On the Method of Zadig: Essay #1 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" — Page 8
In all these cases, it is only the relation to time which alters--the process of divination beyond the limits of possible direct knowledge remains the same.
En todos estos casos, es solo la relación con el tiempo lo que cambia: el proceso de adivinación más allá de los límites del conocimiento directo posible sigue siendo el mismo.
No doubt it was their instinctive recognition of the analogy between Zadig's results and those obtained by authorised inspiration which inspired the Babylonian magi with the desire to burn the philosopher.
Sin duda fue su reconocimiento instintivo de la analogía entre los resultados de Zadig y los obtenidos por inspiración autorizada lo que inspiró a los magos babilónicos el deseo de quemar al filósofo.
Zadig admitted that he had never either seen or heard of the horse of the king or of the spaniel of the queen; and yet he ventured to assert in the most positive manner that animals answering to their description did actually exist and ran about the plains of Babylon.
Zadig admitió que nunca había visto ni oído hablar del caballo del rey ni del spaniel de la reina; y sin embargo se atrevió a afirmar de la manera más categórica que animales que respondían a su descripción existían realmente y corrían por las llanuras de Babilonia.
If his method was good for the divination of the course of events ten hours old, why should it not be good for those of ten years or ten centuries past; nay, might it not extend ten thousand years and justify the impious in meddling with the traditions of Oannes and the fish, and all the sacred foundations of Babylonian cosmogony?
Si su método era válido para adivinar el curso de los acontecimientos ocurridos diez horas antes, ¿por qué no habría de serlo para los de diez años o diez siglos atrás; es más, ¿no podría extenderse diez mil años y justificar a los impíos en su intromisión en las tradiciones de Oannes y el pez, y todos los sagrados fundamentos de la cosmogonía babilónica?
But this was not the worst.
Pero esto no era lo peor.
There was another consideration which obviously dictated to the more thoughtful of the magi the propriety of burning Zadig out of hand.
Había otra consideración que evidentemente dictaba a los más reflexivos de los magos la conveniencia de quemar a Zadig sin más dilación.
His defence was worse than his offence.
Su defensa era peor que su ofensa.
It showed that his mode of divination was fraught with danger to magianism in general.
Demostraba que su modo de adivinación estaba cargado de peligro para el magianismo en general.
Vocabulary
- en
- in, on, at (preposition indicating location or time)
- todos
- all, everyone (plural of todo)
- estos
- these (demonstrative adjective, masculine plural)
- casos
- cases, instances, situations (plural of caso)
- es
- is (third person singular present of ser)
- solo
- only, alone (adjective or adverb)
- la
- the (feminine singular definite article)
- relación
- relationship, connection, relation (noun)
- con
- with (preposition)
- el
- the (masculine singular definite article)
- tiempo
- time, weather (noun)
- lo
- it, that which (neuter singular definite article)
- que
- that, which, what (relative or interrogative pronoun)
- cambia
- changes (third person singular present of cambiar)
- proceso
- process, procedure (noun)
- de
- of, from (preposition)
- más
- more, most (adverb or adjective)
- allá
- beyond, over there (adverb)
- los
- the (masculine plural definite article)
- límites
- limits, boundaries (plural of límite)
- del
- of the (contraction of de + el)
- conocimiento
- knowledge, acquaintance (noun)
- directo
- direct, straight (adjective)
- posible
- possible (adjective)
- sigue
- continues, follows (third person singular present of seguir)
- siendo
- being (gerund of ser)
- mismo
- same, self (adjective or pronoun)
- sin
- without (preposition)
- duda
- doubt, question (noun)
- fue
- was (third person singular preterite of ser)
- su
- his, her, its, your (possessive adjective)
- reconocimiento
- recognition, acknowledgment (noun)
- entre
- between, among (preposition)
- resultados
- results, outcomes (plural of resultado)
- obtenidos
- obtained, obtained (past participle of obtener)
- por
- by, for, through (preposition)
- inspiración
- inspiration, divine guidance (noun)
- autorizada
- authorized, official (adjective, feminine)
- inspiró
- inspired (third person singular preterite of inspirar)
- magos
- magicians, wise men (plural of mago)
- deseo
- desire, wish (noun)
- quemar
- to burn (verb)
- al
- to the (contraction of a + el)
- filósofo
- philosopher (noun)
- admitió
- admitted, confessed (third person singular preterite of admitir)
- nunca
- never (adverb)
- había
- had (third person singular imperfect of haber)
- visto
- seen (past participle of ver)
- ni
- nor, neither (conjunction)
- oído
- heard (past participle of oír)
- hablar
- to speak, to talk (verb)
- caballo
- horse (noun)
- rey
- king (noun)
- reina
- queen (noun)
- sin
- without (preposition)
- embargo
- embargo, however (noun/adverb phrase sin embargo)
- se
- oneself, himself, herself (reflexive pronoun)
- atrevió
- dared (third person singular preterite of atreverse)
- afirmar
- to affirm, to state (verb)
- manera
- manner, way, mode (noun)
- animales
- animals (plural of animal)
- respondían
- corresponded, matched (third person plural imperfect of responder)
- descripción
- description (noun)
- existían
- existed (third person plural imperfect of existir)
- realmente
- really, actually, truly (adverb)
- corrían
- ran (third person plural imperfect of correr)
- las
- the (feminine plural definite article)
- Si
- if (conjunction)
- método
- method, procedure (noun)
- era
- was (third person singular imperfect of ser)
- válido
- valid, legitimate (adjective)
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