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first
DORION。 Permit me； Zenothemis； to interrupt you。 I speedily recognised
in the myth you have explained to us an episode in the war of Pallas
Athene against the giants。 Iaveh much resembles Typhoon； and Pallas is
represented by the Athenians with a serpent at her side。 But what you
have said causes me considerable doubt as to the intelligence or good
faith of the serpent of whom you have spoken。 If he had really
possessed knowledge； would he have entrusted it to a woman's little
head； which was incapable of containing it？ I should rather consider
that he was like Iaveh； ignorant and a liar； and that he chose Eve
because she was easily seduced； and he imagined that Adam would have
more intelligence and perception。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Learn； Dorion； that it is not by perception and
intelligence； but by sensibility； that the highest and purest truths
are reached。 That is why women； who； generally； are less reflective
but more sensitive than men； rise more easily to the knowledge of
things divine。 In them is the gift of prophecy； and it is not without
reason that Apollo Citharedes； and Jesus of Nazareth； are sometimes
represented clad； like women； in flowing robes。 The initiator was
therefore wisewhatever you may say to the contrary； Dorionin
bestowing light； not on the duller Adam； but on Eve； who was whiter
than milk or the stars。 She freely listened to him； and allowed
herself to be led to the tree of knowledge； the branches of which rose
to heaven； and which was bathed with the divine spirit as with a dew。
This tree was covered with leaves which spoke all the languages of
future races of men； and their united voices formed a perfect harmony。
Its abundant fruit gave to the initiated who tasted it the knowledge
of metals； stones； and plants； and also of physical and moral laws；
but this fruit was like fire； and those who feared suffering and death
did not dare to put it to their lips。 Now； as she had listened
attentively to the lessons of the serpent； Eve despised these empty
terrors； and wished to taste the fruit which gave the knowledge of
God。 But； as she loved Adam； and did not wish him to be inferior to
her； she took him by the hand and led him to the wonderful tree。 Then
she picked one of the burning apples； bit it； and proffered it to her
companion。 Unfortunately； Iaveh； who was by chance walking in the
garden； surprised them； and seeing that they had become wise； he fell
into a most ungovernable rage。 It is in his jealous fits that he is
most to be feared。 Assembling all his forces； he created such a
turmoil in the lower air that these two weak beings were terrified。
The fruit fell from the man's hand； and the woman； clinging to the
neck of her luckless husband； said； 〃I too will be ignorant and suffer
with him。〃 The triumphant Iaveh kept Adam and Eve and all their seed
in a condition of hebetude and terror。 His art； which consisted only
in being able to make huge meteors； triumphed over the science of the
serpent； who was a musician and geometrician。 He made men unjust；
ignorant； and cruel； and caused evil to reign in the earth。 He
persecuted Cain and his sons because they were skilful workmen； he
exterminated the Philistines because they composed Orphic poems； and
fables like those of AEsop。 He was the implacable enemy of science and
beauty； and for long ages the human race expiated； in blood and tears；
the defeat of the winged serpent。 Fortunately； there arose among the
Greeks learned men； such as Pythagoras； and Plato； who recovered by
the force of genius； the figures and the ideas which the enemy of
Iaveh had vainly tried to teach the first woman。 The soul of the
serpent was in them； and that is why the serpent； as Dorion has said；
is honoured by the Athenians。 Finally； in these latter days； there
appeared； under human form； three celestial spiritsJesus of Galilee；
Basilides； and Valentinusto whom it was given to pluck the finest
fruits of that tree of knowledge； whose roots pass through all the
earth； and whose top reaches to the highest heaven。 I have said all
this in vindication of the Christians； to whom the errors of the Jews
are too often imputed。
DORION。 If I understood you aright； Zenothemis； you said that three
wonderful menJesus； Basilides； and Valentinushad discovered
secrets which had remained hidden from Pythagoras and Plato； and all
the philosophers of Greece； and even from the divine Epicurus； who；
however； has freed men from the dread of empty terrors。 You would
greatly oblige me by telling me by what means these three mortals
