20. And, that we may show
you more clearly and distinctly what is the worth of man, whom you
believe to be very like the higher power, conceive this idea; and
because it can be done if we come into direct contact with it, let us
conceive it just as if we came into contact. Let us then imagine
a place dug out in the earth, fit for dwelling in, formed into a
chamber, enclosed by a roof and walls, not cold in winter, not too warm
in summer, but so regulated and equable that we suffer neither
cold3537
| 3537
Lit., “a feeling of cold.” |
nor the
violent
heat of
summer. To this let there not come any sound or
cry whatever,
3538
| 3538
Lit., “sound of voice at all.” |
of
bird, of
beast, of
storm, of man—of any
noise, in fine, or of the
thunder’s
3539
| 3539
Lit., “of heaven terribly crashing.” |
terrible
crash. Let us next devise a way in which it may be lighted not by
the introduction of
fire, nor by the sight of the sun, but let there be
some
counterfeit3540
| 3540 So the
later edd., adopting the emendation of Scaliger,
nothum—“spurious,” which here seems to
approach in meaning to its use by Lucretius (v. 574 sq.), of the
moon’s light as borrowed from the sun. The ms. and first four edd. read notum,
“known.” |
to
imitate
sunlight,
darkness being interposed.
3541
| 3541
According to Huet (quoted by Oehler), “between that spurious and
the true light;” but perhaps the idea is that of darkness
interposed at intervals to resemble the recurrence of night. |
Let there not be one door, nor a
direct entrance,
but let it be approached by tortuous windings,
and let it never be thrown open unless when it is absolutely
necessary.
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