the unknown guest(陌生客)-第23节
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flows like a long path of gladness leading to the misty hills of the estuary。
I am looking down on the village…square； with its ring of young lime…trees。
A procession leaves the church and； amid prayers and chanting； they carry
the statue of the Virgin around the sacred pile。 I am conscious of all the
details of the ceremony： the sly old cure perfunctorily bearing a small
reliquary； four choirmen opening their mouths to bawl forth vacantly the
Latin words which convey nothing to them； two mischievous serving…boys
in frayed cassocks； a score of little girls； young girls and old maids in
white； all starched and flounced； followed by six or seven village notables
in baggy frockcoats。 The pageant disappears behind the trees； comes into
sight again at the bend of the road and hurries back into the church。 The
clock in the steeple strikes five； as though to ring down the curtain and
mark in the infinite history of events which none will recollect the
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conclusion of a spectacle which never again； until the end of the world and
of the universe of worlds； will be just what it was during those seconds
when it beguiled my wandering eyes。
For in vain will they repeat the procession next year and every year
after： never again will it be the same。 Not only will several of the actors
probably have disappeared； but all those who resume their old places in
the ranks will have undergone the thousand little visible and invisible
changes wrought by the passing days and weeks。 In a word； this
insignificant moment is unique； irrecoverable； inimitable； as are all the
moments in the existence of all things； and this little picture； enduring for
a few seconds suspended in boundless duration； has lapsed into eternity；
where henceforth it will remain in its entirety to the end of time； so much
so that； if a man could one day recapture in the past； among what some
one has called the 〃astral negatives；〃 the image of what it was； he would
find it intact； unchanged； ineffaceable and undeniable。
26
It is not difficult for us to conceive that one can thus go back and
seeagain the astral negative of an event that is no more； and retrospective
clairvoyance appears to us a wonderful but not an impossible thing。 It
astonishes but does not stagger our reason。 But； when it becomes a
question of discovering the same picture in the future； the boldest
imagination flounders at the first step。 How are we to admit that there
exists somewhere a representation or reproduction of that which has not
yet existed？ Nevertheless； some of the incidents which we have just been
considering seem to prove in an almost conclusive manner not only that
such representations are possible； but that we may arrive at them more
frequently； not to say more conveniently； than at those of the past。 Now；
once this representation preexists； as we are obliged to admit in the case of
certain number of premonitions； the riddle remains the same whether the
preexistence be one of a few hours； a few years or several centuries。 It is
therefore possiblefor； in these matters； we must go straight to extremes
or else leave them aloneit is therefore possible that a seer mightier than
any of to…day； some god； demigod or demon； some unknown； universal or
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
vagrant intelligence； saw that procession a million years ago； at a time
when nothing existed of that which composes and surrounds it and when
the very earth on which it moves had not yet risen from the ocean depths。
And other seers； as mighty as the first； who from age to age contemplated
the same spot and the same moment； would always have perceived；
through the vicissitudes and upheavals of seas； shores and forests； the
same procession going round the same little church that still lay
slumbering in the oceanic ooze and made up of the same persons sprung
from a race that was perhaps not yet represented on the earth。
27
It is obviously difficult for us to understand that the future can thus
precede chaos； that the present is at the same time the future and the past；
or that that which does not yet exists already at the same time at which it is
no more。 But； on the other hand； it is just as hard to conceive that the
future does not preexist； that there is nothing before the present and that
everything is only present or past。 It is very probable that； to a more
universal intelligence than ours； everything is but an eternal present； an
immense punctum stans； as the metaphysicians say； in which all the events
are on one plane； but it is no less probable that we ourselves； so long as we
are men； in order to understand anything of this eternal present； will
always be obliged to divide it into three parts。 Thus caught between two
mysteries equally baffling to our intelligence； whether we deny or admit
the preexistence of the future； we are really only wrangling over words： in
the one case； we give the name of 〃present；〃 from the point of view of a
perfect intelligence； to that which to us is the future； in the other； we give
the name of 〃future〃 to that which； from the point of view of a perfect
intelligence； is the present。 But； after all； it is incontestable in both cases
that； at least from our point of view； the future preexists； since
preexistence is the only name by which we can describe and the only form
under which we can conceive that which we do not yet see in the present。
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28
Attempts have been made to shed light on the riddle by transferring it
to space。 It is true that it there loses the greater part of its obscurity； but
this apparently is because； in changing its environment； it has completely
changed its nature and no longer bears any relation to what it was when it
was placed in time。 We are told； for instance； that innumerable cities
distributed over the surface of the earth are to us as if they were not； so
long as we have not seen them； and only begin to exist on the day when
we visit them。 That is true； but space； outside all metaphysical
speculations； has realities for us which time does not possess。 Space；
although very mysterious and incomprehensible once we pass certain
limits； is nevertheless not； like time； incomprehensible and illusory in all
its parts。 We are certainly quite able to conceive that those towns which
we have never seen and doubtless never will see indubitably exist；
whereas we find it much more difficult to imagine that the catastrophe
which； fifty years hence； will annihilate one of them already exists as
really as the town itself。 We are capable of picturing a spot whence； with
keener eyes than these which we boast to…day； we should see in one glance
all the cities of the earth and even those of other worlds； but it is much less
easy for us to imagine a point in the ages whence we should
simultaneously discover the past； the present and the future because the
past； the present and the future are three orders of duration which cannot
find room at the same time in our intelligence and which inevitably devour
one other。 How can we picture to ourselves； for instance； a point in
eternity at which our little procession already exists； while it is not yet and
although it is no more？ Add to this the thought that it is necessary and
inevitable； from the millenaries which had no beginning； that； at a given
moment； at a given place； the little procession should leave the little
church in a given manner and that no known
