Monday 4 November 2019

The Wit Of Mithradates II

The Golden Slave.

"'Whatsoever may happen, Eodan, remember what has been between us. The gods themselves cannot take away the past.'"
-XVI, p. 217.

"'I must take care to reach a decision that will accord with the will of the Most High.'"
-XVII, p. 231.

"'...does any man know another, or even himself?' he asked the wooden gods."
-XVIII, p. 247.

Sometimes "God knows" means "No one knows." Asking "wooden gods" implies that there is no answer.

But Mithradates belonged to a past age when the wise could also be childish. (See Niall In Combat.)

"When [Mithradates'] working face came under Eodan's eye, the Cimbrian knew where he had seen such a look before - in small children, about to scream from uncontrollable rage."
-ibid.

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Iow, the veneer of civilization imposed by culture, custom, law, faith, or a philosophy can be DISTURBINGLY thin. Not too far beneath that veneer lies the barbarian or savage. And I believe that is true of practically all of us!

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,
There will be something further on this.
Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

And I look forward to those forthcoming comments by you, despite suspecting I will disagree, at least partially, with them! (Smiles)

Ad astra! Sean