man and superman-第29章

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ploughman　lives　as　long　as　the　philosopher；　eats　more；　sleeps
better；　and　rejoices　in　the　wife　of　his　bosom　with　less
misgiving。　This　is　because　the　philosopher　is　in　the　grip　of　the
Life　Force。　This　Life　Force　says　to　him　〃I　have　done　a　thousand
wonderful　things　unconsciously　by　merely　willing　to　live　and
following　the　line　of　least　resistance：　now　I　want　to　know　myself
and　my　destination；　and　choose　my　path；　so　I　have　made　a　special
braina　philosopher's　brainto　grasp　this　knowledge　for　me　as
the　husbandman's　hand　grasps　the　plough　for　me。　〃And　this〃　says
the　Life　Force　to　the　philosopher　〃must　thou　strive　to　do　for　me
until　thou　diest；　when　I　will　make　another　brain　and　another
philosopher　to　carry　on　the　work。〃

THE　DEVIL。　What　is　the　use　of　knowing？

DON　JUAN。　Why；　to　be　able　to　choose　the　line　of　greatest
advantage　instead　of　yielding　in　the　direction　of　the　least
resistance。　Does　a　ship　sail　to　its　destination　no　better　than　a
log　drifts　nowhither？　The　philosopher　is　Nature's　pilot。　And
there　you　have　our　difference：　to　be　in　hell　is　to　drift：　to　be
in　heaven　is　to　steer。

THE　DEVIL。　On　the　rocks；　most　likely。

DON　JUAN。　Pooh！　which　ship　goes　oftenest　on　the　rocks　or　to　the
bottomthe　drifting　ship　or　the　ship　with　a　pilot　on　board？

THE　DEVIL。　Well；　well；　go　your　way；　Senor　Don　Juan。　I　prefer　to
be　my　own　master　and　not　the　tool　of　any　blundering　universal
force。　I　know　that　beauty　is　good　to　look　at；　that　music　is　good
to　hear；　that　love　is　good　to　feel；　and　that　they　are　all　good　to
think　about　and　talk　about。　I　know　that　to　be　well　exercised　in
these　sensations；　emotions；　and　studies　is　to　be　a　refined　and
cultivated　being。　Whatever　they　may　say　of　me　in　churches　on
earth；　I　know　that　it　is　universally　admitted　in　good　society
that　the　prince　of　Darkness　is　a　gentleman；　and　that　is　enough
for　me。　As　to　your　Life　Force；　which　you　think　irresistible；　it
is　the　most　resistible　thing　in　the　world　for　a　person　of　any
character。　But　if　you　are　naturally　vulgar　and　credulous；　as　all
reformers　are；　it　will　thrust　you　first　into　religion；　where　you
will　sprinkle　water　on　babies　to　save　their　souls　from　me；　then
it　will　drive　you　from　religion　into　science；　where　you　will
snatch　the　babies　from　the　water　sprinkling　and　inoculate　them
with　disease　to　save　them　from　catching　it　accidentally；　then　you
will　take　to　politics；　where　you　will　become　the　catspaw　of
corrupt　functionaries　and　the　henchman　of　ambitious　humbugs；　and
the　end　will　be　despair　and　decrepitude；　broken　nerve　and
shattered　hopes；　vain　regrets　for　that　worst　and　silliest　of
wastes　and　sacrifices；　the　waste　and　sacrifice　of　the　power　of
enjoyment：　in　a　word；　the　punishment　of　the　fool　who　pursues　the
better　before　he　has　secured　the　good。

DON　JUAN。　But　at　least　I　shall　not　be　bored。　The　service　of　the
Life　Force　has　that　advantage；　at　all　events。　So　fare　you　well；
Senor　Satan。

THE　DEVIL。　＇amiably＇　Fare　you　well；　Don　Juan。　I　shall　often　think
of　our　interesting　chats　about　things　in　general。　I　wish　you
every　happiness：　Heaven；　as　I　said　before；　suits　some　people。　But
if　you　should　change　your　mind；　do　not　forget　that　the　gates　are
always　open　here　to　the　repentant　prodigal。　If　you　feel　at　any
time　that　warmth　of　heart；　sincere　unforced　affection；　innocent
enjoyment；　and　warm；　breathing；　palpitating　reality

DON　JUAN。　Why　not　say　flesh　and　blood　at　once；　though　we　have
left　those　two　greasy　commonplaces　behind　us？

THE　DEVIL。　＇angrily＇　You　throw　my　friendly　farewell　back　in　my
teeth；　then；　Don　Juan？

DON　JUAN。　By　no　means。　But　though　there　is　much　to　be　learnt　from
a　cynical　devil；　I　really　cannot　stand　a　sentimental　one。　Senor
Commander：　you　know　the　way　to　the　frontier　of　hell　and　heaven。
Be　good　enough　to　direct　me。

THE　STATUE。　Oh；　the　frontier　is　only　the　difference　between　two
ways　of　looking　at　things。　Any　road　will　take　you　across　it　if
you　really　want　to　get　there。

DON　JUAN。　Good。　＇saluting　Dona　Ana＇　Senora：　your　servant。

ANA。　But　I　am　going　with　you。

DON　JUAN。　I　can　find　my　own　way　to　heaven；　Ana；　but　I　cannot　find
yours　＇he　vanishes＇。

ANA。　How　annoying！

THE　STATUE。　＇calling　after　him＇　Bon　voyage；　Juan！　＇He　wafts　a
final　blast　of　his　great　rolling　chords　after　him　as　a　parting
salute。　A　faint　echo　of　the　first　ghostly　melody　comes　back　in
acknowledgment＇。　Ah！　there　he　goes。　＇Puffing　a　long　breath　out
through　his　lips＇　Whew！　How　he　does　talk！　They'll　never　stand　it
in　heaven。

THE　DEVIL。　＇gloomily＇　His　going　is　a　political　defeat。　I　cannot
keep　these　Life　Worshippers：　they　all　go。　This　is　the　greatest
loss　I　have　had　since　that　Dutch　painter　wenta　fellow　who　would
paint　a　hag　of　70　with　as　much　enjoyment　as　a　Venus　of　20。

THE　STATUE。　I　remember：　he　came　to　heaven。　Rembrandt。

THE　DEVIL。　Ay；　Rembrandt。　There　a　something　unnatural　about　these
fellows。　Do　not　listen　to　their　gospel；　Senor　Commander：　it　is
dangerous。　Beware　of　the　pursuit　of　the　Superhuman：　it　leads　to
an　indiscriminate　contempt　for　the　Human。　To　a　man；　horses　and
dogs　and　cats　are　mere　species；　outside　the　moral　world。　Well；　to
the　Superman；　men　and　women　are　a　mere　species　too；　also　outside
the　moral　world。　This　Don　Juan　was　kind　to　women　and　courteous　to
men　as　your　daughter　here　was　kind　to　her　pet　cats　and　dogs；　but
such　kindness　is　a　denial　of　the　exclusively　human　character　of
the　soul。

THE　STATUE。　And　who　the　deuce　is　the　Superman？

THE　DEVIL。　Oh；　the　latest　fashion　among　the　Life　Force　fanatics。
Did　you　not　meet　in　Heaven；　among　the　new　arrivals；　that　German
Polish　madmanwhat　was　his　name？　Nietzsche？

THE　STATUE。　Never　heard　of　him。

THE　DEVIL。　Well；　he　came　here　first；　before　he　recovered　his
wits。　I　had　some　hopes　of　him；　but　he　was　a　confirmed　Life　Force
worshipper。　It　was　he　who　raked　up　the　Superman；　who　is　as　old　as
Prometheus；　and　the　20th　century　will　run　after　this　newest　of
the　old　crazes　when　it　gets　tired　of　the　world；　the　flesh；　and
your　humble　servant。

THE　STATUE。　Superman　is　a　good　cry；　and　a　good　cry　is　half　the
battle。　I　should　like　to　see　this　Nietzsche。

THE　DEVIL。　Unfortunately　he　met　Wagner　here；　and　had　a　quarrel
with　him。

THE　STATUE。　Quite　right；　too。　Mozart　for　me！

THE　DEVIL。　Oh；　it　was　not　about　music。　Wagner　once　drifted　into
Life　Force　worship；　and　invented　a　Superman　called　Siegfried。　But
he　came　to　his　senses　afterwards。　So　when　they　met　here；
Nietzsche　denounced　him　as　a　renegade；　and　Wagner　wrote　a　pamphlet
to　prove　that　Nietzsche　was　a　Jew；　and　it　ended　in　Nietzsche's
going　to　heaven　in　a　huff。　And　a　good　riddance　too。　And　now；　my
friend；　let　us　hasten　to　my　palace　and　celebrate　your　arrival　with
a　grand　musical　service。

THE　STATUE。　With　pleasure：　you're　most　kind。

THE　DEVIL。　This　way；　Commander。　We　go　down　the　old　trap　＇he
places　himself　on　the　grave　trap＇。

THE　STATUE。　Good。　＇Reflectively＇　All　the　same；　the　Superman　is　a
fine　conception。　There　is　something　statuesque　about　it。　＇He
places　himself　on　the　grave　trap　beside　The　Devil。　It　begins　to
descend　slowly。　Red　glow　from　the　abyss＇。　Ah；　this　reminds　me　of
old　times。

THE　DEVIL。　And　me　also。

ANA。　Stop！　＇The　trap　stops＇。

THE　DEVIL。　You；　Senora；　cannot　come　this　way。　You　will　have　an
apotheosis。　But　you　will　be　at　the　palace　before　us。

ANA。　That　is　not　what　I　stopped　you　for。　Tell　me　where　can　I　find
the　Superman？

THE　DEVIL。　He　is　not　yet　created；　Senora。

THE　STATUE。　And　never　will　be；　probably。　Let　us　proceed：　the　red
fire　will　make　me　sneeze。　＇They　descend＇。

