wi t h Chr i st condemns hi m wi t h t he words: "he i sl i t er al l y not hi ng" qui t e t r ue, f or he i s the absol ut e. And, bei ngabsol ut e, Chr i st i ani t y has come i n t he wor l d, not as a consol at i on i nt he human sense; i n f act , qui t e on t he cont r ar y, i t i s ever r emi ndi ngone how t he Chr i st i an must suf f er i n order t o become, or t o remai n, aChr i st i an suf f eri ngs whi ch he may, i f you pl ease, escape by notel ect i ng t o be a Chr i st i an.

There i s, i ndeed, an unbr i dgeabl e gul f f i xed bet ween God and man. I tt heref ore became pl ai n t o those cont emporar y wi t h Chr i st t hat t hepr ocess of becomi ng a Chr i st i an ( t hat i s, bei ng changed i nt o t hel i keness of God) i s, i n a human sense, a gr eat er t orment andwr etchedness and pai n t han t he gr eat est concei vabl e human suf f er i ng,and moreover a cr i me i n the eyes of one' s cont emporar i es. And thus wi l li t al ways be; t hat i s, i f becomi ng a Chr i st i an i n r eal i t y meansbecomi ng cont emporaneous wi t h Chr i st . And i f becomi ng a Chr i st i an doesnot have t hat meani ng, t hen al l your chat t er about becomi ng a Chr i st i ani s a vani t y, a del usi on and a snare, and l i kewi se a bl asphemy and a si nagai nst t he Hol y Ghost .


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For wi t h r egar d t o the absol ut e ther e i s but one ti me, vi z. t hepr esent . He who i s not cont emporaneous wi t h t he absol ut e, f or hi m i tdoes not exi st at al l . And si nce Chr i st i s t he absol ut e, i t i s evi dentt hat i n r espect of hi m t her e i s but one si t uat i on: cont empor aneousness.The t hr ee, or seven, or f i f t een, or sevent een, or ei ght een hundr edyears whi ch have el apsed si nce hi s deat h do not make t he l eastdi f f erence, one way or t he ot her . They nei t her change hi n, nor r eveal ,ei t her , who he was; f or hi s r eal nat ur e i s r eveal ed onl y t o f ai t h.

Chr i st , l et me say so wi t h t he ut most seri ousness, i s not an act or;

nei t her i s he a mer el y hi st or i cal per sonage si nce, bei ng t he par adox,he i s an ext r emel y unhi st or i cal per sonage. But pr eci sel y thi s i s t hedi f f erence between poet r y and r eal i t y: cont emporaneousness. [ 115] Thedi f f er ence bet ween poet r y and hi st or y i s no doubt t hi s, t hat hi st or y i swhat has r eal l y happened, and poetr y, what i s possi bl e, t he act i onwhi ch i s supposed t o have t aken pl ace, t he l i f e whi ch has t aken f or m i nt he poet ' s i magi nat i on. But t hat whi ch r eal l y happened ( t he past ) i snot necessar i l y r eal i t y, except i n a cer t ai n sense, vi z. , i n cont r astwi t h poet ry . There i s st i l l l acki ng i n i t t he cr i t er i on of t rut h ( asi nwar dness) and of al l r el i gi on, t her e i s st i l l l acki ng t he cri t er i on:t he t r ut h FOR YOU. That whi ch i s past i s not a real i t y f or me, but onl ymy t i me i s. That whi ch you are cont emporaneous wi t h, t hat i s r eal i t yf or you. Thus every person has t he choi ce t o be cont emporaneous wi t ht he age i n whi ch he i s l i vi ng and al so wi t h one ot her per i od, wi t h t hat

of Chr i st ' s l i f e her e on ear t h; f or Chr i st ' s l i f e on ear t h, or SacredHi story, stands by i t sel f , out si de of hi story.

Hi st ory you may r ead and hear about as a mat t er of t he past . Wi t hi ni t s r eal m you can, i f you so car e, j udge acti ons by t hei r r esul t s. Buti n Chr i st ' s l i f e her e on ear t h t her e i s not hi ng past . I t di d not wai tf or t he assi st ance of any subsequent r esul t s i n i t s own t i me, 1800year s ago; nei t her does i t now. Hi st or i c Chr i st i ani t y i s sheermoonshi ne and un?Chri st i an muddl e?headedness. For t hose t r ue Chr i st i answho i n every generat i on l i ve a l i f e cont emporaneous wi t h t hat of Chr i sthave nothi ng whatsoever t o do wi t h Chr i st i ans of t he pr ecedi nggener at i on, but al l t he mor e wi t h t hei r cont empor ar y, Chr i st . Hi s l i f ehere on ear t h at t ends every generat i on, and every generat i on several l y,as Sacr ed Hi st or y; hi s l i f e on eart h i s eternal cont empor aneousness.

For t hi s r eason al l l ear ned l ecturi ng about Chr i st i ani t y, whi ch has i t shaunt and hi di ng?pl ace i n t he assumpt i on t hat Chr i st i ani t y i s somet hi ngwhi ch bel ongs t o t he past and t o t he 1800 years of hi st ory, t hi sl ect ur i ng i s t he most unChr i st i an of her esi es, as ever y one woul dr eadi l y recogni ze i f he but t r i ed t o i magi ne the gener at i oncont emporeanous wi t h Chr i st as l ect ur i ng! No, we must ever keep i n mi ndt hat ever y gener at i on ( of t he f ai t hf ul ) i s cont empor aneous wi t h hi m.

I f you cannot mast er your sel f so as t o make your sel f cont empor aneouswi t h hi m and t hus become a Chr i st i an; or i f he cannot , as yourcont emporary, dr aw you t o hi msel f , t hen you wi l l never be a Chr i st i an.You may, i f you pl ease honor , pr ai se, t hank, and wi t h al l wor l dl y goodsr eward hi m who del udes you i nt o t hi nki ng t hat you are a Chr i st i an;never t hel ess he decei ves you. You may count your sel f happy t hat you

were not cont empor aneous wi t h one who dar ed t o asser t t hi s; or you maybe exasper ated t o madness by t he t orment , l i ke t hat of t he gadf l y,[ 116] of bei ng cont emporaneous wi t h one who says t hi s t o your f ace: i nt he f i r st case you ar e decei ved, whereas i n the second you have l easthad a chance t o hear t he t r ut h.

I f you cannot bear t hi s cont emporaneousness, and not bear t o seet hi s si ght i n r eal i t y i f you cannot pr evai l upon your sel f t o go outi nt o the st r eet and behol d! i t i s God i n t hat l oat hsome pr ocessi on; andi f you cannot bear t o t hi nk that t hi s wi l l be your condi t i on al so i f you kneel and wor shi p hi m: t hen you ar e not essent i al l y a Chr i st i an. I nt hat case, what you wi l l have t o do i s t o admi t t he f actuncondi t i onal l y t o your sel f , so t hat you may, above al l , pr eser ve


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humi l i t y, and f ear and t r embl i ng, when cont empl at i ng what i t meansr eal l y to be a Chr i st i an. For t hat way you must pr oceed, i n or der t ol ear n and t o pr act i ce how t o f l ee t o gr ace, so t hat you wi l l not seeki t i n vai n; but do not , f or God' s sake, go to any one to be "consol ed. "For t o be sur e i t i s wr i t t en: "bl essed ar e t he eyes whi ch see t het hi ngs t hat ye see, " [ 117] whi ch word t he pr i est s have on t he t i ps of t hei r t ongues cur i ousl y enough; at t i mes, perhaps, even t o def end awor l dl y f i ner y whi ch, i f cont er r por ar y wi t h Chr i st , woul d be r at heri ncongr uous as i f t hese words had not been sai d sol el y about t hosecont empor ar i es of hi s who bel i eved. I f hi s exal t at i on had been evi dent

t o the eyes so t hat every one wi t hout any t r oubl e coul d have behel d i t ,why then i t woul d be i ncorr ect t o say that Chr i st abased hi msel f andassumed t he gui se of a ser vant , and i t woul d be super f l ous t o warnagai nst bei ng of f ended i n hi m; f or why i n t he wor l d shoul d one t akeof f ense i n an exal t ed one ar r ayed i n gl ory? And how i n t he wor l d wi l lyou expl ai n i t t hat Chr i st f ar ed so i l l and t hat ever ybody f ai l ed t or ush up admi r i ngl y t o behol d what was so pl ai n? Ah no, "he hat h no f ormnor comel i ness; and when we shal l see hi m, t here i s no beaut y t hat weshoul d desi r e hi m" ( I sai ah 53, 2*) [ *Ki er kegaar d' s own not e. ] ; andt here was t o al l appear ances not hi ng remarkabl e about hi m who i n l owl ygui se, and by perf ormi ng si gns and wonders , const ant l y pr esent ed t hepossi bi l i t y of of f ense, who cl ai med t o be God i n l owl y gui se; whi cht heref ore expr esses: i n t he f i r st pl ace, what God means by compassi on,and by one' s sel f needi ng t o be humbl e and poor i f one wi shes t o be

compassi onat e; and i n t he second pl ace, what God means by t he mi ser y of manki nd. Whi ch, agai n, i n bot h i nst ances i s extr emel y di f f er ent f r omwhat men mean by t hese t hi ngs and whi ch ever y gener at i on, t o t he end of t i me, has t o l ear n over agai n f r omt he begi nni ng, and begi nni ng i never y r espect at t he same poi nt wher e t hose who were cont empor ary wi t hChr i st had t o st ar t ; t hat i s, t o pr acti ce t hese t hi ngs ascont emporari es of Chr i st . Human i mpat i ence and unr ul i ness i s, of cour se, of no avai l what soever . No man wi l l be abl e to tel l you i n howf ar you may succeed i n becomi ng essent i al l y a Chr i st i an. But nei t herwi l l anxi et y and f ear and despai r hel p one. Si ncer i t y toward God i s t hef i r st and t he l ast condi t i on, si ncer i t y i n conf essi ng t o one' s sel f j ust wher e one st ands, si ncer i t y bef or e God i n ever ai mi ng at one' st ask. However sl owl y one may pr oceed, and i f i t be but cr awl i ng one i s,at any rat e, i n t he ri ght posi t i on and i s not mi sl ed and decei ved by

t he t r i ck of changi ng t he nat ur e of Chr i st who, i nst ead of bei ng God,i s t her eby made to repr esent t hat sent i ment al compassi on whi ch i s man' sown i nvent i on; by whi ch men, i nst ead of bei ng l i f t ed up to heaven byChri st i ani t y, are del ayed on t hei r way and r emai n human and no more.

