When the light fails, the white stag that Gutherius has chased vanishes and:
"Wind piped among the trees." (pp. 625-626)
The following day, as he blunders through a lifeless part of the forest:
"...there was only the wind soughing in the crowns and tearing dead leaves loose." (p. 626)
The following night, during a great storm, trees groan and toss as the wind tears branches loose and hurtles them.
The old woman who was Nehalennia had predicted woe, then reward.
The following morning, Gutherius' reward begins. The weather is:
"...calm and sunny." (ibid.)
The hound of Nehalennia leads him to a beach where he helps a shipwrecked crew so that later he is rewarded with a fair share of the cargo. Thus, he invests in a ship that trades with Britain:
"Ever did she enjoy fair weather and a following wind..." (p. 628)
Gutherius raises an altar, makes generous offerings and always bows to the evening and morning stars.
We have quoted the closing paragraph before but it bears repetition:
"Hers are the trees, the vine, and the fruits thereof. Hers are the sea and the ships that plow it. Hers are the well-being of mortals and peace among them." (ibid.)
Amen.
11 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I cannot agree with anyone who might mythologize what I can never regard as anything but natural forces and elements. But I think as one who does not believe the sun, moon, earth, winds, seas, etc., have anything divine in them. I also think Anderson would agree if I had ever asked him about that.
Ad astra! Sean
Note that nearly all religions project spirit and intentionality onto natural forces. Christianity (and Judaism) "subtract" this form of spirituality -- which, btw, makes atheism easier psychologically. It was extremely rare in classical times.
Sean,
Myths are meaningful stories. When I hear thunder, I think, "Thor is passing overhead," without believing that that is literally true.
According to theistic belief, the divine (God) is present in everything. According to some monotheists, that is why pagans perceive divinity in nature. St. Paul quoted pagan poets.
Paul.
I should have said that "as time went on".
Kaor, Mr. Stirling and Paul!
Mr. Stirling: Yes, Judaism/Christianity de-divinized nature; and I can see how that made atheism easier.
If we can go by Anderson's THE GOLDEN SLAVE there were many Romans who skeptical/disbelieving in "those children" on Olympus by 100 BC. Oddly, they "compensated" for that by being superstitious. Romans were notorious for being superstitious and anxiously looking for omens and consulting diviners.
Paul: God is the ultimate first cause of all things, acting thru secondary causes after the cosmos was created. All that was created by his will are good things but not "parts" of Him.
I never think of Thor when I hear thunder, even as a metaphor. Because I can easily find out what causes thunder. To me the most meaningful mythological stories are the works of Tolkien.
As an educated man of his times St. Paul would have some familiarity with Greek literature.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But my summary of the monotheist conception of divine immanence and omnipresence did not involve saying that God's creations were "parts" of Him.
Metaphorical reference to Thor does not include thinking that he causes thunder. Some think metaphorically; others do not.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I may have reacted too strongly because I think it's possible some who are seeking for the "spiritual" may believe that the cosmos as a whole is God. Iow, pantheism.
I have read of neo-pagans who say they believe the gods of the Eddas are actual beings. Seems to be the usual confusing mix of "soft" and "hard" believers, split into folkish or universalist sects.
Ad astra! Sean
I think Poul overestimates scepticism in first-century BCE Rome. Note how Paul (IIRC) got mistaken for Zeus in human form at a Greek city in Anatolia.
As I've said before, classical paganism was rather like Shinto. -Everything- had a spirit. The great gods were just -bigger- spirits.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I should have been clearer, the kind of skepticism we see in THE GOLDEN SLAVE about "those children" on Olympus belonged more to upper class Romans, not middle or lower class types. They would tend to be more devout.
Ad astra! Sean
Note that in Harry's Sostratos and Menedemos historical novels, about the two sea-traders from Rhodes, Sostratos is a philosopher and a sceptic... except when he's at sea.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Ha! That reminds me of the old saw about there being no atheists in fox holes.
Ad astra! Sean
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