acquired knowledge which had eluded the most contemplative sages。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Must I repeat to you； Dorion； that science and cogitation
are but the first steps to knowledge； and that ecstasy alone leads to
eternal truth？
HERMODORUS。 It is true； Zenothemis； that the soul is nourished on
ecstasy； as the cicada is nourished on dew。 But we may even say more：
the mind alone is capable of perfect rapture。 For man is of a
threefold nature； composed of material body； of a soul which is more
subtle； but also material； and of an incorruptible mind。 When；
emerging from the body as from a palace suddenly given over to silence
and solitude and flying through the gardens of the soul； the mind
diffuses itself in God； it tastes the delights of an anticipated
death； or rather of a future life； for to die is to live； and in that
condition； partaking of divine purity； it possesses both infinite joy
and complete knowledge。 It enters into the unity which is All。 It is
perfected。
NICIAS。 That is very fine； but； to say the truth； Hermodorus； I do not
see much difference between All and Nothing。 Words even seem to fail
to make the distinction。 Infinity is terribly like nothingnessthey
are both inconceivable to the mind。 In my opinion perfection costs too
dear； we pay for it with all our being； and to possess it must cease
to exist。 That is a calamity from which God Himself is not free； for
the philosophers are doing their best to perfect Him。 After all； if we
do not know what it is /not/ to be； we are equally ignorant what it is
to /be/。 We know nothing。 It is said that it is impossible for men to
agree on this question。 I believein spite of our noisy disputes
that it is； on the contrary； impossible for men not to become some day
all at unity buried under the mass of contradictions； a Pelion on
Ossa； which they themselves have raised。
COTTA。 I am very fond of philosophy； and study it in my leisure time。
But I never understand it well； except in Cicero's books。 Slaves； pour
out the honeyed wine！
CALLICRATES。 It is a singular thing； but when I am hungry I think of
the time when the tragic poets sat at the boards of good tyrants； and
my mouth waters。 But when I have tasted the excellent wine that you
give us so abundantly； generous Lucius； I dream of nothing but civil
wars and heroic combats。 I blush to live in such inglorious times； I
invoke the goddess of Liberty； and I pour out my bloodin imagination
with the last Romans on the field of Philippi。
COTTA。 In the days of the decline of the Republic my ancestors died
with Brutusfor liberty。 But there is reason to suspect that what the
Roman people called liberty was only in reality the right to govern
themselves。 I do not deny that liberty is the greatest boon a nation
can have。 But the longer I live the more I am persuaded that only a
strong government can bestow it on the citizens。 For forty years I
have filled high positions in the State； and my long experience has
shown me that when the ruling power is weak the people are oppressed。
Those； therefore； wholike the great majority of rhetoricianstry to
weaken the government； commit an abominable crime。 An autocrat； who
governs by his single will； may sometimes cause most deplorable
results； but if he governs by popular consent there is no remedy
possible。 Before the majesty of the Roman arms had bestowed peace upon
all the world； the only nations which were happy were those which were
ruled over by intelligent despots。
HERMODORUS。 For my part； Lucius； I believe that there is no such thing
as a good form of government； and that we shall never discover one；
because the Greeks； who had so many excellent ideas； were never able
to find one。 In that respect； therefore； all hope of ultimate success
is taken from us。 Unmistakable signs show that the world is about to
fall into ignorance and barbarism。 It has been our lot； Lucius； to
witness terrible events。 Of all the mental satisfactions which
intelligence； learning； and virtue can give； all that remains is the
cruel pleasure of watching ourselves die。
COTTA。 It is true that the rapacity of the people； and the boldness of
the barbarians； are threatening evils。 But with a good fleet； a good
army； and plenty of money
HERMODORUS。 What is the use of deceiving ourselves？ The dying empire
will become an easy prey to the barbarians。 Cities which were built by
Hellenic genius； or Latin patience； will soon be sacked by drunken
savages。 Neither art nor philosophy will exist any longer on the
earth。 The statues of the gods will be overturned in the temples； and
in men's hearts as well。 Darkness will overcome all minds； and the