THE MORAL

"And what , t hen, does al l t hi s si gni f y?" I t si gni f i es t hat ever y one,i n si l ent i nwar dness bef or e God, i s t o f eel humi l i t y bef or e what i tmeans t o be i n t he st r i ct est sense a Chr i st i an; i s t o conf ess si ncer el ybef or e God what hi s posi t i on i s, so t hat he may wor t hi l y par t ake of t hegr ace whi ch i s of f er ed t o ever y one who i s not per f ect , t hat i s, t oevery one. And i t means no more t han t hat . For t he r est l et hi m at t endt o hi s work and f i nd j oy i n i t , l et hi m l ove hi s wi f e, rej oi ci ng i n

her , l et hi m r ai se hi s chi l dr en t o be a j oy to hi m, and l et hi m l ovehi s f el l ow?men and enj oy l i f e. God wi l l sur el y l et hi m know i f mor e i sdemanded of hi m, and wi l l al so hel p hi m t o accompl i sh i t ; f or i n t het er r i f yi ng l anguage of t he l aw t hi s sounds so t er r i bl e because i t woul dseem as i f man by hi s own st r engt h were to hol d f ast t o Chr i st , whereasi n t he l anguage of l ove i t i s Chr i st t hat hol ds f ast t o hi m. As wassai d, t hen, God wi l l sur el y l et hi m know i f mor e i s demanded of hi m.But what i s demanded of every one i s t hat he humbl e hi msel f i n t hepr esence of God under t he demands of i deal i t y. And t her ef ore t hesedemands shoul d be hear d, and hear d agai n and agai n i n al l t hei rabsol ut eness. To be a Chr i st i an has become a mat t er of no i mpor t ancewhat ever a mummery, somet hi ng one i s anyway, or somet hi ng one acqui r esmor e r eadi l y t han a t r i ck. I n ver y t r ut h, i t i s hi gh t i me t hat t he


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demands of i deal i t y were hear d.

"But i f bei ng a Chr i st i an i s somet hi ng so t er r i f yi ng and awesome,how i n al l t he worl d can a man get i t i nt o hi s head t o wi sh t o acceptChr i st i ani t y?" Ver y si mpl y and, i f you so wi sh, qui t e accor di ng t oLut her: onl y t he consci ousness of si n, i f I may expr ess mysel f so, canf or ce one f r om t he ot her si de, gr ace exer t s t he at t r act i on can f or ceone i nt o t hi s t er r or . And i n t he same i nst ant t he Chr i st i an i deal i st r ansf or med, and i s sheer mi l dness, gr ace, l ove, and pi t y. Looki ng ati t any ot her way, however , Chr i st i ani t y i s, and shal l ever be, t he

gr eat est absur di t y, or el se t he gr eat est t er r or . Appr oach i s had onl yt hr ough t he consci ousness of si n, and t o desi r e to ent er by any ot herway amount s t o a cr i me of l èse?maj est é agai nst Chr i st i ani t y.

But si n, or t he f act t hat you and I , i ndi vi dual l y, ar e si nner s, hasat present ei t her been done away wi t h, or el se t he demands have beenl ower ed i n an unj ust i f i abl e manner . bot h i n l i f e the domest i c, t heci vi c, as wel l as t he eccl esi ast i c and i n sci ence whi ch has i nvent edt he new doct r i ne of si n i n gener al . As an equi val ant , one has hi t upont he devi ce of hel pi ng men i nt o Chr i st i ani t y, and keepi ng t hem i n i t , byt he ai d of a knowl edge of wor l d?hi st or i c event s, of t hat mi l d t eachi ng,t he exal t ed and pr of ound spi r i t of i t , about Chr i st as a f r i end, et c. ,etc. al l of whi ch Lut her woul d have cal l ed st uf f and nonsense and whi chi s r eal l y bl asphemy, ai mi ng as i t does at f r at er ni zi ng i mpudent l y wi t h

God and wi t h Chr i st .

Onl y the consci ousness of bei ng a si nner can i nspi r e one wi t habsol ut e respect f or Chr i st i ani t y. And j ust because Chr i st i ani t ydemands absol ut e respect i t must and shal l , t o any ot her way of l ooki ngat i t , seem absur di t y or t er r or ; j ust because onl y t her eby can t hequal i t at i ve and absol ut e emphasi s f al l on t he f act t hat i t i s onl y t heconsci ousness of bei ng a si nner whi ch wi l l pr ocur e ent r ance i nt o i t ,and at t he same t i me gi ve t he vi si on whi ch, bei ng absol ut e r espect ,enabl es one t o see t he mi l dness and l ove and compass i on of Chr i st i ani t y.

The poor i n spi r i t who acknowl edge t hemsel ves t o be si nner s, t hey donot need to know t he l east t hi ng about t he di f f i cul t i es whi ch appear

when one i s nei t her si mpl e nor humbl e?mi nded. But when thi s humbl econsci ousness of one' s sel f , i . e. , t he i ndi vi dual ' s, bei ng a si nner i sl acki ng aye, even though one possessed al l human i ngenui t y and wi sdom,and had al l accompl i shment s Possi bl e t o man: i t wi l l pr of i t hi m l i t t l e.Chr i st i ani t y wi l l i n t he same degr ee r i se t er r i f yi ng bef or e hi m andt ransf orm i t sel f i nt o absurdi t y or t er ror; unt i l he l earns, ei t her t or enounce i t , or el se, by t he hel p of what i s not hi ng l ess t hansci ent i f i c pr opædeut i cs, apol oget i cs, et c. , t hat i s, t hr ough t het or ment s of a cont r i t e hear t , t o ent er i nt o Chr i st i ani t y by t he nar r owpat h, t hr ough the consci ousness of si n.

__________________________________________________________________

[ 91] Fi r st Par t ; compr i si ng about one- f our t h of t he whol e book.

[ 92] I . e. Chr i st; cf . I nt r oducti on p. 41 f or t he use of smal l l et t er s.

[93] Socrates.

[ 94] J ohn I , 1.

[ 95] Mat t hew 20, 15.

[ 96] Luke 11, 14.

[ 97] Ki erkegaar d' s not e: by hi st ory we mean here pr of ane hi st ory wor l dhi st or y, hi st or y as such, as agai nst Sacred Hi st or y.


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[ 98] Cf . t he cl ai m of t he Phar i sees, Mat t h. 23, 30: "I f we had been i nt he days of our f athers , we woul d not have been part akers wi t h them i nt he bl ood of t he pr ophet s. "

[ 99] One i s her e i r r esi st i bl i y remi nded of passages i n I bsen' s " Br and, "e. g. , Br and' s conver sat i on wi t h Ei nar , i n Act I . Cf . al so p. 207 andI nt r oduct i on p. 1.

[ 100] Mat t hew 11, 6.

[ 101] Luke 18, 32.[ 102] Mat t hew 20, 27f .

[ 103] The or i gi nal here does not agr ee wi t h the sense of t he passage.

[ 104] Bj örnson' s pl ay of "Beyond Human Power , " Par t I , Act 2, r eadsl i ke an el abor at i on of t hese vi ews.

[ 105] Mat t hew 9, 16.

[ 106] The f ol l owi ng passage i s capabl e of di f f er ent i nt er pr et at i ons i nt he or i gi nal .

[ 107] Mat t hew 14, 17.

[ 108] Cf . 1 Cor . 2, 9.

[ 109] J ohn 3, 1f .

[ 110] Luke 23, 35.

[ 111] J ohn 2, 4, et c.

[ 112] The passage i s not qui t e cl ear . Probabl y, you wi l l not be t he mant o expl ai n t hi s phenomenon i n the ver y opposi t e t er ms, vi z. , as t hedi vi ni t y hi msel f .

[ 113] Her e, t he unr eserved i dent i f i cat i on wi t h human suf f eri ng abover ef er r ed t o.

[ 114] Cf . Note p. 178.

[ 115] As my f r i end, H. M. J ones, poi nt s out , t he f ol l owi ng passage i sessent i al l y Ar i stotel l i an: "The t r ue di f f er ence i s t hat one ( hi story)r el at es what has happened, t he ot her ( poet r y) what may happen";Poet i cs, " Chap. I X.

[ 116] Cf . Pl at o' s " Apol ogi a" wher e Socr at es i s made t o say of hi msel f t hat he i s i nf l i ct ed on t he At heni ans l i ke a gadf l y on a hor se, i norder t o keep t hem awake.

[ 117] Luke 10, 23.__________________________________________________________________

SELECTI ONS FROM

THE PRESENT MOMENT [ 118]

BY WAY OF I NTRODUCTI ON

( No. I , 1)

Pl at o says somewher e i n hi s "Republ i c" t hat t hi ngs wi l l go wel l onl ywhen t hose men shal l govern t he st at e who do not desi r e to gover n. The


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i dea i s probabl y t hat , assumi ng t he necessary capabi l i t y, a man' sr el uct ance to govern af f ords a good guarant ee t hat he wi l l govern wel land ef f i ci ent l y; whereas a man desi r ous of governi ng may ver y easi l yei t her abuse hi s power and become a tyrant , or by hi s desi r e t o governbe br ought i nt o an unf oreseen si t uat i on of dependence on t he peopl e hei s t o rul e, so t hat hi s gover nment r eal l y becomes an i l l usi on.

Thi s observat i on appl i es al so t o ot her r el at i ons where much dependson t aki ng t hi ngs ser i ousl y: assumi ng t her e i s abi l i t y i n a man, i t i sbest t hat he show r el uct ance t o meddl e wi t h them. To be sur e, as t he

pr over b has i t : "wher e t her e i s a wi l l t her e i s a way"; but t r ueser i ousness appear s onl y when a man f ul l y equal t o hi s t ask i s f orced,agai nst hi s wi l l , t o under t ake i t agai nst hi s wi l l , but f ul l y equal t ot he t ask.

I n t hi s sense I may say of mysel f t hat I bear a cor r ect r el at i on t o thet ask i n hand: t o work i n the pr esent moment ; f or God knows t hat not hi ngi s more di st ast ef ul t o me.

Aut hor shi p wel l , I conf ess t hat I f i nd i t pl easant ; and I may aswel l admi t t hat I have dear l y l oved t o wr i t e i n the manner , t o be sur e,whi ch sui t s me. And what I have l oved t o do i s preci sel y t he opposi t eof worki ng i n the pr esent moment . What I have l oved i s preci sel yr emot eness f r om t he pr esent moment t hat r emoteness i n whi ch, l i ke a

l over , I may dwel l on my thought s and, l i ke an art i st i n l ove wi t h hi si nst r ument , ent er t ai n mysel f wi t h l anguage and l ur e f r om i t t heexpr essi ons demanded by my t houghts ah bl i ss f ul ent er t ai nment ! I n anet er ni t y I shoul d not wear y of t hi s occupat i on.

To cont end wi t h men wel l , I do l i ke i t i n a cer t ai n sense; f or I haveby nat ure a temper ament so pol emi c t hat I f eel i n my el ement onl y whensur r ounded by men' s medi ocr i t y and meanness . But onl y on one condi t i on,vi z. , t hat I be per mi t t ed t o scor n t hem i n si l ence and t o sat i sf y t hemast er passi on of my soul : scor n oppor t uni t y f or whi ch my car eer as anaut hor has of t en enough gi ven me.

I am t her ef or e a man of whom i t may be sai d t r ut hf ul l y that he i snot i n the l east desi r ous t o work i n the pr esent moment ver y pr obabl y I

have been cal l ed t o do so f or t hat ver y reason.

Now t hat I am t o work i n t he pr esent moment I must , al as! say f arewel lt o t hee, bel oved r emoteness, where t here was no necess i t y to hur r y, butal ways pl ent y of t i me, where I coul d wai t f or hour s and days and weeksf or t he pr oper expr essi on t o occur t o me; whereas now I must break wi t hal l such r egar ds of t ender l ove . [ 119] And now t hat I amt o wor k i nt he pr esent moment I f i nd that t here wi l l be not a f ew persons whom Imust obl i ge by payi ng my respect s t o al l t he i nsi gni f i cant t hi ngs whi chmedi ocri t y wi t h gr eat sel f ?i mpor t ance wi l l l ecture about ; t o al l t henonsense whi ch medi ocre peopl e, by i nt erpr et i ng i nt o my words t hei r ownmedi ocr i t y, wi l l f i nd i n al l I shal l wr i t e; and t o al l t he l i es andcal umni es t o whi ch a man i s exposed agai nst whom t hose t wo gr eat powersi n soci et y: envy and st upi di t y, must of necessi t y conspi r e.

Why, t hen, do I wi sh t o work i n t he present moment ? Because I shoul df orever r epent of not havi ng done so, and f orever r epent of havi ng beendi scour aged by the consi derat i on t hat t he generat i on now l i vi ng woul df i nd a r epr esent at i on of t he essent i al t r ut hs of Chr i st i ani t yi nt erest i ng and cur i ous r eadi ng, at most ; havi ng accompl i shed whi cht hey wi l l cal ml y r emai n wher e t hey ar e; t hat i s, i n t he i l l usi on t hatt hey ar e Chr i st i ans and t hat t he cl er gy' s t oyi ng wi t h Chr i st i ani t yreal l y i s Chr i s t i ani ty .

A PANEGYRI C ON THE HUMAN RACE

OR


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PROOF THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT I S NO LONGER TRUE

( No. 11, 5)

I n t he New Test ament t he Savi or of t he Worl d, our Lor d J esus Chr i st ,r epr esent s t he mat t er i n t hi s way: "Str ai t i s t he gat e, and nar r ow i st he way, whi ch l eadet h unt o l i f e, and f ew t her e be t hat f i nd i t . [ 120]"

now, however, j ust t o conf i ne our sel ves t o Denmark, t he way i s as br oadas a r oad can possi bl y be; i n f act , t he br oadest i n Denmar k, f or i t i st he r oad we al l t r avel . At t he same t i me i t i s i n al l r espect s acomf ort abl e way, and t he gat e as wi de as i t i s possi bl e f or a gat e tobe; f or cer t ai nl y a gat e cannot be wi der t han t o l et al l men passt hrough en masse:

t heref ore, t he New Test ament i s no l onger t r ue ' .

Al l cr edi t i s due t o the human r ace! For t hou, oh Savi or of t heWorl d, t hou di dst ent ert ai n t oo l ow an est i mate of t he human r ace, sot hat t hou di dst not f or esee t he exal t ed pl an whi ch, i n i t sper f ect i bi l i t y, i t may reach by st eadi l y cont i nued endeavor !

To such an ext ent , t hen, i s t he New Test ament no l onger t r ue: t he wayi s t he br oadest possi bl e, t he gat e t he wi dest possi bl e, and we ar e al lChr i st i ans. I n f act, I may vent ur e st i l l f ur t her I am ent husi asti cabout i t , f or you see I amwr i t i ng a panegyr i c on t he human r ace Ivent ur e t o asser t t hat t he aver age J ew l i vi ng among us i s, t o a cer t ai ndegr ee, a Chr i st i an j ust as wel l as we ot hers: t o such an extent ar e weal l Chr i st i ans, and to such an ext ent i s t he New Test ament no l ongertrue.

And, si nce the poi nt i s t o f i nd out al l whi ch may be adduced t oext ol t he human r ace, one ought whi l e havi ng a care not t o ment i onanythi ng whi ch i s not t r ue one ought t o watch t hat nothi ng, nothi ngescape one whi ch i n t hi s connect i on may serve as a pr oof or even as asuggest i on. So I vent ur e st i l l f ur t her wi t hout wi shi ng t o be t oo

posi t i ve, as I l ack def i ni t e i nf or mat i on on t hi s subj ect and woul dl i ke, t herefor e, t o refer t he mat t er t o speci al i sts i n t hi s l i ne t odeci de : whether t her e ar e not pr esent among our domest i c ani mal s, orat any rat e the nobl er ones, such as t he horse, t he dog, and t he cow,i ndi cat i ons of a Chr i st i an spi r i t . I t i s not i mpr obabl e. Consi der whati t means t o l i ve i n a Chr i st i an st at e, among a Chr i st i an peopl e, wher eeveryt hi ng i s Chr i st i an and everybody i s a Chr i st i an and where one,t ur n wher e one may, sees not hi ng but Chr i st i ans and Chr i st i ani t y, t r ut hand mar t yr s f or t he t r ut h i t i s not at al l unl i kel y t hat t hi s exer t s ani nf l uence on t he nobl er domest i c ani mal s and thereby agai n whi ch i sever of t he ut most i mport ance, accordi ng t o t he opi ni on both of vet er i nar i ans and of cl ergymen an i nf l uence on t hei r pr ogeny. We haveal l r ead of J acob' s r use, how i n or der t o obt ai n spot t ed l ambs he putpar t y?col or ed twi gs i nt o t he wat eri ng tr oughs, so t hat t he ewes saw

nothi ng but mot t l ed t hi ngs and t hen br ought f or t h spot t ed l ambs. Hencei t i s not i mpr obabl e al t hough I do not wi sh t o be posi t i ve, si nce I donot bel ong t o t he pr of essi on, but woul d r ather have t hi s passed on by acommi t t ee composed of bot h cl ergymen and vet er i nar i ans I say, i t i s noti mpr obabl e t hat t he resul t wi l l f i nal l y be that t he domest i c ani mal sl i vi ng i n a Chr i st i an nat i on wi l l pr oduce a Chr i st i an pr ogeny. Thet hought al most t akes away my br eat h. To be sure, i n t hat case t he NewTest ament wi l l t o t he gr eat est possi bl e ext ent have ceased t o be t r ue.

Ah, Thou Savi or of t he Wor l d, when Thou sai dst wi t h great concern:"When t he Son of man comet h, shal l He f i nd Fai t h on t he eart h? [ 121]and when Thou di dst bow Thy head i n deat h, t hen di dst Thou l east of al lt hi nk t hat Thy expect at i ons were t o be exceeded t o such a degr ee, and


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t hat t he human r ace woul d i n such a pret t y and t ouchi ng way render t heNew Test ament no l onger t r ue, and Thy si gni f i cance al most doubt f ul ; f orsuch ni ce cr eatures cert ai nl y al so needed a Savi or ! [ 122]

I F WE ARE REALLY CHRI STI ANS THEN WHAT I S GOD?

( No. 11, 8)

I f i t i s not so t hat al l we mean by bei ng "Chr i st i ans" i s a del usi ont hat al l t hi s machi nery, wi t h a St ate Chur ch and t housands of

spi r i t ual ?wor l dl y counci l l or s of chancer y, et c. , i s a st upendousdel usi on whi ch wi l l not be of t he l east hel p t o us i n t he l i f eever l ast i ng but , on t he cont r ar y, wi l l be t ur ned i nt o an accusat i onagai nst us i f t hi s i s not so; f or i f i t i s , t hen l et us, f or t he sakeof l i f e ever l ast i ng, get r i d of i t , t he sooner t he bet t er

i f i t i s not so, and i f what we under st and by bei ng a Chr i st i anr eal l y i s t o be a Chr i st i an: t hen what i s God i n Heaven?

He i s t he most r i di cul ous bei ng t hat ever exi st ed, Hi s Wor d i s t hemost r i di cul ous book whi ch has ever appeared; f or t o move heaven andear t h, as He does i n hi s Word, and t o thr eat en wi t h hel l andever l ast i ng damnat i on i n or der t o obt ai n as Hi s r esul t what weunderst and by bei ng Chr i st i ans ( and our assumpt i on was t hat we a r e

t r ue Chr i st i ans) wel l , now, has anythi ng so ri di cul ous ever been seenbef or e? I magi ne that a f el l ow wi t h a l oaded pi st ol i n hi s hand hel d upa per son and sai d t o hi m, "I shal l shoot you"; or i magi ne, what i sst i l l mor e t er r i bl e, t hat he sai d, " I shal l sei ze you and t or t ur e yout o deat h i n t he most horr i bl e manner, i f " now watch, here' s t he poi nt"i f you do not r ender your l i f e her e on ear t h as pr of i t abl e and asenj oyabl e as you can": woul d not t hat be ut t er l y r i di cul ous? For t oobt ai n t hat ef f ect i t cer t ai nl y i s not necessar y t o t hr eat en one wi t h al oaded pi stol and t he most pai nf ul t or t ur e; i n f act, i t i s possi bl et hat nei t her t he l oaded pi st ol nor t he most pai nf ul t or t ur e woul d beabl e t o det er hi m f r om maki ng hi s l i f e as comf or t abl e as he can. Andt he same i s t r ue when, by f ear of et er nal puni shment ( t er r i bl et hr eat! ) , and by hope of et er nal sal vat i on, He wi shes t o br i ngabout ?wel l , t o make us what we a r e ( f or what we cal l Chr i st i an i s, as

we have seen, r eal l y bei ng Chri st i an) , t o make us wel l , t o make us whatwe ar e; t hat i s, make men l i ve as t hey pl ease; f or t o abst ai n f r omcommi t t i ng cr i mes i s not hi ng but common prudence!

The most t err i bl e bl asphemy i s t he one of whi ch "Chr i st i ani t y" i sgui l t y, whi ch i s, t o t r ansf or m t he God of t he Spi r i t i nt o a r i di cul ouspi ece of nonsense. And t he st upi dest ki nd of worshi p, more st upi d t hanany i dol at r y ever was among t he heat hen, and more st upi d t han toworshi p as a god some st one, or an ox, or an i nsect more st upi d thananythi ng, i s t o adore as god a f ool !

DI AGNOSI S

( No. I V, 1)

1.

Ever y physi ci an wi l l admi t t hat by the cor r ect di agnosi s of a mal adymor e t han hal f t he f i ght agai nst i t i s won; al so, t hat i f a cor r ectdi agnosi s has not been made, al l ski l l and al l car e and at t ent i on wi l lbe of l i t t l e avai l .

The same i s t r ue wi t h r egard t o r el i gi on.

We ar e agr eed t o l et st and t he cl ai m t hat i n "Chr i st endom" we areChr i st i ans, every one of us; and t hen we have l ai d and, perhaps, wi l ll ay, emphasi s now on t hi s, now on t hat , si de of t he t eachi ngs of t he


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Scri pt ur es.

But t he t r ut h i s: we ar e not onl y not Chr i st i ans no, we ar e not event he heat hen t o whom Chr i st i ani t y may be taught wi t hout mi sgi vi ngs, andwhat i s worse, we ar e pr evented t hrough a del usi on, an enormousdel usi on ( vi z. "Chr i st endom, " t he Chr i st i an st at e, a Chr i st i an count r y,a Chr i st i an wor l d) f r om becomi ng Chr i st i ans.

And t hen the suggest i on i s made t o one t o cont i nue untouched andunchanged t hi s del usi on and, r ather, t o f ur ni sh a new pr esent at i on of

t he t eachi ngs of Chr i st . [ 123]Thi s has been suggest ed; and, i n a cer t ai n sense, i t i s al t oget her

f i t t i ng. J ust because one l i ves i n a del usi on ( not t o speak even of bei ng i nt er est ed i n keepi ng up t he del usi on) , one i s bound t o desi r et hat whi ch wi l l f eed the mal ady a common enough obser vat i on t hi s t hesi ck man desi r i ng pr eci sel y those t hi ngs whi ch f eed hi s mal ady.

2.

I magi ne a hospi t al . The pat i ent s are dyi ng of f l i ke so many f l i es. Themet hods ar e changed, now t hi s way, now t hat : of no avai l ! What may bet he cause? The cause l i es i n t he bui l di ng t he whol e bui l di ng i st ai nt ed. The pat i ent s are put down as havi ng di ed, t he one of t hi s, t he

ot her of t hat , di sease, but st r i ct l y speaki ng t hi s i s not t r ue; f ort hey al l di ed f r om t he t ai nt whi ch i s i n t he bui l di ng.

The same i s t r ue i n r el i gi on. That r el i gi ous condi t i ons ar ewr et ched, and t hat peopl e i n r espect of t hei r r el i gi on ar e i n awr etched condi t i on, nothi ng i s more cert ai n. So one vent ur es theopi ni on t hat i f we coul d but have a new hymn?book; and anot her , i f wecoul d but have a new ser vi ce?book; and a thi r d, i f we coul d but have amusi cal servi ce, et c. , etc. t hat t hen mat t ers woul d mend.

I n vai n; f or t he f aul t l i es i n t he edi f i ce. The whol e r amshackl epi l e of a St at e Chur ch whi ch has not been ai r ed, spi r i t ual l y speaki ng,i n t i mes out of mi nd t he ai r i n i t has devel oped a t ai nt . And t her ef or er el i gi ous l i f e has become di seased or has di ed out ; al as, f or pr eci sel y

t hat whi ch t he wor l dl y mi nd r egar ds as heal t h i s, i n a Chr i st i an sense,di sease j ust as, vi ce ver sa, t hat whi ch i s heal t hy i n a Chr i st i ansense, i s r egarded as di seased f r om a wor l dl y poi nt of vi ew.

Then l et t he ramshackl e pi l e col l apse, get i t out of t he way, cl oseal l t hese shops and boot hs whi ch ar e t he onl y ones whi ch ar e except edf r om t he str i ct Sunday r egul at i ons, f or bi d t hi s of f i c i aldoubl e?deal i ng, put t hem out of commi ssi on, and pr ovi de f or t hem, f oral l t hese quacks: even t hough i t i s t r ue t hat t he r oyal l y at t est edphysi ci an i s t he accept abl e one, and he who i s not so at t ested i s aquack: i n Chr i st i ani t y i t i s j ust t he rever se; t hat i s , t he royal l yat t est ed t eacher i s t he quack, i s a quack by the ver y f act t hat he i sr oyal l y at t est ed and l et us wor shi p God agai n i n si mpl i ci t y, i nst ead of maki ng a f ool of hi m i n spl endi d edi f i ces; l et us be i n ear nest agai n

and st op pl ayi ng; f or a Chr i st i ani t y pr eached by r oyal of f i ci al s whoare payed and i nsured by t he st at e and who use t he pol i ce agai nst t heot her s, such a Chr i st i ani t y bear s about t he same r el ati on t o t heChr i st i ani t y of t he New Test ament as swi mmi ng wi t h t he hel p of acor k?bel t or a bl adder does t o swi mmi ng al one?i t i s mere pl ay.

Yes, l et t hat come about . What Chr i st i ani t y needs i s not t hesti f l i ng pr ot ecti on of t he st at e ah no, i t needs f r esh ai r , i t needsper secut i on and t he pr ot ect i on of God. The st at e does onl y mi schi ef i navert i ng persecut i on and sur el y i s not t he medi um t hr ough whi ch God' spr otect i on can be conduct ed. Whatever you do, save Chr i st i ani t y f r omt he stat e, f or wi t h i t s protect i on i t over l i es Chr i st i ani t y l i ke a f atwoman over l yi ng her chi l d wi t h her car cass, besi de t eachi ng


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Chr i st i ani t y t he most abomi nabl e bad habi t s as, e. g. , t o use t he pol i cef or ce and t o cal l t hat Chr i st i ani t y.

3.

A per son i s gr owi ng t hi nner ever y day and i s wast i ng away. What mayt he t r oubl e be? For sur el y he i s not suf f er i ng want ! "No, sur e enough, "says t he doctor, "t hat i s not t he tr oubl e. The t r oubl e i s pr eci sel ywi t h hi s eat i ng, wi t h hi s eat i ng i n season and out of season, wi t h hi seat i ng wi t hout bei ng hungr y, wi t h hi s usi ng st i mul ant s t o pr oduce an

appet i t e, and i n t hi s manner r ui ni ng hi s di gest i on, so t hat he i swast i ng away as i f he suf f er ed want . " The same i s t r ue i n r el i gi on. Thewor st of al l i s t o sati sf y a cravi ng whi ch has not as yet made i t sappear ance, t o ant i ci pat e i t , or wor se st i l l by the hel p of st i mul ant st o pr oduce somethi ng whi ch l ooks l i ke a cr avi ng, whi ch t hen i s prompt l ysat i sf i ed. Ah, t he shame of i t ! And yet t hi s i s exact l y what i s bei ngdone i n r el i gi on wher e peopl e ar e i n ver y t r ut h f ool ed out of t he r ealmeani ng of l i f e and hel ped t o wast e t hei r l i ves. That i s i n ver y tr ut h,t he ef f ect of t hi s whol e machi nery of a st ate chur ch and a t housandr oyal of f i ci al s who, under t he pr et ense of bei ng spi r i t ual gui des f ort he peopl e, t r i ck t hem out of t he hi ghest t hi ng i n l i f e, whi ch i s, t hesol i ci t ude about one' s sel f , and t he need whi ch woul d sur el y of i t sel f f i nd a teacher or mi ni st er af t er i t s own mi nd; whereas now t he need andi t i s j ust t he gr owt h of t hi s sense of a need whi ch gi ves l i f e i t s

hi ghest si gni f i cance whereas now t hi s need does not ari se at al l , buton t he cont r ar y i s f or est al l ed by bei ng sat i sf i ed l ong bef or e i t canar i se. And t hi s i s t he way, t hey cl ai m, t hi s i s t he way to cont i nue thework whi ch the Savi or of Manki nd di d begi n st unt i ng t he human r ace ast hey do. And why i s t hi s so? Because t her e happen to be a thousand andone r oyal of f i ci al s who have t o suppor t t hei r f ami l i es by f ur ni shi ngwhat i s cal l ed spi r i t ual gui dance f or men' s soul s!

THE CHRI STI ANI TY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT;

THE CHRI STANI TY OF "CHRI STENDOM"

( No. V, 4)

The i nt ent i on of Chr i st i ani t y was: t o change ever ythi ng.

The r esul t , t he Chr i st i ani t y of "Chr i st endom" i s: ever yt hi ng,l i t er al l y ever yt hi ng, r emai ned as i t had been, wi t h j ust t he di f f er encet hat t o ever yt hi ng was af f i xed t he at t r i but e "Chr i st i an" and f or t her est ( st r i ke up, f i ddl er s! ) we l i ve i n Heat hendom so mer r i l y, somerr i l y t he dance goes ar ound; or , r ather, we l i ve i n a Heat hendom mademore r ef i ned by the hel p of Li f e Ever l ast i ng and by hel p of t he t houghtt hat , af t er al l , i t i s al l Chr i st i an!

Tr y i t , poi nt t o what you wi l l , and you shal l see t hat I am r i ght i n myasser t i on.

I f what Chr i st i ani t y demanded was chast i t y, t hen away wi t h br othel s!

But t he change i s t hat t he br othel s have r emai ned j ust as t hey di d i nHeat hendom, and t he pr oport i on of pr ost i t ut es r emai ned t he same, t oo;t o be sur e, t hey became "Chr i st i an" br ot hel s! A br ot hel ?keeper i s a"Chr i st i an" brot hel ?keeper , he i s a Chr i st i an as wel l as we ot her s.Excl ude hi m f r om chur ch membershi p? "Why, f or goodness sake, " t hecl ergyman wi l l say, "what woul d t hi ngs come t o i f we excl uded a si ngl epayi ng member?" The br ot hel ?keeper di es and gets a f uneral orat i on wi t ha panegyr i c i n pr oport i on t o t he amount he pays. And af t er havi ngear ned hi s money i n a manner whi ch, f r oma Chr i st i an poi nt of vi ew, i sas f i l t hy and base as can be (f or , f r om a Chr i st i an poi nt of vi ew i twoul d be more honorabl e i f he had st ol en i t ) t he cl ergyman r etur nshome. He i s i n a hur r y, f or he i s t o go t o chur ch i n or der t o del i veran orat i on or, as Bi shop Mart ensen woul d say, "bear wi t ness. "


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But i f Chr i st i ani t y demanded honest y and upr i ght ness, and doi ng awaywi t h t hi s swi ndl e, t he change whi ch r eal l y came about was t hi s: t heswi ndl i ng has r emai ned j ust as i n Heat hendom, "every one ( everyChr i st i an) i s a t hi ef i n hi s own l i ne"; onl y, t he swi ndl i ng has t akenon t he pr edi cate "Chr i st i an. " So we now have "Chr i st i an" swi ndl i ng andt he "cl er gyman" best ows hi s bl essi ng on thi s Chr i st i an communi t y, t hi sChr i st i an st ate, i n whi ch one cheat s j ust as one di d i n Heat hendom, att he same t i me t hat one pays t he "cl ergyman, " t hat i s, t he bi ggestswi ndl er of hem al l , and t hus cheat s one' s sel f i nt o Chr i st i ani t y.

And i f Chr i st i ani t y demanded ser i ousness i n l i f e and doi ng away wi t ht he prai se and appr obat i on of vani t y why, everyt hi ng has r emai ned asbef or e, wi t h j ust t hi s di f er ence t hat i t has assumed t he pr edi cat e"Chr i st i an. " Thus t he t r umper y busi ness wi t h decor at i ons, t i t l es, andr ank, et c. has become Chri st i an and t he cl ergyman ( t hat most decent of al l i ndecenci es, t hat most r i di cul ous of al l r i di cl ous hodge?podges) ,he i s as pl eased as Punch t o be decorat ed hi msel f wi t h t he "cr oss. " Thecross? Why, cer t ai nl y; f or i n t he Chr i st i ani t y of "Chr i st endom" has nott he cr oss become somethi ng l i ke a chi l d' s hobby?horse and t i n?t r umpet ?

And so wi t h everyt hi ng. There i s i mpl ant ed i n man no st r ongeri nst i nct, af t er t hat of sel f ?pr eser vat i on, t han t he i nst i nct of r epr oduct i on; f or whi ch r eason Chr i st i ani t y seeks t o reduce i t s

st r engt h, t eachi ng t hat i t i s bet t er not t o mar r y; "but i f t hey cannotcont ai n, l et t hem mar r y; f or i t bet t er t o mar r y t han t o bur n. " But i nChr i st endomt he pr opogat i on of t he r ace has become t he ser i ous busi nessof l i f e and of Chr i st i ani t y; and t he cl er gyman t hat qui nt essence of nonsense done up i n l ong cl ot hes t he cl ergyman, t he t eacher of Chr i st i ani t y, of t he Chr i st i ani t y of t he New Test ament , has hi s i ncomeadj ust ed to t he f act t hat t he human r ace i s act i ve i n pr opagat i ng t her ace, and get s a l i t t l e somet hi ng f or each chi l d!

As I sai d, l ook about you and you wi l l f i nd t hat ever yt hi ng i s as It ol d you: t he change f r om Heat hendomconsi st s i n everythi ng r emai ni ngunchanged but havi ng assumed t he pr edi cate "Chr i st i an. "

MODERN RELI GI OUS GUARANTEES

( No. V, 8)

I n t i mes l ong, l ong past peopl e l ooked at mat t er s i n t hi s f ashi on: i twas demanded of hi m who woul d be a t eacher of Chr i st i ani t y that hi sl i f e shoul d be a guarant ee f or t he t eachi ngs he pr ocl ai med.

Thi s i dea was abandoned l ong ago, t he wor l d havi ng become wi ser andmor e ser i ous. I t has l ear ned t o set l i t t l e st or e by t hese i l l i ber al andsi ckl y not i ons of per sonal r esponsi bi l i t y, havi ng l ear ned t o l ook f orpur el y obj ect i ve ends. The demand i s made now of t he t eacher t hat hi sl i f e shoul d guar ant ee that what he has t o say i s ent ert ai ni ng anddr amati c st uf f , amusi ng, and pur el y obj ect i ve.

Some exampl es. Suppose you want ed t o speak about Chr i st i ani t y, t hat i s,t he Chr i st i ani t y of t he New Test ament whi ch expr esses pref erence f ort he si ngl e st at e and suppose you your sel f are unmarr i ed: why, my dearman! you ought not t o speak on t hi s subj ect , because your congregat i onmi ght t hi nk t hat you meant what you sai d and become di squi eted, or i tmi ght f eel i nsul t ed t hat you t hus, ver y i mpr oper l y, mi xed i n your ownaf f ai rs. No, dear s i r , i t wi l l t ake a l i t t l e l onger bef ore you areent i t l ed t o speak ser i ousl y on t hi s mat t er so as r eal l y to sat i sf y thecongr egat i on. Wai t t i l l you have bur i ed your f i r st wi f e and ar e wel lal ong wi t h your second wi f e: t hen i t wi l l be t i me f or you t o st andbef or e your congr egat i on t o pr each and "bear wi t ness" t hat Chr i st i ani t ypr ef er s t he si ngl e st at e t hen you wi l l sat i sf y t hem al t oget her ; f oryour l i f e wi l l f ur ni sh t he guar ant ee t hat i t i s al l t omf ool er y and


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gr eat f un, or t hat what you say i s i nt er est i ng. I ndeed, howi nt er est i ng! For j ust as, t o make i t i nt er est i ng, t he husband must beunf ai t hf ul t o hi s wi f e and t he wi f e t o her husband, l i kewi se t r ut hbecomes i nt er est i ng, i nt ensel y i nt er est i ng, onl y when one l et s one' ssel f be car r i ed away by one' s f eel i ngs, be f asci nat ed by them but of cour se does t he pr eci se opposi t e and t hus i n an underhand manner i sr e?assured i n per si st i ng i n one' s ways.

Do you wi sh t o speak about Chr i st i ani t y' s t eachi ng cont empt f ort i t l es and decor at i ons and al l t he f ol l i es of f ame and shoul d you

happen t o be nei t her a person of r ank nor anyt hi ng of t he ki nd: Why, mydear si r ! You ought not t o undert ake t o speak on thi s subj ect . Why,your congr egat i on mi ght t hi nk you wer e i n ear nest , or f eel i nsul t ed bysuch a l ack of t act i n f or ci ng your per sonal i t y on t hei r not i ce. No,i ndeed, you ought t o wai t t i l l you have a l ot of decor at i ons, t he mor et he mer r i er ; you ought t o wai t t i l l you dr ag al ong wi t h a ri gmar ol e of t i t l es, so many t hat you hardl y know your sel f what you are cal l ed: t heni s your t i me come t o st and bef ore your congregat i on t o pr each and "bearwi t ness" and you wi l l undoubt edl y sat i sf y t hem; f or your l i f e wi l l t henf ur ni sh t he guar ant ee that i t i s but a dr amat i c di ver t i sement , ani nt er est i ng f orenoon ent er t ai nment .

I s i t your i nt ent i on t o pr each Chr i st i ani t y i n pover t y, and i nsi st t hatonl y thus i t i s t aught i n t r ut h and you happen t o be ver y l i t er al l y a

poor devi l : Why, my dear si r ! You ought not t o vent ur e t o speak on thi ssubj ect . Why, your congr egat i on mi ght t hi nk you were i n ear nest , t heymi ght become af r ai d and l ose t hei r good humor , and they mi ght be veryunpl easant l y af f ect ed by t hus havi ng povert y t hr ust i n on t hem. Noi ndeed, f i r st get your sel f some f at l i vi ng, and when you have had i t sol ong t hat your pr omot i on t o one st i l l f at t er i s t o be expect ed: t hen i syour t i me come t o st and bef ore your congregat i on and to pr each and"bear wi t ness" and you wi l l sat i sf y t hem; f or your l i f e t hen f ur ni shest he guar ant ee that i t i s j ust a j oke, such as seri ous men l i ke t oi ndul ge i n, now and t hen, i n t heatr e or i n chur ch, as a sor t of r ecreat i on t o gather new st r engt h f or maki ng money.

And t hat i s t he way t hey honor God i n the chur ches! And t hen t hese si l kand vel vet or ator s weep, t hey sob, t hei r voi ce i s drowned i n t ear s! Ah,

i f i t be t r ue ( and i t i s, si nce God Hi msel f has sai d so) , i f i t be t r uet hat He count s t he tear s of t he af f l i ct ed and put s t hem i nt o Hi sbot t l e, [ 124] t hen woe t o t hese orat or s, i f God has count ed al so thei rSunday t ear s and put t hemi nt o Hi s bot t l e! And woe to us al l i f Godr eal l y heeds t hese Sunday t ears especi al l y t hose of t he speaker s, butal so t hose of t he l i st eners ! For a Sunday pr eacher woul d i ndeed ber i ght i f he sai d and, or at or i cal l y, t hi s woul d have a spl endi d ef f ect,especi al l y i f accompani ed by hi s own tear s and suppr essed sobs he woul dbe r i ght i f he sai d t o hi s audi ence: I shal l count al l t he f ut i l e t ear syou have shed i n chur ch, and wi t h them I shal l st ep accusi ngl y bef oreyou on t he Day of J udgment i ndeed, he i s r i ght ; onl y pl ease not t of or get t hat , af t er al l , t he speaker ' s own dr amat i c t ear s ar e by f armor e dr eadf ul t han t he t hought l ess t ears of hi s l i st ener s.

WHAT SAYS THE FI RE?MARSHAL

( No. VI , 5)

That a man who i n some f ashi on or ot her has what one cal l s a " cause, "somet hi ng he ser i ousl y pur poses t o accompl i sh and t here ar e ot herpersons who make i t t hei r busi ness t o count eract , and ant agoni ze, andhur t hi m t hat he must t ake measures agai nst t hese hi s enemi es, t hi swi l l be evi dent t o ever y one. But t hat t her e i s a wel l ?i nt ent i onedki ndness by f ar more dangerous, per haps, and one t hat seems cal cul at edt o pr event t he seri ous accompl i shment of hi s mi ssi on, t hi s wi l l not atonce be cl ear t o ever y one.


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When a per son suddenl y f al l s i l l , ki ndl y?i nt ent i oned f ol k wi l lst r ai ght way r ush t o hi s hel p, and one wi l l suggest t hi s, anot her t hatand i f al l t hose about hi m had a chance t o have thei r way i t woul dcer t ai nl y resul t i n t he si ck man' s death; seei ng t hat even one per son' swel l ?meani ng advi ce may be danger ous enough. And even i f not hi ng i sdone, and t he advi ce of nei t her t he assembl ed and wel l ?meani ng cr owdnor of any one per son i s t aken, yet t hei r busy and f l ur r i ed pr esencemay be harmf ul , nevert hel ess, i nasmuch as t hey are i n the way of t hephysi ci an.

Li kewi se at a f i r e. Scar cel y has t he al arm of f i r e been sounded buta gr eat cr owd of peopl e wi l l r ush to t he spot , good and ki ndl y andsympathet i c, hel pf ul peopl e, t he one wi t h a bucket , t he ot her wi t h abasi n, st i l l anot her wi t h a hand?squi r t al l of t hem goodl y, ki ndl y,sympathet i c, hel pf ul persons who want t o do al l t hey can t o ext i ngui shthe f i re.

But what says t he f i r e?mar shal ? The f i r e?mar shal , he says wel l , atother t i mes the f i r e?marshal i s a very pl easnt and r ef i ned man; but ata f i r e he does use coarse l anuage he says or , r ather, he r oar s out :"Oh, go t o hel l wi t h your bucket s and hand?squi r t s! " And t hen, whent hese wel l ?meani ng peopl e f eel i nsul t ed, perhaps, and t hi nk i t hi ghl yi mpr oper t o be tr eat ed i n t hi s f ashi on, and woul d l i ke at l east t o bet r eat ed r espect f ul l y what says t he f i r e- mar shal t hen? Wel l , at ot her

t i mes t he f i r e?marshal i s a ver y pl easant and ref i ned gent l eman whowi l l show every one t he respect due hi m; but at a f i r e he i s somewhatdi f f erent he says: "Wher e the devi l i s t he pol i ce?" And when t hepol i cemen ar r i ve he says t o t hem: "Ri d me of t hese damn peopl e wi t ht hei r bucket s and hand?squi r t s; and i f t hey won' t cl ear out , t hen cl ubt hem on t hei r heads, so t hat we get r i d of t hem and can get at t hef i r e ! "

That i s t o say, i n t he case of a f i r e t he whol e way of l ooki ng att hi ngs i s a ver y di f f er ent one f r om t hat of qui et ever y?day l i f e. Thequal i t i es whi ch i n qui et ever y?day l i f e r ender one wel l ?l i ked, vi z. ,good?nat ur e and ki ndl y wel l meani ng, al l t hi s i s r epai d, i n t he case of a f i r e, wi t h abusi ve l anguage and f i nal l y wi t h a crack on the head.

And t hi s i s j ust as i t shoul d be. For a conf l agr at i on i s a ser i ousbusi ness; and wherever we have t o deal wi t h a ser i ous busi ness t hi swel l ?i nt ent i oned ki ndness won' t do at al l . I ndeed, any seri ous busi nessenf or ces a ver y di f f er ent mode of behavi or whi ch i s: ei t her ?or . Ei t heryou ar e abl e r eal l y t o do somethi ng, and real l y have somethi ng to doher e; or el se, i f t hat be not t he case, t hen t he ser i ous busi nessdemands preci sel y t hat you t ake your sel f away. And i f you wi l l notcompr ehend that , t he f i r e?marshal pr oposes t o have t he pol i ce hammer i ti nt o your head; whi ch may do you a gr eat deal of good, as i t may hel pt o r ender you a l i t t l e ser i ous, as i s bef i t t i ng so ser i ous a busi nessas a f i re.

But what i s t r ue i n t he case of a f i r e hol ds t r ue al so i n mat t er s of t he spi r i t . Wher ever a cause i s t o be pr omoted, or an ent erpri se t o be

seen t hrough, or an i dea t o be ser ved ?you may be sur e t hat when he whor eal l y i s t he man t o do i t , t he ri ght man, he who, i n a hi gher sensehas and ought t o have command, he who i s i n earnest and can make t hematt er t he ser i ous busi ness i t r eal l y i s you may be sur e that when hear r i ves at t he spot , so to say, he wi l l f i nd t here a ni ce company of easy?goi ng, addl e?pated t waddl ers who, pr et endi ng t o be engaged i nser i ous busi ness, dabbl e i n wi shi ng t o ser ve t hi s cause, t o f ur t hert hat ent erpr i se, t o pr omote that i dea a company of addl e?pated f ool swho wi l l of cour se consi der one' s unwi l l i ngness t o make common causewi t h t hem ( whi ch unwi l l i ngness pr eci sel y pr oves one' s ser i ousness) andt hen ent er s i nt o t he pr ocess of hi st or y. But unf or t unat el y thi s pr ocess( how r i di cul ous a supposi t i on! ) consi st s not i n pur i f yi ng t he i dea,whi ch never i s pur er t han at i t s i ncept i on; oh no, i t consi st s i n


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gr adual l y and i ncr easi ngl y botchi ng, bungl i ng, and maki ng a mess of ,t he i dea, i n usi ng up t he i dea, i n i ndeed, i s not t hi s t he opposi t e of f i l t er i ng? addi ng t he i mpur er el ement s whi ch i t or i gi nal l y l acked:unt i l at l ast , by the ent husi ast i c and mut ual l y appr eci at i ve ef f or t s of successi ve generat i ons, t he i dea has absol ut el y di sappear ed and t hever y opposi t e of t he or i gi nal i dea i s now cal l ed t he i dea, whi ch i st hen assert ed t o have ar i sen t hr ough a hi st ori c pr ocess by whi ch t hei dea i s pur i f i ed and el evat ed.

When f i nal l y t he r i ght man ar r i ves, he who i n the hi ghest sense i s

cal l ed t o t he t ask f or al l we know, chosen ear l y and sl owl y educat edf or t hi s busi ness whi ch i s, t o t hr ow l i ght on t he mat t er , t o set f i r et o t hi s j ungl e whi ch i s a r ef uge f or al l ki nds of f ool i sh t al k anddel usi ons and rascal l y t r i cks when he comes he wi l l al ways f i nd a ni cecompany of addl e?pat ed f ool s and t waddl ers who, surel y enough, do t hi nkt hat , per haps, t hi ngs ar e wr ong and t hat "somet hi ng must be done abouti t "; or who have taken t he posi t i on, and t al k a good deal about i t ,t hat i t i s pr epost er ous t o be sel f ?i mpor t ant and t al k about i t . Now i f he, t he ri ght man, i s decei ved but a si ngl e i nst ant and t hi nks t hat i ti s t hi s company who ar e to ai d hi m, t hen i t i s cl ear he i s not t her i ght man. I f he i s decei ved and has deal i ngs wi t h t hat company, t henpr ovi dence wi l l at once t ake i t s hand of f hi m, as not f i t . But t her i ght man wi l l see at a gl ance, as the f i r e?mar shal does, t hat t hecr owd who i n t he ki ndness of t hei r hear t s mean t o hel p i n ext i ngui shi ng

a conf l agr at i on by bucket s and hand?squi r t s t he ri ght man wi l l see t hatt he same crowd who here, when t here i s a quest i on, not of ext i ngui shi nga f i r e, but r at her of set t i ng somet hi ng on f i r e, wi l l i n t he ki ndnessof t hei r hear t s wi sh to hel p wi t h a sul phur mat ch sans f i r e or a wetspi l l he wi l l see t hat t hi s cr owd must be got r i d of , t hat he must nothave the l east t hi ng i n common wi t h t hi s cr owd, t hat he wi l l be obl i gedt o use t he coar sest possi bl e l anguage agai nst t hem he who perhaps atother t i mes i s anyt hi ng but coar se. But t he t hi ng of supr eme i mport ancei s t o be ri d of t he cr owd; f or t he ef f ect of t he cr owd i s t o hamst r i ngt he whol e cause by robbi ng i t of i t s seri ousness whi l e hear t f el tsympat hy i s pretended. Of cour se t he cr owd wi l l t hen r age agai nst hi m,agai nst hi s i ncredi bl e arr ogance and so f or t h. Thi s ought not t o countwi t h hi m, whet her f or or agai nst , I n al l t r ul y ser i ous busi ness t he l awof : ei t her or , pr evai l s. Ei t her , I am t he man whose ser i ous busi ness

t hi s i s , I am cal l ed t o i t , and am wi l l i ng t o t ake a deci s i ve r i sk; or ,i f t hi s be not t he case, t hen t he ser i ousness of t he busi ness demandst hat I do not meddl e wi t h i t at al l . Not hi ng i s mor e det est abl e andmean, and nothi ng di scl oses and ef f ect s a deeper demoral i zat i on, t hant hi s l ackadai si cal wi shi ng t o ent er "somewhat " i nt o mat t er s whi chdemand an aut aut , aut Caesar aut ni hi l , [ 125] t hi s t aki ng j ust al i t t l e part i n somethi ng, t o be so wr etchedl y l ukewar m, t o twaddl eabout t he busi ness, and then by t waddl i ng t o usurp t hr ough a l i e theat t i t ude of bei ng bet t er t han t hey who wi sh not t o have anythi ngwhatever t o do wi t h the whol e busi ness t o usurp t hr ough a l i e t heat t i t ude of bei ng bet t er , and t hus t o r ender doubl y di f f i cul t t he t askof hi m whose busi ness i t r eal l y i s.

CONFI RMATI ON AND WEDDI NG CEREMONY;

CHRI STI AN COMEDY OR WORSE STI LL

( No. VI I , 6)

Pr i cks of consci ence ( i nsof ar as t hey may be assumed i n thi sconnect i on) pr i cks of consci ence seem t o have convi nced "Chr i st endom"t hat i t was, af t er al l , goi ng t oo f ar , and t hat i t woul d not do t hi sbeast l y f arce of becomi ng a Chr i st i an by t he si mpl e method of l et t i ng ar oyal of f i ci al gi ve the i nf ant a spr i nkl e of wat er over hi s head, whi chi s t he occasi on f or a f ami l y gat her i ng wi t h a banquet t o cel ebr at e theday.


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Thi s won' t do, was t he opi ni on of "Chr i st endom, " f or t he oppor t uni t yought t o be gi ven t he bapt i zed i ndi vi dual t o i ndor se per sonal l y hi sbapt i smal vows.

For t hi s pur pose the ri t e of conf i r mat i on was devi sed a spl endi di nvent i on, pr ovi di ng we t ake t wo t hi ngs f or gr ant ed: i n t he f i r stpl ace, t hat t he i dea of di vi ne worshi p i s t o make God r i di cul ous; andi n t he second pl ace, t hat i t s pur pose i s t o gi ve occasi on f or f ami l ycel ebr at i ons, par t i es, a j ol l y eveni ng, a banquet whi ch i s di f f er entf r om ot her banquet s i n t hat i t ah, exqui si t e i n t hat i t , "at t he same

t i me" has a rel i gi ous si gni f i cance."The t ender chi l d, " t hus Chr i st endom, "can of cour se not assume t hebapt i smal vow per sonal l y, f or t hi s r equi r es a real per sonal i t y. "Consequent l y t here was chosen i s t hi s a st r oke of geni us or j usti ngeni ous? t here was chosen t he age of 14 or 15 year s, t he school boyage. Thi s r eal per sonal i t y t hat i s al l r i ght , i f you pl ease he i s equalt o the t ask of per sonal l y assumi ng r esponsi bi l i t y f or t he bapt i smal vowt aken i n behal f of t he i nf ant .

A boy of f i f t een! Now, i f i t wer e a mat t er of 10 dol l ar s, hi s f at herwoul d pr obabl y say: "No, my boy, I can' t l et you have al l t hat money,you ar e st i l l t oo gr een f or t hat . " But f or a mat t er t ouchi ng hi set er nal sal vat i on wher e the poi nt i s t o assume, wi t h al l t he

ser i ousness one' s per sonal i t y i s capabl e of , and as a per sonal i t y,r esponsi bi l i t y f or what cer t ai nl y coul d not i n any pr of ounder sense becal l ed ser i ous when a chi l d i s bound by a vow: f or t hat t he age of f i f teen i s excel l ent l y f i t t i ng.

Excel l ent l y f i t t i ng. Oh yes i f , as was r emar ked above, di vi ne wor shi pserves a doubl e pur pose, vi z. , t o r ender God r i di cul ous i n a ver yadr oi t manner i f you may cal l i t so and t o f ur ni sh t he occasi on f orgr acef ul f ami l y cel ebr at i ons. I n t hat case i t i s i ndeed excel l ent l yf i t t i ng, as ever yt hi ng i s on t hat occasi on; as i s, l i kewi se, t hecust omar y bi bl l i cal l esson f or t he day whi ch, you wi l l r emember,begi ns: "Then t he same day at eveni ng, when the doors were shut " [ 126]and t hi s t ext i s par t i cul ar l y sui t abl e t o a Conf i r mat i on Sunday. One i st r ul y edi f i ed when hear i ng a cl er gyrnan r ead i t on a Conf i r mat i on

Sunday.

As i s easi l y per cei ved, t hen, t he conf i r mat i on cer emony i s st i l lwor se nonsense t han t he bapt i sm of i nf ant s, j ust because conf i r mat i onpr et ends t o suppl y what was l acki ng at t he bapt i sm, vi z. , a realpersonal i t y capabl e of maki ng a vow i n a mat t er t ouchi ng one' s eternalsal vat i on. I n anot her sense thi s nonsense i s, t o be sur e, i ngeni ousenough, as ser vi ng t he sel f ?i nt er est of t he cl er gy who under st and f ul lwel l t hat i f t he deci si on concer ni ng a man' s r el i gi on wer e r eservedunt i l he had r eached matur i t y (whi ch were t he onl y Chr i st i an, as wel las t he onl y sensi bl e, way) , many mi ght possess charact er enough t or ef use t o become Chr i st i ans by an act of hypocr i sy. For t hi s r eason"t he cl ergyman" seeks t o gai n cont r ol of men i n t hei r i nf ancy and t hei ryout h, so t hat t hey woul d f i nd i t di f f i ct i l t , upon r eachi ng a mor e

matur e age, t o br eak a " sacred" vow dat i ng, t o he sure, f r omone' sboyhood, but whi ch woul d, perhaps, st i l l be a ser i ous enough matt er t omany a one. Hence t he cl ergy t ake hol d of t he i nf ant s, t he yout hs, andr ecei ve sacr ed pr omi ses and t he l i ke f r om t hem. And what t hat man of God, "t he cl er gyman, " does, why, t hat i s, of cour se, a God?f eari ngact i on. El se, anal ogy mi ght , perhaps, demand t hat t o the or di nancef or bi ddi ng t he sal e of spi r i t uous l i quor s t o mi nor s t her e shoul d beadded one f orbi ddi ng t he t aki ng of sol emn vows concerni ng one' s et ernalsal vat i on f r om boys; whi ch ordi nance woul d l ook toward pr event i ng t hecl er gy, who themsel ves are per j ur or s, f r om wor ki ng i n or der t o sal vet hei r own consci ences f r omworki ng t oward the gr eat est concei vabl eshi pwr eck whi ch i s, t o make al l soci et y become per j ur ed; f or l et t i ngboys of f i f t een bi nd t hemsel ves i n a mat t er t ouchi ng t hei r et ernal


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sal vat i on i s a measur e whi ch i s pr eci sel y cal cul at ed t o have t hatef fect .