ANA。　Not　yet　created！　Then　my　work　is　not　yet　done。　＇Crossing
herself　devoutly＇　I　believe　in　the　Life　to　Come。　＇Crying　to　the
universe＇　A　fathera　father　for　the　Superman！

She　vanishes　into　the　void；　and　again　there　is　nothing：　all
existence　seems　suspended　infinitely。　Then；　vaguely；　there　is　a
live　human　voice　crying　somewhere。　One　sees；　with　a　shock；　a
mountain　peak　showing　faintly　against　a　lighter　background。　The
sky　has　returned　from　afar；　and　we　suddenly　remember　where　we
were。　The　cry　becomes　distinct　and　urgent：　it　says　Automobile；
Automobile。　The　complete　reality　comes　back　with　a　rush：　in　a
moment　it　is　full　morning　in　the　Sierra；　and　the　brigands　are
scrambling　to　their　feet　and　making　for　the　road　as　the　goatherd
runs　down　from　the　hill；　warning　them　of　the　approach　of　another
motor。　Tanner　and　Mendoza　rise　amazedly　and　stare　at　one　another
with　scattered　wits。　Straker　sits　up　to　yawn　for　a　moment　before
he　gets　on　his　feet；　making　it　a　point　of　honor　not　to　show　any
undue　interest　in　the　excitement　of　the　bandits。　Mendoza　gives　a
quick　look　to　see　that　his　followers　are　attending　to　the　alarm；
then　exchanges　a　private　word　with　Tanner。

MENDOZA。　Did　you　dream？

TANNER。　Damnably。　Did　you？

MENDOZA。　Yes。　I　forget　what。　You　were　in　it。

TANNER。　So　were　you。　Amazing

MENDOZA。　I　warned　you。　＇a　shot　is　heard　from　the　road＇。　Dolts！
they　will　play　with　that　gun。　＇The　brigands　come　running　back
scared＇。　Who　fired　that　shot？　＇to　Duval＇　Was　it　you？

DUVAL。　＇breathless＇　I　have　not　shoot。　Dey　shoot　first。

ANARCHIST。　I　told　you　to　begin　by　abolishing　the　State。　Now　we
are　all　lost。

THE　ROWDY　SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT。　＇stampeding　across　the　amphitheatre＇
Run；　everybody。

MENDOZA。　＇collaring　him；　throwing　him　on　his　back；　and　drawing　a
knife＇　I　stab　the　man　who　stirs。　＇He　blocks　the　way。　The　stampede
it　checked＇。　What　has　happened？

THE　SULKY　SOCIAL…DEMOCRAT；　A　motor

THE　ANARCHIST。　Three　men

DUVAL。　Deux　femmes

MENDOZA。　Three　men　and　two　women！　Why　have　you　not　brought　them
here？　Are　you　afraid　of　them？

THE　ROWDY　ONE。　＇getting　up＇　Thyve　a　hescort。　Ow；　de…ooh　lut's　ook
it；　Mendowza。

THE　SULKY　ONE。　Two　armored　cars　full　o　soldiers　at　the　end　o　the
valley。

ANARCHIST。　The　shot　was　fired　in　the　air。　It　was　a　signal。

Straker　whistles　his　favorite　air；　which　falls　on　the　ears　of　the
brigands　like　a　funeral　march。

TANNER。　It　is　not　an　escort；　but　an　expedition　to　capture　you。　We
were　advised　to　wait　for　it；　but　I　was　in　a　hurry。

THE　ROWDY　ONE。　＇in　an　agony　of　apprehension＇　And　Ow　my　good　Lord；
ere　we　are；　wytin　for　em！　Lut's　tike　to　the　mahntns。

MENDOZA。　Idiot；　what　do　you　know　about　the　mountains？　Are　you　a
Spaniard？　You　would　be　given　up　by　the　first　shepherd　you　met。
Besides；　we　are　already　within　range　of　their　rifles。

THE　ROWDY　ONE。　Bat

MENDOZA。　Silence。　Leave　this　to　me。　＇To　Tanner＇　Comrade：　you　will
not　betray　us。

STRAKER。　Oo　are　you　callin　comrade？

MENDOZA。　Last　night　the　advantage　was　with　me。　The　robber　of　the
poor　was　at　the　mercy　of　the　robber　of　the　rich。　You　offered　your
hand：　I　took　it。

TANNER。　I　bring　no　charge　against　you；　comrade。　We　have　spent　a
pleasant　evening　with　you：　that　is　all。

STRAKER。　I　gev　my　and　to　nobody；　see？

MENDOZA。　＇turning　on　him　impressively＇　Young　man；　if　I　am　tried；
I　shall　plead　guilty；　and　explain　what　drove　me　from　England；　home
and　duty。　Do　you　wish　to　have　the　respectable　name　of　Straker
dragged　through　the　mud　of　a　Spanish　criminal　court？　The　police
will　search　me。　They　will　find　Louisa's　portrait。　It　will　be
published　in　the　illustrated　papers。　You　blench。　It　will　be　your
doing；　remember。

STRAKER。　＇with　baffled　rage＇　I　don't　care　about　the