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- faculties, high Oro is but what a man would be, infinitely magnified.
Let us aspire to all things. Are we babes in the woods, to be scared by
the shadows of the trees? What shall appall us? If eagles gaze at the
sun, may not men at the gods?”
“For one,” said Media, “you may gaze at me freely. Gaze on. But talk
not of my kinsmen so fluently, Babbalanja. Return to your argument.”
“I go back then, my lord. By implication, you have granted, that in
times past the future was foreknown of Oro; hence, in times past, the
future must have been foreordained. But in all things Oro is immutable.
Wherefore our own future is foreknown and foreordained. Now, if things
foreordained concerning nations have in times past been revealed to
them previous to their taking place, then something similar may be
presumable concerning individual men now living. That is to say, out of
all the events destined to befall any one man, it is not impossible
that previous knowledge of some one of these events might
supernaturally come to him. Say, then, it is revealed to me, that ten
days hence I shall, of my own choice, fall upon my javelin; when the
time comes round, could I refrain from suicide? Grant the strongest
presumable motives to the act; grant that, unforewarned, I would slay
myself outright at the time appointed: yet, foretold of it, and
resolved to test the decree to the uttermost, under such circumstances,
I say, would it be possible for me not to kill myself? If possible,
then predestination is not a thing absolute; and Heaven is wise to keep
secret from us those decrees, whose virtue consists in secrecy. But if
not possible, then that suicide would not be mine, but Oro’s. And, by
consequence, not only that act, but all my acts, are Oro’s. In sum, my
lord, he who believes that in times past, prophets have prophesied, and
their prophecies have been fulfilled; when put to it, inevitably must
allow that every man now living is an irresponsible being.”
“In sooth, a very fine argument very finely argued,” said Media. “You
have done marvels, Babbalanja. But hark ye, were I so disposed, I could
deny you all over, premises and conclusions alike. And furthermore, my
cogent philosopher, had you published that anarchical dogma among my
subjects in Oro, I had silenced you by my spear-headed scepter, instead
of my uplifted finger.”
“Then, all thanks and all honor to your generosity, my lord, in
granting us the immunities you did at the outset of this voyage. But,
my lord, permit me one word more. Is not Oro omnipresent—absolutely
every where?”
“So you mortals teach, Babbalanja.”
“But so do they _mean_, my lord. Often do we Mardians stick to terms
for ages, yet truly apply not their meanings.”
“Well, Oro is every where. What now?”
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