The cer emony of conf i r mat i on i s, t hen, i n i t sel f a wor se pi ece of nonsense than t he bapt i sm of i nf ant s. But i n or der t o mi ss not hi ngwhi ch mi ght , i n any concei vabl e manner , cont r i but e t o r enderconf i r mat i on t he exact opposi t e of what i t pur por t s t o be, t hi sceremony has been connect ed wi t h al l manner of wor l dl y and ci vi laf f ai r s, so t hat t he si gni f i cance of conf i r mat i on l i es chi ef l y i n t hecer t i f i cat e of char act er whi ch t he mi ni st er makes out ; wi t hout whi ch

cer t i f i cat e no boy or gi r l wi l l be abl e t o get on at al l i n l i f e. [ 127]The whol e t hi ng i s a comedy; and perhaps somet hi ng mi ght be done t o

add gr eat er dr amat i c i l l usi on t o the sol emni t y; as e. g. , passi ng anordi nance f orbi ddi ng any one to be conf i r med i n a j acket , as notbecomi ng a r eal per sonal i t y; l i kewi se, a regul at i on or der i ng mal ecandi dates f or conf i r mat i on t o wear a bear d dur i ng t he ceremony, whi chbear d mi ght , of cour se, be taken of f f or t he f ami l y cel ebr at i on i n t heeveni ng, or be used i n f un and mer r ymaki ng.

I am not now at t acki ng t he communi t y t hey are l ed ast r ay; t hey cannotbe bl amed f or l i ki ng t hi s ki nd of di vi ne wor shi p, seei ng t hat t hey ar el ef t t o thei r own devi ces and decei ved by t hei r cl ergyman who has swornan oat h on t he New Test ament . But woe t o t hese cl ergymen, woe t o t hem,

t hese sworn l i ars ! I know t here have been mocker s at r el i gi on, and Iknow how much t hey woul d have gi ven to be abl e t o do what I do; butt hey were not abl e to, because God was not wi t h t hem. I t i s di f f erentwi t h me. Or i gi nal l y as wel l di sposed t o the cl ergy as f ew have been,and very ready t o hel p t hem, I have under gone a change of hear t i n t heopposi t e di r ect i on, owi ng t o t hei r at t i t ude. And t he Al mi ght y i s wi t hme, and He knows how t he whi p i s t o be handl ed so t hat t he bl ows t akeef f ect , and t hat l aught er must be t hat whi p, handl ed wi t h f ear andt r embl i ng ther ef or am I used.

THE WEDDI NG CEREMONY

Tr ue wor shi p of God consi st s, ver y si mpl y, i n doi ng God' s wi l l .

But t hat ki nd of di vi ne servi ce has never sui t ed man' s wi shes. Thatwhi ch occupi es man' s mi nd at al l t i mes, t hat whi ch gi ves r i se t osci ence [ 128] and makes sci ence spread i nto many, many sci ences, andi nt o i nt er mi nabl e det ai l ; t hat of whi ch, and f or whi ch, t housands of cl ergymen and pr of essors l i ve, t hat whi ch f orms t he cont ent s of t hehi st ory of Chr i st endom, by t he st udy of whi ch t he cl ergyman or t hepr of essor t o be i s t r ai ned i s t o get a di f f er ent ki nd of wor shi parr anged, t he mai n poi nt of whi ch woul d be: t o do what one pl eases, buti n such f ashi on t hat t he name of God and the i nvocat i on of God bebrought i nto connect i on t her ewi t h; by whi ch ar r angement man i magi neshi msel f saf eguar ded agai nst ungodl i ness whereas, al as! j ust t hi spr ocedur e i s t he most unqual i f i ed ungodl i ness.

For exampl e: a man has t he i nt ent i on t o make hi s l i vi ng by ki l l i ng

peopl e. To be sur e, he knows f r om t he Word of God t hat t hi s i s notpermi ssi bl e, t hat God' s wi l l i s : t hou shal t not ki l l ! " Al l r i ght , "t hi nks he, "but t hi s way of servi ng God wi l l not serve my pur poses att he same t i me I don' t care to be among the ungodl y ones, ei t her . " Sowhat does he do but get hol d of some pr i est who i n God' s name bl esseshi s dagger. Ah, c' est bi en aut r e chose!

I n t he Scr i pt ur es t he si ngl e st ate i s r ecommended. "But , " says man," t hat ki nd of worshi p r eal l y does not serve my pur poses and surel y, youcan' t say that I am an ungodl y person; and such an i mport ant st ep asmarr i age (whi ch nota bene God counsel s agai nst , Hi s opi ni on bei ng, i nf act , t hat t he i mpor t ant t hi ng i s not t o t ake "t hi s i mpor t ant st ep")shoul d I t ake such an i mport ant st ep wi t hout maki ng sure of God' s


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bl essi ng?" Br avo! " That i s what we have t he pr i est f or , t hat man of God, he wi l l best ow t he bl essi ng on t hi s i mport ant st ep ( nota beneconcerni ng whi ch t he most i mport ant t hi ng was not t o take i t at al l )and so i t wi l l be accept abl e t o God" and so I have my own way; and myown way becomes t he way of wor shi ppi ng God; and the pr i est has hi s ownway and get s hi s t en dol l ars, whi ch are not ear ned i n such a si mpl e wayas, f or exampl e, by br ushi ng peopl e' s cl ot hes, or by ser vi ng out beerand br andy oh no! Was he not act i ve on behal f of God? To earn t endol l ar s i n t hi s f ashi on i s: ser vi ng God. Br avi ssi mo!

What dept h of nonsense and abomi nat i on! I f somet hi ng i s not pl easi ng t oGod, does i t per haps become pl easi ng t o Hi m by havi ng why, t hat i saggr avat i ng t he mi schi ef ! by havi ng a cl ergyman al ong who why, t hat i saggr avat i ng t he mi schi ef st i l l mor e! who get s t en dol l ar s f or decl ar i ngi t pl easant t o God?

Let us consi der t he mar r i age cer emony st i l l f ur t her! I n Hi s wor d Godr ecommends t he si ngl e st at e. Now suppose t wo young peopl e want t o bemarr i ed. To be sur e, t hey ought cert ai nl y t o know, t hemsel ves, whatChr i st i ani t y i s, seei ng t hat t hey cal l t hemsel ves Chr i st i ans; but nevermi nd that now. The l overs t hen appl y t o t he cl ergyman; and thecl ergyman i s, we r emember, pl edged by hi s oat h on t he New Test ament( whi ch nota bene recommends t he si ngl e st ate) . Now, i f he i s not a l i arand a per j ur or who makes hi s money i n the ver y shabbi est f ashi on, he

woul d be bound to t ake t he f ol l owi ng cour se: at most he coul d, wi t hhuman compassi on f or t hi s human condi t i on of bei ng i n l ove, say tot hem: "Dear chi l dr en, I am t he one t o whom you shoul d t ur n l ast of al l ;t o t ur n t o me on t hi s occasi on i s, i ndeed, as st r ange as i f one shoul dt ur n t o t he chi ef of pol i ce and ask hi m how best t o st eal . My dut y i st o empl oy al l means t o rest r ai n you. At most , I can say, wi t h t he wordsof t he Apost l e (f or t hey ar e not t he wor ds of Our Lor d) , I can say t oyou: wel l , i f i t must be, and you cannot cont ai n, why, t hen f i nd someway of get t i ng t oget her ; f or ' i t i s bet t er t o mar r y t han t o bur n. '[ 129] I know ver y wel l t hat you wi l l be l i kel y t o shudder when I speaki n t hi s manner about what you thi nk i s t he most beaut i f ul t hi ng i nl i f e; but I must do my dut y. And i t i s t her ef or e I sai d t o you t hat t ome you shoul d have appl i ed l ast of al l . "

I t i s di f f er ent i n "Chr i st endom. " The pr i est oh dear me! i f t her e ar ebut t wo t o cl ap t oget her , why cer t ai nl y! I ndeed, i f t he personsconcer ned turned t o a mi dwi f e t hey woul d per haps not be as sur e to beconf i r med i n t hei r convi ct i on t hat t hei r i nt ent i on i s pl easi ng t o God.

And so t hey are mar r i ed; i . e. man has hi s own way, and t hi shavi ng hi s own way st r ategi cal l y ser ves at t he same t i me as di vi neworshi p, God' s name bei ng connect ed wi t h i t . They are marr i ed by t hepr i est ! Ah, f or havi ng t he cl er gyman al ong i s j ust what r eassures onet he man who, t o be sure, i s pl edged by hi s oat h to pr each the NewTest ament , but who f or a consi der at i on of t en dol l ar s i s t hepl easant est company one coul d desi r e t hat man he guarant ees t hat t hi sact i s t r ue worshi p of God.

I n a Chr i st i an sense one ought t o say: pr eci sel y t he f act t hat a pr i esti s i n i t , pr eci sel y t hat i s t he wor st t hi ng about t he whol e busi ness.I f you want t o be marr i ed you ought , r ather , be marr i ed by a smi t h; f ort hen i f i t wer e admi ssi bl e t o speak i n t hi s f ashi on t hen i t mi ghtpossi bl y escape God' s at t ent i on; wher eas, i f t her e i s a pr i est al ong i tcan cer t ai nl y not escape Hi s at t ent i on. Pr eci sel y t he f act of t hecl er gyman' s bei ng t her e makes i t as cr i mi nal an af f ai r as possi bl e cal lt o mi nd what was sai d to a man who i n a st orm at sea i nvoked t he gods:"By al l means do not l et t he gods not i ce that you are aboar d! " Thus onemi ght say her e al so: By al l means t r y t o avoi d cal l i ng i n a pr i est . Theothers, t he smi t h and t he l overs, have not pl edged t hemsel ves by anoat h on t he New Test ament , so mat t ers ar e not as bad i f i t beadmi ssi bl e to speak i n t hi s f ashi on as when t he pr i est assi st s wi t h hi s


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hol y pr esence.

AN ETERNI TY TO REPENT I N!

(No. VI I I , 3)

Let me r el at e a st or y. I di d not r ead i t i n a book of devot i on but i nwhat i s gener al l y cal l ed l i ght r eadi ng. Yet I do not hesi t at e to makeuse of i t , and i ndi cat e i t s sour ce onl y l est any one be di st ur bed i f heshoul d happen t o be acquai nt ed wi t h i t , or f i nd out at some l ater t i me

wher e i t i s f r om l est he be di st ur bed t hat I had been si l ent aboutthi s .

Once upon a t i me t her e l i ved somewher e i n t he East a poor ol dcoupl e. Ut t er l y poor t hey wer e, and anxi et y about t he f ut ur e nat ur al l ygr ew when t hey thought of ol d age appr oachi ng. They di d not , i ndeed,const ant l y assai l heaven wi t h t hei r pr ayer s, t hey wer e too God?f ear i ngt o do t hat; but st i l l t hey were ever pr ayi ng t o God f or hel p.

Then one morni ng i t happened t hat t he ol d woman f ound anexceedi ng l arge j ewel on t he hear t h?st one, whi ch she f ort hwi t h showedt o her husband, who recogni zed i t s val ue and easi l y percei ved that nowt hei r povert y was at an end.

What a br i ght f ut ur e f or t hese ol d peopl e, and what gl adness! Butf r ugal and pi ous as t hey wer e they deci ded not t o sel l t he j ewel j ustyet , si nce t hey had enough wherewi t hal t o l i ve st i l l one more day. Buton t he morr ow t hey woul d sel l i t , and then a new l i f e was t o begi n f ort hem.

