--Gentlemen, began Prometheus, I do not pretend, alas! to interest you
by what I am about to say, so I was careful to bring this eagle with
me. After each tiresome part of my lecture he will play some tricks.
I have also with me some indecent photographs and some fireworks,
with which when I reach the most serious moments of my lecture I will
try to distract the attention of the public. Thus, I dare to hope,
gentlemen, for some attention. At each new head of my discourse I shall
have the honour, gentlemen, to ask you to watch the eagle eating his
dinner,--for, gentlemen, my discourse has three heads; I did not think
it proper to reject this form, which is agreeable to my classical
mind.--This being the exordium, I will tell you at once and without
more ado, the first two heads of the discourse:
First head: One must have an eagle.
Second head: In any case, we all have one.
Fearing that you will accuse me of prejudice, gentlemen; fearing also
to interfere with my liberty of thought, I have prepared my lecture
only up to that point; the third head will naturally unfold from the
other two. I will let inspiration have all its own way.--As conclusion,
the eagle, gentlemen, will make the collection.
--Bravo! Bravo! cried Cocles.
Prometheus drank a little water. The eagle pirouetted three times round
Prometheus and then bowed. Prometheus looked round the hall, smiled at
Damocles and at Cocles, and as no sign of restlessness was as yet shown
he kept the fireworks for later on, and continued:
V
--However clever a rhetorician I may be gentlemen, in the presence of
such perspicacious minds as yours I cannot juggle away the inevitable
_petitio principii_ which awaits me at the beginning of this lecture.
Gentlemen, try as we may, we cannot escape the _petitio principii_.
Now; what is a petition of principles? Gentlemen, I dare to say it:
Every _petitio principii_ is an affirmation of temperament; for where
principles are missing, there the temperament is affirmed.
When I declare: You must have an eagle you may all exclaim: Why?--Now,
what answer can I make in reply that will not bring us back to that
formula, which is the affirmation of my temperament: I do not love men:
I love that which devours them. Temperament, gentlemen, is that which
must affirm itself. A fresh _petitio principii_, you will say. But I
have demonstrated that every _petitio principii_ is an affirmation of
temperament; and as I say one must affirm one’s temperament (for it
is important), I repeat: I do not love men: I love that which devours
them.--Now what devours man?--His eagle. Therefore, gentlemen, one must
have an eagle. I think I have fully demonstrated this.
... Alas! I see, gentlemen, that I bore you; some of you are yawning. I
could, it is true, here make a few jokes; but you would feel them out
of place; I have an irredeemably serious mind.
I prefer to circulate among you some indecent photographs; they will
keep those quiet who are feeling bored, which will enable me to go on.
Prometheus drank a drop of water. The eagle pirouetted three times
round Prometheus and bowed. Prometheus went on: