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！-