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King Alfred's Old English Version of St. Augustine's Soliloquies. Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine
Читать онлайн.Название King Alfred's Old English Version of St. Augustine's Soliloquies
Год выпуска 0
isbn http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40341
Автор произведения Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine
Жанр Зарубежная классика
Издательство Public Domain
A. I would understand all, and know what I just now said.
R. Sum up, then, from all that thou hast just spoken about, that which seemeth to thee that thou most needest and most requirest to know; then clothe it in few words, and tell it to me.
A. I will tell it to thee at once: I would understand God and know mine own soul.
R. Wouldst thou know any thing more?
A. Many things I fain would know that I know not. Howbeit there is nothing I wish more to know than this.
R. Then inquire after and seek what thou askest, and tell me first what thou knowest with most certainty, and then say to me: 'Sufficiently known will God and my soul be to me, if they shall be as well known to me as this thing.'
A. I can name nothing so well known to me as I would that God were.
R. What, then, can we do, if thou knowest not the measure? Thou oughtest to know when it seemed to thee enough, and if thou ever come to that limit, then thou shouldst go no further, but shouldst seek something else, lest thou shouldst desire any thing beyond measure.
A. I know what thou wishest; I should illustrate to thee by some example; but I can not, for I know naught like unto God, so that I can say to thee: 'I should like to know God as well as I know this thing.'
R. [15.16 – 17.8] I am astonished at thee, why thou sayest that thou knowest nothing like unto God, and yet dost not know what He is.
A. If I knew aught like unto Him, I would love that thing exceedingly. Since I know naught like unto Him, I love nothing but Him and mine own soul; howbeit, I know not what either of them is.
R. Thou sayest that thou lovest naught but God and thy soul; if that is true, lovest thou then no other friend?
A. Why, if I love a soul, do I not love my friend? Hath not he a soul?
R. If thou lovest thy friend because he hath a soul, why, then, lovest thou not every thing that hath a soul? Why dost thou not love mice and fleas?
A. I love them not, because they are carnal animals, not men.
R. Have not thy friends likewise bodies, even as beasts have?
A. Yet it is not on this account I love them, but because they are men, and have reason in their minds – that quality I love even in slaves. Those that I hate, I hate because they turn the good of reason into evil, since I am allowed both to love the good and to hate the evil. Therefore I love all my friends, some less, some more; and him whom I love more than another, I love him so much more than the other as I perceive that he hath a better will than the other, and the desire to make his reason more serviceable.
R. Thou understandest it well enough, and rightly enough. But if any one should now say to thee that he could teach thee how thou mightest know God as well as thou knowest Alypius thy servant, would that seem enough to thee, or how much wouldst thou thank him for it?
A. I should thank him, but nevertheless I would not answer 'enough.'
R. Why?
A. Alypius is better known to me than God, yet even him I know not so well as I would.
R. [17.9 – 19.2] Look to it now that thy desire be not beyond measure, now that thou comparest them together. Wouldst thou know God just as thou dost Alypius?
A. Nay; nor do I make them the more alike, albeit I name them together. But I say that one often knoweth more about higher than about lowlier things. I know now about the moon, how it will move to-morrow and other nights; but, I know not what I shall eat to-morrow, which is a baser matter.
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