第32章

Then said I，' I see how happiness and misery lie inseparably in the deserts of good and bad men.But I am sure that there is some good and some bad in the general fortune of men.For no wise man even would wish to be exiled， impoverished， and disgraced rather than full of wealth， power， veneration， and strength， and flourishing securely in his own city.

The operation of wisdom is shewn in this way more nobly and clearly， when the happiness of rulers is in a manner transmitted to the people who come into contact with their rule； and especially when prisons， bonds， and other penalties of the law become the lot of the evil citizens for whom they were designed.I am struck with great wonder why these dues are interchanged；why punishments for crimes fall upon the good， while the bad citizens seize the rewards of virtue； and I long to learn from you what reason can be put forward for such unjust confusion.I should wonder less if I could believe that everything was the confusion of accident and chance.But now the thought of God's guidance increases my amazement； He often grants happiness to good men and bitterness to the bad， and then， on the other hand， sends hardships to the good and grants the desires of the wicked.Can we lay our hands on any cause？ If not， what can make Page-124this state different in any way from accidental chance？ '

'It is no wonder，' she answered，' if one who knows not the order and reasons of nature， should think it is all at random and confused.

But doubt not， though you know not the cause of such a great matter of the world's government， doubt not， I say， that all is rightly done， because a good Governor rules the universe.

'If any man knows not that the star Arcturus 1 has his course nearest the topmost pole how shall he not be amazed that Bo攖es so slowly takes his wain and is so late to dip his brightness in the ocean， and yet so swiftly turns to rise again？ The law of heaven on high will but bewilder him.When the full moon grows dim to its horns， darkened by the shadow of dull night， when Phoebe thus lays bare all the varying bands of the stars， which she had hidden by the power of her shining face： then are the nations stirred by the errors of the vulgar， and beat without ceasing brazen cymbals.2 No man is surprised when the blasts of the wind beat a shore with roaring waves， nor when a solid mass of frozen snow is melted by 124-1 -- Arcturu：， the star in Bo？tes nearest to the Bear， used to be thought the nearest star to our pole.Bo？tes was also known as the Arctophylax， or Bearward， and so also as the driver of the Wain.

124：2 -- The old superstition was that an eclipse meant the withdrawal of the moon， and that by a noise of beaten brass， etc.， she could be saved.Page 125the warmth of Phoebus's rays； for herein the causes are ready at hand to be understood.But in those other matters the causes are hidden， and so do trouble all men's hearts， for time does not grant them to advance with experience in such things as seldom recur： the common herd is ever amazed at all that is extraordinary.But let the cloudy errors of ignorance depart， and straightway these shall seem no longer marvellous.'

'That is true，' I said； 'but it is your kind office to unravel the causes of hidden matters， and explain reasons now veiled in darkness； wherefore I beg of you， put forth your decree and expound all to me， since this wonder most deeply stirs my mind.'

Then said she， smiling，' Your question calls me to the greatest of all these matters， and a full answer thereto is well-nigh impossible.

For this is its kind： if one doubt be cut away， innumerable others arise， as the Hydra's heads； and there can be no limit unless a man restrains them by the most quick fire of the mind.For herein lie the questions of the directness of Providence， the course of Fate， chances which cannot be foreseen， knowledge， divine predestination， and freedom of judgment.

You can judge for yourself the weight of these questions.But since it is a part of your treatment to know some of these， I will attempt to make some advantage therefrom， though we are penned in by our narrow space of time.But Page 126if you enjoy the delights of song， you must wait a while for that pleasure， while I weave together for you the chain of reasons.'

'As you will，' said I.Then， as though beginning afresh， she spake thus：

'The engendering of all things， the whole advance of all changing natures， and every motion and progress in the world， draw their causes， their order， and their forms from the allotment of the unchanging mind of God， which lays manifold restrictions on all action from the calm fortress of its own directness Such restrictions are called Providence when they can be seen to lie in the very simplicity of divine understanding；but they were called Fate in old times when they were viewed with reference to the objects which they moved or arranged.It will easily be understood that these two are very different if the mind examines the force of each.