latter-day pamphlets-第21章
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and bray of universal Misery； _lowing_； with crushed maddened heart； its inarticulate prayer to Heaven：very pardonable to me； and in some of its transcendent developments； as in the grand French Revolution； most respectable and ever…memorable。 For Injustice reigns everywhere； and this murderous struggle for what they call 'Fraternity；' and so forth has a spice of eternal sense in it； though so terribly disfigured！ Amalgam of sense and nonsense； eternal sense by the grain； and temporary nonsense by the square mile： as is the habit with poor sons of men。 Which pardonable amalgam； however； if it be taken as the pure final sense； I must warn you and all creatures； is unpardonable； criminal； and fatal nonsense；with which I； for one； will take care not to concern myself！
〃_Dogs should not be taught to eat leather_； says the old adage： no；and where； by general fault and error； and the inevitable nemesis of things； the universal kennel is set to diet upon _leather_； and from its keepers； its 'Liberal Premiers；' or whatever their title is； will accept or expect nothing else； and calls it by the pleasant name of progress； reform； emancipation； abolition…principles； and the like；I consider the fate of said kennel and of said keepers to be a thing settled。 Red republic in Phrygian nightcap； organization of labor _a la_ Louis Blanc； street…barricades； and then murderous cannon…volleys _a la_ Cavaignac and Windischgratz； follow out of one another； as grapes； must； new wine； and sour all…splitting vinegar do： vinegar is but _vin…aigre_； or the self…same 'wine' grown _sharp_！ If； moreover； I find the Worship of Human Nobleness abolished in any country； and a _new_ astonishing Phallus…Worship； with universal Balzac…Sand melodies and litanies in treble and in bass； established in its stead； what can I compute but that Nature； in horrible throes； will repugn against such substitution；that； in short； the astonishing new Phallus…Worship； with its finer sensibilities of the heart； and 'great satisfying loves；' with its sacred kiss of peace for scoundrel and hero alike； with its all…embracing Brotherhood； and universal Sacrament of Divorce； will have to take itself away again！〃
The Ancient Germans； it appears； had no scruple about public executions； on the contrary； they thought the just gods themselves might fitly preside over these； that these were a solemn and highest act of worship； if justly done。 When a German man had done a crime deserving death； they； in solemn general assembly of the tribe； doomed him； and considered that Fate and all Nature had from the beginning doomed him； to die with ignominy。 Certain crimes there were of a supreme nature； him that had perpetrated one of these； they believed to have declared himself a prince of scoundrels。 Him once convicted they laid hold of； nothing doubting； bore him； after judgment； to the deepest convenient Peat…bog； plunged him in there； drove an oaken frame down over him； solemnly in the name of gods and men： 〃There； prince of scoundrels； that is what we have had to think of thee； on clear acquaintance； our grim good…night to thee is that！ In the name of all the gods lie there； and be our partnership with thee dissolved henceforth。 It will be better for us； we imagine！〃
My friends； after all this beautiful whitewash and humanity and prison…discipline； and such blubbering and whimpering； and soft Litany to divine and also to quite other sorts of Pity； as we have had for a century now；give me leave to admonish you that that of the Ancient Germans too was a thing inexpressibly necessary to keep in mind。 If that is not kept in mind； the universal Litany to Pity is a mere universal nuisance； and torpid blasphemy against the gods。 I do not much respect it； that purblind blubbering and litanying； as it is seen at present； and the litanying over scoundrels I go the length of disrespecting； and in some cases even of detesting。 Yes； my friends； scoundrel is scoundrel： that remains forever a fact； and there exists not in the earth whitewash that can make the scoundrel a friend of this Universe； he remains an enemy if you spent your life in whitewashing him。 He won't whitewash； this one won't。 The one method clearly is； That； after fair trial； you dissolve partnership with him； send him； in the name of Heaven； whither _he_ is striving all this while and have done with him。 And； in a time like this； I would advise you； see likewise that you be speedy about it！ For there is immense work； and of a far hopefuler sort； to be done _elsewhere_。
Alas； alas； to see once the 〃prince of scoundrels；〃 the Supreme Scoundrel； him whom of all men the gods liked worst； solemnly laid hold of； and hung upon the gallows in sight of the people； what a lesson to all the people！ Sermons might be preached； the Son of Thunder and the Mouth of Gold might turn their periods now with some hope； for here； in the most impressive way； is a divine sermon acted。 Didactic as no spoken sermon could be。 Didactic； devotional too；in awed solemnity； a recognition that Eternal Justice rules the world； that at the call of this； human pity shall fall silent； and man be stern as his Master and Mandatory is！Understand too that except upon a basis of even such rigor； sorrowful； silent； inexorable as that of Destiny and Doom； there is no true pity possible。 The pity that proves so possible and plentiful without that basis； is mere _ignavia_ and cowardly effeminacy； maudlin laxity of heart； grounded on blinkard dimness of headcontemptible as a drunkard's tears。
To see our Supreme Scoundrel hung upon the gallows； alas； that is far from us just now！ There is a worst man in England； too；curious to think of；whom it would be inexpressibly advantageous to lay hold of； and hang； the first of all。 But we do not know him with the least certainty； the least approach even to a guess；such buzzards and dullards and poor children of the Dusk are we； in spite of our Statistics； Unshackled Presses； and Torches of Knowledge；not eagles soaring sunward； not brothers of the lightnings and the radiances we； a dim horn…eyed； owl…population； intent mainly on the catching of mice！ Alas； the supreme scoundrel； alike with the supreme hero； is very far from being known。 Nor have we the smallest apparatus for dealing with either of them； if he were known。 Our supreme scoundrel sits； I conjecture； well…cushioned； in high places； at this time； rolls softly through the world； and lives a prosperous gentleman； instead of sinking him in peat…bogs； we mount the brazen image of him on high columns： such is the world's temporary judgment about its supreme scoundrels； a mad world； my masters。 To get the supreme scoundrel always accurately the first hanged； this； which presupposes that the supreme hero were always the first promoted； this were precisely the millennium itself； clear evidence that the millennium had come： alas； we must forbear hope of this。 Much water will run by before we see this。
And yet to quit all aim towards it； to go blindly floundering along； wrapt up in clouds of horsehair； bombazine； and sheepskin officiality； oblivious that there exists such an aim； this is indeed fatal。 In every human law there must either exist such an aim； or else the law is not a human but a diabolic one。 Diabolic； I say： no quantity of bombazine； or lawyers' wigs； three…readings； and solemn trumpeting and bow…wowing in high places or in low； can hide from me its frightful infernal tendency；bound； and sinking at all moments gradually to Gehenna； this 〃law；〃 and dragging down much with it！ 〃To decree _injustice_ by a _law_：〃 inspired Prophets have long since seen； what every clear soul may still see； that of all Anarchies and Devil…worships there is none like this； that this is the 〃Throne of Iniquity〃 set up in the name of the Highest； the human Apotheosis of Anarchy itself。 〃_Quiet_ Anarchy；〃 you exultingly say？ Yes； quiet Anarchy； which the longer it sits 〃quiet〃 will have the frightfuler account to settle at last。 For every doit of the account； as I often say； will have to be settled one day； as sure as God lives。 Principal； and compound interest rigorously computed； and the interest is at a terrible rate per cent in these cases！ Alas；
