OINOS。Pardon，Agathos，theweaknessofaspiritnew-fledgedwithimmortality！
AGATHOS。Youhavespokennothing，myOinos，forwhichpardonistobedemanded。Notevenhereisknowledgethingofintuition。Forwisdom，askoftheangelsfreely，thatitmaybegiven！
OINOS。Butinthisexistence，IdreamedthatIshouldbeatoncecognizantofallthings，andthusatoncebehappyinbeingcognizantofall。
AGATHOS。Ah，notinknowledgeishappiness，butintheacquisitionofknowledge！Inforeverknowing，weareforeverblessed；buttoknowallwerethecurseofafiend。
OINOS。ButdoesnotTheMostHighknowall？
AGATHOS。ThatsinceheisTheMostHappymustbestilltheonethingunknowneventoHim。
OINOS。But，sincewegrowhourlyinknowledge，mustnotatlastallthingsbeknown？
AGATHOS。Lookdownintotheabysmaldistances！attempttoforcethegazedownthemultitudinousvistasofthestars，aswesweepslowlythroughthemthusandthusandthus！Eventhespiritualvision，isitnotatallpointsarrestedbythecontinuousgoldenwallsoftheuniverse？thewallsofthemyriadsoftheshiningbodiesthatmerenumberhasappearedtoblendintounity？
OINOS。Iclearlyperceivethattheinfinityofmatterisnodream。
AGATHOS。TherearenodreamsinAidennbutitisherewhisperedthat，ofthisinfinityofmatter，thesolepurposeistoaffordinfinitesprings，atwhichthesoulmayallaythethirsttoknow，whichisforeverunquenchablewithinitsincetoquenchit，wouldbetoextinguishthesoul’sself。Questionmethen，myOinos，freelyandwithoutfear。Come！wewillleavetothelefttheloudharmonyofthePleiades，andswoopoutwardfromthethroneintothestarrymeadowsbeyondOrion，where，forpansiesandviolets，andheart’s
ease，arethebedsofthetriplicateandtripletintedsuns。
OINOS。Andnow，Agathos，asweproceed，instructme！speaktomeintheearth’sfamiliartones。Iunderstandnotwhatyouhintedtome，justnow，ofthemodesorofthemethodofwhat，duringmortality，wewereaccustomedtocallCreation。DoyoumeantosaythattheCreatorisnotGod？
AGATHOS。ImeantosaythattheDeitydoesnotcreate。
OINOS。Explain。
AGATHOS。Inthebeginningonly，hecreated。Theseemingcreatureswhicharenow，throughouttheuniverse，soperpetuallyspringingintobeing，canonlybeconsideredasthemediateorindirect，notasthedirectorimmediateresultsoftheDivinecreativepower。
OINOS。Amongmen，myAgathos，thisideawouldbeconsideredhereticalintheextreme。
AGATHOS。Amongangels，myOinos，itisseentobesimplytrue。
OINOS。IcancomprehendyouthusfarthatcertainoperationsofwhatwetermNature，orthenaturallaws，will，undercertainconditions，giverisetothatwhichhasalltheappearanceofcreation。Shortlybeforethefinaloverthrowoftheearth，therewere，Iwellremember，manyverysuccessfulexperimentsinwhatsomephilosopherswereweakenoughtodenominatethecreationofanimalculae。
AGATHOS。Thecasesofwhichyouspeakwere，infact，instancesofthesecondarycreationandoftheonlyspeciesofcreationwhichhaseverbeen，sincethefirstwordspokeintoexistencethefirstlaw。
OINOS。Arenotthestarryworldsthat，fromtheabyssofnonentity，bursthourlyforthintotheheavensarenotthesestars，Agathos，theimmediatehandiworkoftheKing？
AGATHOS。Letmeendeavor，myOinos，toleadyou，stepbystep，totheconceptionIintend。Youarewellawarethat，asnothoughtcanperish，sonoactiswithoutinfiniteresult。Wemovedourhands，forexample，whenweweredwellersontheearth，and，insodoing，gavevibrationtotheatmospherewhichengirdledit。Thisvibrationwasindefinitelyextended，tillitgaveimpulsetoeveryparticleoftheearth’sair，whichthenceforward，andforever，wasactuatedbytheonemovementofthehand。Thisfactthemathematiciansofourglobewellknew。Theymadethespecialeffects，indeed，wroughtinthefluidbyspecialimpulses，thesubjectofexactcalculationsothatitbecameeasytodetermineinwhatpreciseperiodanimpulseofgivenextentwouldengirdletheorb，andimpressforevereveryatomoftheatmospherecircumambient。Retrograding，theyfoundnodifficulty，fromagiveneffect，undergivenconditions，indeterminingthevalueoftheoriginalimpulse。Nowthemathematicianswhosawthattheresultsofanygivenimpulsewereabsolutelyendlessandwhosawthataportionoftheseresultswereaccuratelytraceablethroughtheagencyofalgebraicanalysiswhosaw，too，thefacilityoftheretrogradationthesemensaw，atthesametime，thatthisspeciesofanalysisitself，hadwithinitselfacapacityforindefiniteprogressthattherewerenoboundsconceivabletoitsadvancementandapplicability，exceptwithintheintellectofhimwhoadvancedorappliedit。Butatthispointourmathematicianspaused。
