第39章

In the same fashion others of this ilk Created are.And when they're quickly borne In their exceeding lightness, easily (As earlier I showed) one subtle image, Compounded, moves by its one blow the mind, Itself so subtle and so strangely quick.

That these things come to pass as I record, From this thou easily canst understand:

So far as one is unto other like, Seeing with mind as well as with the eyes Must come to pass in fashion not unlike.

Well, now, since I have shown that I perceive Haply a lion through those idol-films Such as assail my eyes, 'tis thine to know Also the mind is in like manner moved, And sees, nor more nor less than eyes do see (Except that it perceives more subtle films)The lion and aught else through idol-films.

And when the sleep has overset our frame, The mind's intelligence is now awake, Still for no other reason, save that these-The self-same films as when we are awake-Assail our minds, to such degree indeed That we do seem to see for sure the man Whom, void of life, now death and earth have gained Dominion over.And nature forces this To come to pass because the body's senses Are resting, thwarted through the members all, Unable now to conquer false with true;And memory lies prone and languishes In slumber, nor protests that he, the man Whom the mind feigns to see alive, long since Hath been the gain of death and dissolution.

And further, 'tis no marvel idols move And toss their arms and other members round In rhythmic time- and often in men's sleeps It haps an image this is seen to do;In sooth, when perishes the former image, And other is gendered of another pose, That former seemeth to have changed its gestures.

Of course the change must be conceived as speedy;So great the swiftness and so great the store Of idol-things, and (in an instant brief As mind can mark) so great, again, the store Of separate idol-parts to bring supplies.

It happens also that there is supplied Sometimes an image not of kind the same;But what before was woman, now at hand Is seen to stand there, altered into male;Or other visage, other age succeeds;

But slumber and oblivion take care That we shall feel no wonder at the thing.

And much in these affairs demands inquiry, And much, illumination- if we crave With plainness to exhibit facts.And first, Why doth the mind of one to whom the whim To think has come behold forthwith that thing?

Or do the idols watch upon our will, And doth an image unto us occur, Directly we desire- if heart prefer The sea, the land, or after all the sky?

Assemblies of the citizens, parades, Banquets, and battles, these and all doth she, Nature, create and furnish at our word?-Maugre the fact that in same place and spot Another's mind is meditating things All far unlike.And what, again, of this:

When we in sleep behold the idols step, In measure, forward, moving supple limbs, Whilst forth they put each supple arm in turn With speedy motion, and with eyeing heads Repeat the movement, as the foot keeps time?

Forsooth, the idols they are steeped in art, And wander to and fro well taught indeed,-Thus to be able in the time of night To make such games! Or will the truth be this:

Because in one least moment that we mark-That is, the uttering of a single sound-

There lurk yet many moments, which the reason Discovers to exist, therefore it comes That, in a moment how so brief ye will, The divers idols are hard by, and ready Each in its place diverse? So great the swiftness, So great, again, the store of idol-things, And so, when perishes the former image, And other is gendered of another pose, The former seemeth to have changed its gestures.

And since they be so tenuous, mind can mark Sharply alone the ones it strains to see;And thus the rest do perish one and all, Save those for which the mind prepares itself.

Further, it doth prepare itself indeed, And hopes to see what follows after each-Hence this result.For hast thou not observed How eyes, essaying to perceive the fine, Will strain in preparation, otherwise Unable sharply to perceive at all?

Yet know thou canst that, even in objects plain, If thou attendest not, 'tis just the same As if 'twere all the time removed and far.

What marvel, then, that mind doth lose the rest, Save those to which 'thas given up itself?

So 'tis that we conjecture from small signs Things wide and weighty, and involve ourselves In snarls of self-deceit.

SOME VITAL FUNCTIONS

In these affairs We crave that thou wilt passionately flee The one offence, and anxiously wilt shun The error of presuming the clear lights Of eyes created were that we might see;Or thighs and knees, aprop upon the feet, Thuswise can bended be, that we might step With goodly strides ahead; or forearms joined Unto the sturdy uppers, or serving hands On either side were given, that we might do Life's own demands.All such interpretation Is aft-for-fore with inverse reasoning, Since naught is born in body so that we May use the same, but birth engenders use:

No seeing ere the lights of eyes were born, No speaking ere the tongue created was;But origin of tongue came long before Discourse of words, and ears created were Much earlier than any sound was heard;And all the members, so meseems, were there Before they got their use: and therefore, they Could not be gendered for the sake of use.

But contrariwise, contending in the fight With hand to hand, and rending of the joints, And fouling of the limbs with gore, was there, O long before the gleaming spears ere flew;And nature prompted man to shun a wound, Before the left arm by the aid of art Opposed the shielding targe.And, verily, Yielding the weary body to repose, Far ancienter than cushions of soft beds, And quenching thirst is earlier than cups.

These objects, therefore, which for use and life Have been devised, can be conceived as found For sake of using.But apart from such Are all which first were born and afterwards Gave knowledge of their own utility-Chief in which sort we note the senses, limbs: