The Scoti killed, raped or enslaved Cynan's family. Swearing to live for revenge, he lied about his age and his religion to join the army, gloried in killing barbarians, saw Medb in battle, was impressed by Eppilus' burial and now wants instruction in Mithraism but I am not clear about his motivation. Does he repent of living for revenge? Does he interpret the vision of Medb as a warning not to continue down that road?
Instructing Cynan, Gratillonius begins to refer to:
the One from Which Everything comes
Time
Aeon
Chronos
Saturnus
the Source
the Fountainhead
the Ultimate which is not prayed to
- but checks himself because that is for the higher ranks. Instead, he refers to:
one above all Gods
Ahura-Mazda
Ormazd
Jupiter
Zeus
He Is
the High
the Ever-Good
I agree that the Ultimate is not to be prayed to but not that any truth should be kept from lower ranks.
Gratillonius concludes the first day of instruction by saying that Cynan might decide not to join:
"'...every man has to find his own way...'" (p. 307)
Infinitely more enlightened than telling him that he will be damned if he is not initiated.
3 comments:
I think his motivation sort of transcended but did not eliminate revenge. He finds Gratillonius' leadership uplifting, he saw the Crow Goddess in action and was repulsed, so he wants to emulate his commander's faith.
That's it.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, Gratillonius was an INSPIRATIONAL leader.
Ad astra! Sean
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