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.
In tutti questi casi, è solo la relazione con il tempo che cambia -- il processo di divinazione al di là dei limiti della possibile conoscenza diretta rimane lo stesso.
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.
Senza dubbio fu il loro riconoscimento istintivo dell'analogia tra i risultati di Zadig e quelli ottenuti mediante ispirazione autorizzata a ispirare nei magi babilonesi il desiderio di bruciare il filosofo.
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 ammise di non aver mai né visto né sentito parlare del cavallo del re né dello spaniel della regina; eppure si arrischiò ad affermare nel modo più categorico che animali corrispondenti alla loro descrizione esistevano davvero e correvano per le pianure di 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?
Se il suo metodo era valido per la divinazione del corso di eventi di dieci ore prima, perché non avrebbe dovuto esserlo per quelli di dieci anni o dieci secoli passati; anzi, non avrebbe potuto estendersi a diecimila anni e giustificare gli empi nell'intromettersi nelle tradizioni di Oannes e del pesce, e in tutti i sacri fondamenti della cosmogonia babilonese?
But this was not the worst.
Ma questo non era il peggio.
There was another consideration which obviously dictated to the more thoughtful of the magi the propriety of burning Zadig out of hand.
Vi era un'altra considerazione che dettava ovviamente ai più riflessivi tra i magi l'opportunità di bruciare Zadig seduta stante.
His defence was worse than his offence.
La sua difesa era peggiore della sua colpa.
It showed that his mode of divination was fraught with danger to magianism in general.
Essa dimostrava che il suo metodo di divinazione era gravido di pericoli per il magismo in generale.
Vocabulary
- In
- In, at, during; preposition indicating location or time.
- tutti
- All, everyone; plural form indicating totality.
- questi
- These, this; demonstrative pronoun indicating nearby items.
- casi
- Cases, instances; plural of caso.
- solo
- Only, alone; adverb or adjective indicating singularity.
- la
- The; feminine singular definite article.
- relazione
- Relationship, relation, connection; noun.
- con
- With; preposition indicating association or accompaniment.
- il
- The; masculine singular definite article.
- tempo
- Time, weather; noun indicating duration or climate.
- che
- That, which, who; relative pronoun.
- cambia
- Changes, alters; third person singular present tense.
- processo
- Process, procedure, trial; noun indicating method or legal action.
- di
- Of, from; preposition indicating possession or origin.
- divinazione
- Divination, fortune-telling; noun indicating supernatural prediction.
- al
- To the, at the; contraction of 'a il'.
- là
- There, over there; adverb of place.
- dei
- Of the, some; contraction of 'di i'.
- limiti
- Limits, boundaries; plural noun.
- della
- Of the; contraction of 'di la'.
- possibile
- Possible, feasible; adjective indicating capability.
- conoscenza
- Knowledge, acquaintance; noun indicating understanding.
- diretta
- Direct, immediate; adjective feminine form.
- rimane
- Remains, stays; third person singular present tense.
- lo
- It, the; masculine singular definite article or pronoun.
- stesso
- Same, self; adjective or pronoun indicating identity.
- Senza
- Without; preposition indicating absence.
- dubbio
- Doubt, uncertainty; noun.
- fu
- Was; third person singular past tense of essere.
- loro
- Their, theirs, them; possessive or objective pronoun.
- riconoscimento
- Recognition, acknowledgment; noun.
- istintivo
- Instinctive, intuitive; adjective.
- dell
- Of the; contraction of 'di il'.
- analogia
- Analogy, similarity; noun indicating comparison.
- tra
- Between, among; preposition.
- risultati
- Results, outcomes; plural noun.
- quelli
- Those, that ones; demonstrative pronoun plural.
- ottenuti
- Obtained, achieved; past participle plural.
- mediante
- By means of, through; preposition.
- ispirazione
- Inspiration, divine influence; noun.
- autorizzata
- Authorized, official; past participle feminine adjective.
- ispirare
- Inspire, to breathe in; infinitive verb.
- nei
- In the; contraction of 'in i'.
- magi
- Magi, wise men; plural noun.
- babilonesi
- Babylonian; adjective or plural noun.
- desiderio
- Desire, wish; noun.
- bruciare
- Burn; infinitive verb.
- filosofo
- Philosopher; noun.
- ammise
- Admitted; third person singular past tense.
- non
- Not; negation adverb.
- aver
- Have; infinitive form of avere.
- mai
- Never, ever; adverb.
- né
- Neither, nor; conjunction.
- visto
- Seen; past participle of vedere.
- sentito
- Heard; past participle of sentire.
- parlare
- Speak, talk; infinitive verb.
- del
- Of the; contraction of 'di il'.
- cavallo
- Horse; noun.
- re
- King; noun.
- dello
- Of the; contraction of 'di lo'.
- regina
- Queen; noun.
- eppure
- Yet, nevertheless; conjunction.
- si
- Oneself, himself, herself; reflexive pronoun.
- arrischiò
- Risked, ventured; third person singular past tense.
- ad
- To, at; preposition (variant of 'a').
- affermare
- Assert, claim; infinitive verb.
- nel
- In the; contraction of 'in il'.
- modo
- Way, manner, mode; noun.
- più
- More, most; adverb.
- categorico
- Categorical, absolute; adjective.
- animali
- Animals; plural noun.
- corrispondenti
- Corresponding, matching; adjective plural.
- alla
- To the; contraction of 'a la'.
- descrizione
- Description; noun.
- esistevano
- Existed; third person plural past tense.
- davvero
- Really, truly; adverb.
- correvano
- Ran, were running; third person plural past tense.
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