OINOS。Andwhy，Agathos，shouldtheyhaveproceeded？
AGATHOS。Becausethereweresomeconsiderationsofdeepinterestbeyond。Itwasdeduciblefromwhattheyknew，thattoabeingofinfiniteunderstandingonetowhomtheperfectionofthealgebraicanalysislayunfoldedtherecouldbenodifficultyintracingeveryimpulsegiventheairandtheetherthroughtheairtotheremotestconsequencesatanyeveninfinitelyremoteepochoftime。Itisindeeddemonstrablethateverysuchimpulsegiventheair，must，intheend，impresseveryindividualthingthatexistswithintheuniverse；andthebeingofinfiniteunderstanding
thebeingwhomwehaveimaginedmighttracetheremoteundulationsoftheimpulsetracethemupwardandonwardintheirinfluencesuponallparticlesofanmatterupwardandonwardforeverintheirmodificationsofoldformsor，inotherwords，intheircreationofnewuntilhefoundthemreflectedunimpressiveatlastbackfromthethroneoftheGodhead。Andnotonlycouldsuchathingdothis，butatanyepoch，shouldagivenresultbeaffordedhimshouldoneofthesenumberlesscomets，forexample，bepresentedtohisinspectionhecouldhavenodifficultyindetermining，bytheanalyticretrogradation，towhatoriginalimpulseitwasdue。Thispowerofretrogradationinitsabsolutefulnessandperfectionthisfacultyofreferringatallepochs，alleffectstoallcausesisofcoursetheprerogativeoftheDeityalonebutineveryvarietyofdegree，shortoftheabsoluteperfection，isthepoweritselfexercisedbythewholehostoftheAngelicintelligences。
OINOS。Butyouspeakmerelyofimpulsesupontheair。
AGATHOS。Inspeakingoftheair，Ireferredonlytotheearth；butthegeneralpropositionhasreferencetoimpulsesupontheether
which，sinceitpervades，andalonepervadesallspace，isthusthegreatmediumofcreation。
OINOS。Thenallmotion，ofwhatevernature，creates？
AGATHOS。Itmust：butatruephilosophyhaslongtaughtthatthesourceofallmotionisthoughtandthesourceofallthoughtis-
OINOS。God。
AGATHOS。Ihavespokentoyou，Oinos，astoachildofthefairEarthwhichlatelyperishedofimpulsesupontheatmosphereoftheEarth。
OINOS。Youdid。
AGATHOS。AndwhileIthusspoke，didtherenotcrossyourmindsomethoughtofthephysicalpowerofwords？Isnoteverywordanimpulseontheair？
OINOS。Butwhy，Agathos，doyouweepandwhy，ohwhydoyourwingsdroopaswehoverabovethisfairstarwhichisthegreenestandyetmostterribleofallwehaveencounteredinourflight？Itsbrilliantflowerslooklikeafairydreambutitsfiercevolcanoeslikethepassionsofaturbulentheart。
AGATHOS。Theyare！theyare！Thiswildstaritisnowthreecenturiessince，withclaspedhands，andwithstreamingeyes，atthefeetofmybelovedIspokeitwithafewpassionatesentencesintobirth。Itsbrilliantflowersarethedearestofallunfulfilleddreams，anditsragingvolcanoesarethepassionsofthemostturbulentandunhallowedofhearts。
_Sophocles-Antig_：
“These；thingsareinthefuture。”
_Una。_“Bornagain？”
_Monos。_Yes，fairestandbestbelovedUna，“bornagain。”ThesewerethewordsuponwhosemysticalmeaningIhadsolongpondered，rejectingtheexplanationsofthepriesthood，untilDeathhimselfresolvedformethesecret。
_Una。_Death！
_Monos。_Howstrangely，sweetUna，youechomywords！Iobserve，too，avacillationinyourstep-ajoyousinquietudeinyoureyes。
YouareconfusedandoppressedbythemajesticnoveltyoftheLifeEternal。Yes，itwasofDeathIspoke。Andherehowsingularlysoundsthatwordwhichofoldwaswonttobringterrortoallhearts-
throwingamildewuponallpleasures！
_Una。_Ah，Death，thespectrewhichsateatallfeasts！Howoften，Monos，didweloseourselvesinspeculationsuponitsnature！
Howmysteriouslydiditactasachecktohumanbliss-sayinguntoit“thusfar，andnofarther！”Thatearnestmutuallove，myownMonos，whichburnedwithinourbosomshowvainlydidweflatterourselves，feelinghappyinitsfirstup-springing，thatourhappinesswouldstrengthenwithitsstrength！Alas！asitgrew，sogrewinourheartsthedreadofthatevilhourwhichwashurryingtoseparateusforever！Thus，intime，itbecamepainfultolove。Hatewouldhavebeenmercythen。
_Monos。_Speaknothereofthesegriefs，dearUna-mine，mine，forevernow！
_Una。_Butthememoryofpastsorrow-isitnotpresentjoy？I
havemuchtosayyetofthethingswhichhavebeen。Aboveall，IburntoknowtheincidentsofyourownpassagethroughthedarkValleyandShadow。
