第20部分(第3/7 頁)

　at　strife　with　that　which　prevails　throughout　the　world　as　known　to　us。　If　the　just　man　be　in　truth　a　worshipper　of　the　most　ancient　of　Deities；　he　must　needs　suppose；　either　that　the　object　of　his　worship　belongs　to　a　fallen　dynasty；　or……what　from　of　old　has　been　his　refuge……that　the　sacred　fire　which　burns　within　him　is　an　〃evidence　of　things　not　seen。〃　What　if　I　am　incapable　of　either　supposition？　There　remains　the　dignity　of　a　hopeless　cause……〃sed　victa　Catoni。〃　But　how　can　there　sound　the　hymn　of　praise？

〃That　is　best　for　everyone；　which　the　mon　Nature　of　all　doth　send　unto　everyone；　and　then　is　it　best；　when　she　doth　send　it。〃　The　optimism　of　Necessity；　and　perhaps；　the　highest　wisdom　man　can　attain　unto。　〃Remember　that　unto　reasonable　creatures　only　is　it　granted　that　they　may　willingly　and　freely　submit。〃　No　one　could　be　more　sensible　than　I　of　the　persuasiveness　of　this　high　theme。　The　words　sing　to　me；　and　life　is　illumined　with　soft　glory；　like　that　of　the　autumn　sunset　yonder。　〃Consider　how　man's　life　is　but　for　a　very　moment　of　time；　and　so　depart　meek　and　contented：　even　as　if　a　ripe　olive　falling　should　praise　the　ground　that　bare　her；　and　give　thanks　to　the　tree　that　begat　her。〃　So　would　I　fain　think；　when　the　moment　es。　It　is　the　mood　of　strenuous　endeavour；　but　also　the　mood　of　rest。　Better　than　the　calm　of　achieved　indifference　（if　that；　indeed；　is　possible　to　man）；　better　than　the　ecstasy　which　contemns　the　travail　of　earth　in　contemplation　of　bliss　to　e。　But；　by　no　effort　attainable。　An　influence　of　the　unknown　powers；　a　peace　that　falleth　upon　the　soul　like　dew　at　evening。

XIV

I　have　had　one　of　my　savage　headaches。　For　a　day　and　a　night　I　was　in　blind　torment。　Have　at　it；　now；　with　the　stoic　remedy。　Sickness　of　the　body　is　no