the unknown guest(陌生客)-第16章
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foretell exactly that which they might prevent。 If we press them with
questions； they answer that there is nothing to be done； that no human
power could avert or thwart the issue。 Are they mad； bored； irritable； or
accessory to a hideous pleasantry？ Does our fate depend on the happy
solution of some petty enigma or childish conundrum； even as our
salvation； in most of the so…called revealed religious； is settled by a blind
and stupid cast of the die？ Is all the liberty that we are granted reduced to
the reading of a more or less ingenious riddle？ Can the great soul of the
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universe be the soul of a great baby？
16
But； rather than pursue this subject； let us be just and admit that there
is perhaps no way out of the maze and that our reproaches are as
incomprehensible as the conduct of the spirits。 Indeed； what would you
have them do in the circle in which our logic imprisons them？ Either they
foretell us a calamity which their predictions cannot avert； in which case
there is no use in foretelling it； or； if they announce it to us and at the same
time give us the means to prevent it； they do not really see the future and
are foretelling nothing； since the calamity is not to take place； with the
result that their action seems equally absurd in both cases。
It is obvious： to whichever side we turn； we find nothing but the
incomprehensible。 On the one hand； the preestablished； unshakable；
unalterable future which we have called destiny； fatality or what you will；
which suppresses man's entire independence and liberty of action and
which is the most inconceivable and the dreariest of mysteries； on the
other； intelligences apparently superior to our own； since they know what
we do not； which； while aware that their intervention is always useless and
very often cruel； nevertheless come harassing us with their sinister and
ridiculous predictions。 Must we resign ourselves once more to living with
our eyes shut and our reason drowned in the boundless ocean of darkness；
and is there no outlet？
17
For the moment we will not linger in the dark regions of fatality；
which is the supreme mystery； the desolation of every effort and every
thought of man。 What is clearest amid this incomprehensibility is that the
spiritualistic theory； at first sight the most seductive； declares itself； on
examination； the most difficult to justify。 We will also once more put aside
the theosophical theory or any other which assumes a divine intention and
which might； to a certain extent； explain the hesitations and anguish of the
prophetic warnings； at the cost； however； of other puzzles； a thousand
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times as hard to solve； which nothing authorizes us to substitute for the
actual puzzle； formless and infinite； presented to our uninitiated vision。
When all is said； it is perhaps only in the theory which attributes those
premonitions to our subconsciousness that we are able to find； if not a
justification； at least a sort of explanation of that formidable reticence。
They accord fairly well with the strange； inconsistent； whimsical and
disconcerting character of the unknown entity within us that seems to live
on nothing but nondescript fare borrowed from worlds to which nor
intelligence as yet has no access。 It lives under our reason； in a sort of
invisible and perhaps eternal palace； like a casual guest； dropped from
another planet； whose interests； ideas； habits； passions have naught in
common with ours。 If it seems to have notions on the hereafter that are
infinitely wider and more precise than those which we possess； it has only
very vague notions on the practical needs of our existence。 It ignores us
for years； absorbed no doubt with the numberless relations which it
maintains with all the mysteries of the universe； and； when suddenly it
remembers us； thinking apparently to please us； it makes an enormous；
miraculous； but at the same time clumsy and superfluous movement；
which upsets all that we believed we knew； without teaching us anything。
Is it making fun of us； is it jesting； is it amusing itself； is it facetious；
teasing； arch； or simply sleepy； bewildered； inconsistent； absent…minded？
In any case； it is rather remarkable that it evidently dislikes to make itself
useful。 It readily performs the most glamorous feats of sleight…of…hand；
provided that we can derive no profit from them。 It lifts up tables； moves
the heaviest articles； produces flowers and hair； sets strings vibrating；
gives life to inanimate objects and passes through solid matter； conjures up
ghosts； subjugates time and space； creates light； but all； it seems； on one
condition； that its performances should be without rhyme or reason and
keep to the province of supernaturally vain and puerile recreations。 The
case of the divining…rod is almost the only one in which it lends us any
regular assistance； this being a sort of game； of no great importance； in
which it appears to take pleasure。 Sometimes； to say all that can be said； it
consents to cure certain ailments； cleanses an ulcer； closes a wound； heals
a lung； strengthens or makes supple an arm or leg； or even sets bones； but
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always as it were by accident； without reason； method or object； in a
deceitful； illogical and preposterous fashion。 One would set it down as a
spoilt child that has been allowed to lay hands on the most tremendous
secrets of heaven and earth； it has no suspicion of their power； jumbles
them all up together and turns them into paltry； inoffensive toys。 It knows
everything； perhaps； but is ignorant of the uses of its knowledge； It has its
arms laden with treasures which it scatters in the wrong manner and at the
wrong time； giving bread to the thirsty and water to the hungry；
overloading those who refuse and stripping the suppliant bare； pursuing
those who flee from it and fleeing from those who pursue it。 Lastly； even
at its best moments； it behaves as though the fate of the being in whose
depths it dwells interested it hardly at all； as though it had but an
insignificant share in his misfortunes； feeling assured； one might almost
think； of an independent and endless existence。
It is not surprising； therefore； when we know its habits； that its
communications on the subject of the future should be as fantastic as the
other manifestations of its knowledge or its power。 Let us add； to be quite
fair； that； in those warnings which we would wish to see efficacious； it
stumbles against the same difficulties as the spirits or other alien
intelligences uselessly foretelling the event which they cannot prevent； or
annihilating the event by the very fact of foretelling it。
18
And now； to end the question； is our unknown guest alone responsible？
Does it explain itself badly or do we not understand it？ When we look into
the matter closely； there is； under those anomalous and confused
manifestations； in spite of efforts which we feel to be enormous and
persevering； a sort of incapacity for self expression and action which is
bound to attract our attention。 Is our conscious and individual life
separated by impenetrable worlds from our subconscious and probably
universal life？ Does our unknown guest speak an unknown language and
do the words which it speaks and which we think that we understand
disclose its thought？ Is every direct road pitilessly barred and is there
nothing left to it but narrow； dosed paths in which the best of what it had
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to reveal to us is lost？ Is this the reason why it seeks those odd； childish；
roundabout ways of automatic writing； cross…correspondence； symbolic
premonition and all the rest？ Yet； in the typical case which we have quoted；
it seems to speak quite easily and plainly when it says to the mother：
〃Turn the mattress。〃
If it can utter this sentence； why should it find it difficult or impossible
to add：
〃You will find the matches there that will set fire to the curtains。〃
What forbids it to do so and closes its mouth at the decisive moment？
We relapse into the everlasting question： if it cannot complete the second
sentence because it would be destroying in the womb the very event which
it is foretelling； why does it utter the first？
19
But it is well in spite of everything to seek an explanation of the
inexplicable； it is by attacking it on every side； at all hazards； that we
cherish the hope of overcoming it； and we may therefore say to ourselves
that our subconsciousness； when it warns us of a calamity that is about to
fall upon us； knowing all the future as it does； necessarily knows that the
calamity is already accomplished。 As our conscious and unconscious lives
blend in it； it distresses itself and flutters around our overconfident
ignorance。 It tries to inform us； through nervousness； through pity； so as to
mitigate