_Monos。_AndwhendidtheradiantUnaaskanythingofherMonosinvain？Iwillbeminuteinrelatingall-butatwhatpointshalltheweirdnarrativebegin？
_Una。_Atwhatpoint？
_Monos。_Youhavesaid。
_Una。_Monos，Icomprehendyou。InDeathwehavebothlearnedthepropensityofmantodefinetheindefinable。Iwillnotsay，then，commencewiththemomentoflife’scessation-butcommencewiththatsad，sadinstantwhen，thefeverhavingabandonedyou，yousankintoabreathlessandmotionlesstorpor，andIpresseddownyourpallideyelidswiththepassionatefingersoflove。
_Monos。_Onewordfirst，myUna，inregardtoman’sgeneralconditionatthisepoch。Youwillrememberthatoneortwoofthewiseamongourforefathers-wiseinfact，althoughnotintheworld’sesteem-hadventuredtodoubttheproprietyoftheterm“improvement。”asappliedtotheprogressofourcivilization。Therewereperiodsineachofthefiveorsixcenturiesimmediatelyprecedingourdissolution，whenarosesomevigorousintellect，boldlycontendingforthoseprincipleswhosetruthappearsnow，toourdisenfranchisedreason，soutterlyobvious-principleswhichshouldhavetaughtourracetosubmittotheguidanceofthenaturallaws，ratherthanattempttheircontrol。Atlongintervalssomemastermindsappeared，lookinguponeachadvanceinpracticalscienceasaretro-gradationinthetrueutility。Occasionallythepoeticintellect-thatintellectwhichwenowfeeltohavebeenthemostexaltedofall-sincethosetruthswhichtouswereofthemostenduringimportancecouldonlybereachedbythatanalogywhichspeaksinprooftonestotheimaginationaloneandtotheunaidedreasonbearsnoweight-occasionallydidthispoeticintellectproceedastepfartherintheevolvingofthevagueideaofthephilosophic，andfindinthemysticparablethattellsofthetreeofknowledge，andofitsforbiddenfruit，death-producing，adistinctintimationthatknowledgewasnotmeetformanintheinfantconditionofhissoul。Andthesemen-thepoets-livingandperishingamidthescornofthe“utilitarians“-ofroughpedants，whoarrogatedtothemselvesatitlewhichcouldhavebeenproperlyappliedonlytothescorned-
thesemen，thepoets，ponderedpiningly，yetnotunwisely，upontheancientdayswhenourwantswerenotmoresimplethanourenjoymentswerekeen-dayswhenmirthwasawordunknown，sosolemnlydeep-tonedwashappiness-holy，augustandblissfuldays，whenblueriversranundammed，betweenhillsunhewn，intofarforestsolitudes，prim鎣al，odorous，andunexplored。
Yetthesenobleexceptionsfromthegeneralmisruleservedbuttostrengthenitbyopposition。Alas！wehadfallenuponthemostevilofallourevildays。Thegreat“movement“-thatwasthecantterm-
wenton：adiseasedcommotion，moralandphysical。Art-theArts-
arosesupreme，and，onceenthroned，castchainsupontheintellectwhichhadelevatedthemtopower。Man，becausehecouldnotbutacknowledgethemajestyofNature，fellintochildishexultationathisacquiredandstill-increasingdominionoverherelements。EvenwhilehestalkedaGodinhisownfancy，aninfantineimbecilitycameoverhim。Asmightbesupposedfromtheoriginofhisdisorder，hegrewinfectedwithsystem，andwithabstraction。Heenwrappedhimselfingeneralities。Amongotheroddideas，thatofuniversalequalitygainedground；andinthefaceofanalogyandofGod-indespiteoftheloudwarningvoiceofthelawsofgradationsovisiblypervadingallthingsinEarthanHeaven-wildattemptsatanomni-prevalentDemocracyweremade。Yetthisevilsprangnecessarilyfromtheleadingevil，Knowledge。Mancouldnotbothknowandsuccumb。
Meantimehugesmokingcitiesarose，innumerable。Greenleavesshrankbeforethehotbreathoffurnaces。ThefairfaceofNaturewasdeformedaswiththeravagesofsomeloathsomedisease。Andmethinks，sweetUna，evenourslumberingsenseoftheforcedandofthefar-fetchedmighthavearrestedushere。Butnowitappearsthatwehadworkedoutourowndestructionintheperversionofourtaste，orratherintheblindneglectofitscultureintheschools。For，intruth，itwasatthiscrisisthattastealone-thatfacultywhich，holdingamiddlepositionbetweenthepureintellectandthemoralsense，couldneversafelyhavebeendisregarded-itwasnowthattastealonecouldhaveledusgentlybacktoBeauty，toNature，andtoLife。ButalasforthepurecontemplativespiritandmajesticintuitionofPlato！Alasforthewhichhejustlyregardedasanall-sufficienteducationforthesoul！Alasforhimandforit！-