I n the f ol l owi ng ni ght t he woman dr eamed t hat she was t r anspor t ed t oPar adi se. An angel showed her about t he spl endors whi ch onl y anOr i ent al i magi nat i on can devi se. He showed her a hal l i n whi ch t herest ood l ong rows of arm?chai r s gemmed al l over wi t h pr eci ous st ones andpear l s. These, so t he angel expl ai ned, wer e the seat s of t he pi ous. Andl ast of al l he poi nt ed out t o her t he one dest i ned f or her sel f . Whenr egar di ng i t mor e cl osel y she di scover ed that a ver y l ar ge j ewel wasl acki ng i n the back of t he chai r , and she asked the angel how t hat

mi ght be. He ah, wat ch now, f or her e i s t he poi nt ! The angel answered:"That was t he j ewel whi ch you f ound on your hear t h?st one. I t was gi venyou ahead of t i me, and i t cannot be put i n agai n. "

I n t he morni ng t he woman tol d her husband t hi s dream. And she wasof t he opi ni on t hat i t was bett er , per haps, t o endur e i n pover t y t hef ew year s sti l l l ef t t o t hem t o l i ve, r at her t han t o be wi t hout t hatj ewel i n al l eterni t y. And her pi ous husband was of t he same opi ni on.

So i n t he eveni ng they l ai d the j ewel on t he hear t h?st one andpr ayed t o God t o t ake i t away agai n. And next morni ng i t haddi sappear ed, f or cer t ai n; and what had become of i t t he ol d f ol ks wel lknew: i t was i n i t s r i ght pl ace agai n.

Thi s man was i n tr ut h happi l y mar r i ed, and hi s wi f e a sensi bl ewoman. But even i f i t wer e tr ue, as i s mai nt ai ned so of t en, t hat i t i smen' s wi ves who cause them t o l ose si ght of et er nal val ues: even i f al lmen r emai ned unmarr i ed, t here woul d st i l l be i n every one of us ani mpul se, more i ngeni ous and more pr essi ng and more unremi t t i ng t han awoman, whi ch wi l l cause hi m t o use a wr ong measur e and t o t hi nk acoupl e of year s, or t en year s, or f or t y years, so enormous a l engt h of t i me that even et er ni t y wer e qui t e br i ef i n compar i son; i nst ead of t hese year s bei ng asnot hi ng when compared wi t h the i nf i ni t e dur at i on of et er ni t y.

Theref ore, heed thi s wel l ! You may by worl dl y wi sdom escape


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perhaps what i t has pl eased God t o uni t e wi t h t he condi t i on of one' sbei ng a Chr i st i an, t hat i s, suf f er i ngs and t r i bul at i ons; you may, andt o your own dest r ucti on, by cl ever l y avoi di ng t he di f f i cul t i es,per haps, gai n what God has f orever made i ncompat i bl e wi t h bei ng aChr i st i an, t hat i s, t he enj oyment of pl easur es and al l ear t hl y goods;you may, f ool ed by your own worl dl y wi sdom, perhaps, f i nal l y peri shal t oget her, i n t he i l l usi on t hat you are on t he ri ght way because youhave gai ned happi ness i n t hi s wor l d: and t hen you wi l l have an eterni t yt o r epent i n! An et er ni t y t o r epent i n; t o r epent t hat you di d notempl oy your t i me i n doi ng what mi ght be r emembered i n al l eterni t y;

t hat i s, i n t r ut h t o l ove God, wi t h t he consequence t hat you suf f er t heper secut i on of men i n t hi s l i f e.

Ther ef or e, do not decei ve your sel f , and of al l decei ver s f ear mostyour sel f ! Even i f i t wer e possi bl e f or one, wi t h r egar d t o et er ni t y, t ot ake somethi ng ahead of t i me, you woul d st i l l decei ve your sel f j ust byhavi ng somethi ng ahead of t i me and t hen an eterni t y t o repent i n!

A DOSE OF DI SGUST WI TH LI FE

( No. I X, 3)

J ust as man as i s nat ur al desi r es t hat whi ch t ends t o nour i sh andr evi ve hi s l ove of l i f e, l i kewi se he who wi shes t o l i ve wi t h et er ni t y

i n mi nd needs a const ant dose of di sgust wi t h l i f e l est he becomef ool i shl y enamor ed of t hi s worl d and, st i l l mor e, i n or der t hat he mayl ear n t horoughl y to be di sgust ed and bored and si ckened wi t h t he f ol l yand l i es of t hi s wr et ched wor l d. Her e i s a dose of i t :

God I ncarnat e i s bet r ayed, mocked, deser t ed by absol ut el y al l men;not a si ngl e one, l i t er al l y not a si ngl e one, r emai ns f ai t hf ul t o hi mand t hen, af t erwar ds, af t er wards, oh yes, af t er war ds, t her e weremi l l i ons of men who on t hei r knees made pi l gr i mage t o t he pl aces wher emany hundred years ago Hi s f eet , perhaps, t r od t he gr ound; af t erwards,af t er war ds oh yes, af t er war ds, mi l l i ons wor shi pped a spl i nt er of t hecr oss on whi ch He was cruci f i ed!

And so i t was al ways when men were contempor ar y wi t h the gr eat ; but

af t er war ds, af t er wards oh yes, af t er wards!

Must one t hen not l oathe bei ng human?

And agai n, must one not l oat he bei ng human? For t hese mi l l i ons who ont hei r knees made pi l gr i mage t o Hi s gr ave, t hi s t hr ong of peopl e whi chno power on eart h was abl e t o over come: but one t hi ng were necessar y,Chr i st ' s r et ur n and al l t hese mi l l i ons woul d qui ckl y regai n t hei r f eett o run thei r way, so t hat t he whol e t hr ong were as i f bl own away; orwoul d, i n a mass, and erect enough, r ush upon Chr i st i n order t o ki l lhi m.

That whi ch Chr i st and the Apost l es and ever y mart yr desi r es, anddesi r es as t he onl y t hi ng: t hat we shoul d f ol l ow i n Hi s f oot st eps, j ust

t hat i s t he thi ng whi ch manki nd does not l i ke or does not f i nd pl easur ei n.

No, t ake away t he danger so t hat i t i s but pl ay, and t hen t hebat al l i ons of t he human r ace wi l l ( ah, di sgust i ng! ) wi l l per f or mast oni shi ng f eat s i n api ng Hi m; and t hen i nst ead of an i mi t at i on of Chr i st we get ( ah, di sgust i ng! ) , we get t hat sacr ed buf f ooner y undergui dance and command ( ah, di sgust i ng! ) of sworn cl ergymen who doservi ce as ser geant s, l i eut enant s, etc. ordai ned men who t heref ore havet he Hol y Spi r i t ' s speci al assi st ance i n t hi s ser i ous busi ness.

__________________________________________________________________

[ 118] Sel ect i ons.


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[ 119] The f ol l owi ng sent ence i s not cl ear i n t he or i gi nal .

[ 120] Mat t hew 7, 14.

[ 121] Luke 18, 8.

[ 122] The l ast l i ne of t hi s pi ece of bl oody i r ony i s not cl ear i n t heor i gi nal ( S. V. XI I I , 128) . I t wi l l make bet t er sense i f onesubst i t ut es "da" f or t he f i r st " de. "

[ 123] Thi s suggest i on had act ual l y been made t o Ki erkegaar d i n t hecour se of hi s at t acks on Mart ensen.

[ 124] Al l usi on t o Psal m 56, 9; al so to a passage i n one of Bi shopMynst er ' s ser mons ( S. V. ) .

[ 125] Ei t her or; ei t her Cæsar or not hi ng ( Cæsare Bor gi a' s sl ogan) .

[ 126] J ohn 20, 19 "Where t he di sci pl es were assembl ed f or f ear of t heJ ews, came J esus and st ood i n the mi dst , and sai t h unto t hem, Peace beunt o you. "

[ 127] Thi s was, unt i l ver y recent l y, t he uni ver sal r ul e i n Pr ot est ant

Scandi navi a and Ger many.

[ 128] I t i s t o be borne i n mi nd t hat Dani sh vi denskab, l i ke GermanWi ssenschaf t , embr aces t he humani t i es and t heol ogy as wel l .

[ 129] I Cor . 7, 9.__________________________________________________________________

I ndexes__________________________________________________________________

I ndex of Scr i pt ur e Ref er ences

Genesi s

[ 1] 1 [ 2] 3 [ 3] 11 [ 4] 20 [ 5] 22 [ 6] 22 [ 7] 22

2 Ki ngs

[8]1 [9]20

J ob

[ 10] 2 [ 11] 10

Psal ms

[ 12] 9 [ 13] 56

Eccl esi ast es

[ 14] 3 [ 15] 7

I sai ah

[ 16] 1 [17] 2 [18] 18 [19] 26 [20] 38 [21] 53

Haggai

[ 22] 1 [ 23] 6


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Mat t hew

[ 24] 3 [ 25] 5 [ 26] 6 [ 27] 7 [ 28] 9 [ 29] 9 [ 30] 11 [ 31] 13[ 32] 14 [ 33] 14 [ 34] 15 [ 35] 16 [ 36] 16 [ 37]17 [ 38] 19 [ 39] 20[ 40] 20 [ 41] 27 [ 42] 31 [ 43] 45

Luke

[ 44] 8 [ 45] 10 [ 46] 11 [ 47]14 [ 48]18 [ 49] 18 [ 50] 23 [ 51] 23[ 52] 23 [ 53] 30 [ 54] 32 [ 55] 35

J ohn

[ 56] 1 [ 57] 2 [ 58] 3 [ 59] 4 [ 60] 19 [ 61] 20

Act s

[62]2

1 Cor i nt hi ans

[ 63] 2 [ 64] 7 [ 65] 9 [ 66] 9 [ 67] 10 [ 68] 12__________________________________________________________________

Thi s document i s f r om t he Chr i st i an Cl assi cs Et her ealLi br ar y at Cal vi n Col l ege, ht t p: / / www. ccel . or g,generat ed on demand f r om ThML source.

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/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Mat t &scr Ch=17&scr V=0#vi - p126. 238. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Mat t &scr Ch=19&scr V=0#v- p63. 2




42. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Mat t &scr Ch=31&scr V=0#i v- p44. 2



/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=8&scr V=0#vi i - p29. 245. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=10&scr V=0#vi - p182. 246. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache




/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=18&scr V=0#vi i - p29. 250. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=23&scr V=0#vi - p138. 2


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51. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=23&scr V=0#vi - p182. 2

52. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=23&scr V=0#v- p54. 4

53. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=Luke&scr Ch=30&scr V=0#v- p54. 4



56. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=J ohn&scr Ch=1&scr V=0#vi - p132. 257. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=J ohn&scr Ch=2&scr V=0#vi - p138. 458. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache



/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=J ohn&scr Ch=19&scr V=0#vi i - p120. 261. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=J ohn&scr Ch=20&scr V=0#vi i - p120. 262. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=Act s&scr Ch=2&scr V=0#vi - p124. 2

63. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=1Cor&scr Ch=2&scr V=0#vi - p130. 264. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=1Cor&scr Ch=7&scr V=0#vi i - p135. 265. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=1Cor&scr Ch=9&scr V=0#vi - p130. 266. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. ht ml 3?scr Book=1Cor&scr Ch=9&scr V=0#vi i - p135. 267. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=1Cor&scr Ch=10&scr V=0#v- p76. 268. f i l e: / / l ocal host / ccel / k/ ki er kegaar d/ sel ecti ons/ cache

/ sel ect i ons. html 3?scr Book=1Cor&scr Ch=12&scr V=0#v- p76. 2


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