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.
Em todos estes casos, é apenas a relação com o tempo que se altera — o processo de adivinhação para além dos limites do conhecimento direto possível permanece o mesmo.
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.
Sem dúvida, foi o reconhecimento instintivo da analogia entre os resultados de Zadig e os obtidos por inspiração autorizada que inspirou os magos babilônios com o desejo de queimar o 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 admitiu que jamais havia visto ou ouvido falar do cavalo do rei ou do spaniel da rainha; e, no entanto, atreveu-se a afirmar da maneira mais positiva que animais correspondendo à sua descrição existiam de fato e corriam pelas planícies da Babilônia.
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 o seu método era bom para a adivinhação do curso de eventos ocorridos há dez horas, por que não seria bom para os de dez anos ou dez séculos atrás; mais ainda, não poderia ele estender-se a dez mil anos e justificar os ímpios em se imiscuírem nas tradições de Oannes e o peixe, e em todos os sagrados fundamentos da cosmogonia babilônica?
But this was not the worst.
Mas isso não era o pior.
There was another consideration which obviously dictated to the more thoughtful of the magi the propriety of burning Zadig out of hand.
Havia outra consideração que obviamente ditava aos mais reflexivos dos magos a conveniência de queimar Zadig imediatamente.
His defence was worse than his offence.
Sua defesa era pior do que sua ofensa.
It showed that his mode of divination was fraught with danger to magianism in general.
Ela mostrava que o seu modo de adivinhação estava repleto de perigo para o magismo em geral.
Vocabulary
- Em
- In, at, on (preposition indicating location or time)
- todos
- All, everyone, every one of something
- estes
- These, these ones (demonstrative pronoun/adjective)
- casos
- Cases, instances, situations or circumstances
- apenas
- Only, just, merely (adverb of limitation)
- relação
- Relation, relationship, connection between things
- com
- With, together with (preposition)
- tempo
- Time, weather, temporal period or duration
- que
- That, which, what (relative/interrogative pronoun)
- se
- Reflexive pronoun; oneself, himself, herself
- altera
- Changes, alters, modifies something
- processo
- Process, procedure, method or course of action
- de
- Of, from (preposition indicating possession or origin)
- adivinhação
- Divination, guessing, fortune-telling or prophecy
- para
- For, to, in order to (preposition)
- além
- Beyond, further, in addition to something
- dos
- Of the, from the (contraction of de+os)
- limites
- Limits, boundaries, borders or edges
- do
- Of the, from the (contraction of de+o)
- conhecimento
- Knowledge, understanding, acquaintance or awareness
- direto
- Direct, straight, immediate or straightforward
- possível
- Possible, feasible, able to be done
- permanece
- Remains, stays, continues in a state
- mesmo
- Same, even, very (adjective/adverb/pronoun)
- Sem
- Without, lacking, deprived of something
- dúvida
- Doubt, uncertainty, hesitation or question
- foi
- Was, went (past tense of ser or ir)
- reconhecimento
- Recognition, acknowledgment, identification or gratitude
- instintivo
- Instinctive, intuitive, natural or automatic
- da
- Of the, from the (feminine form)
- analogia
- Analogy, similarity, comparison between things
- entre
- Between, among (preposition indicating space)
- os
- The (masculine plural definite article)
- resultados
- Results, outcomes, consequences or findings
- obtidos
- Obtained, achieved, acquired or gotten
- por
- By, for, through (preposition)
- inspiração
- Inspiration, creative impulse or divine influence
- autorizada
- Authorized, official, legitimate or approved
- inspirou
- Inspired, breathed into, influenced or motivated
- magos
- Mages, wizards, sorcerers or wise men
- babilônios
- Babylonians, people from ancient Babylon
- desejo
- Desire, wish, want or longing
- queimar
- To burn, to scorch, to ignite
- filósofo
- Philosopher, lover of wisdom or scholar
- admitiu
- Admitted, acknowledged, confessed or allowed
- jamais
- Never, not ever, at no time
- havia
- Had, there was/were (past tense haver)
- visto
- Seen, viewed, observed (past participle)
- ou
- Or, either (conjunction offering alternative)
- ouvido
- Heard, listened (past participle of ouvir)
- falar
- To speak, to talk, to say
- cavalo
- Horse, equine animal (noun masculine)
- rei
- King, ruler, monarch (noun masculine)
- spaniel
- Spaniel, breed of hunting dog
- rainha
- Queen, female ruler, monarch (feminine)
- no
- In the, at the (contraction)
- entanto
- However, nevertheless, yet (conjunction)
- atreveu-se
- Dared, ventured, presumed to do something
- afirmar
- To affirm, to assert, to state
- maneira
- Manner, way, mode or method
- mais
- More, greater in quantity or degree
- positiva
- Positive, affirmative, certain (feminine adjective)
- animais
- Animals, creatures, beasts (plural noun)
- correspondendo
- Corresponding, matching, agreeing with description
- sua
- His, her, its, your (possessive pronoun)
- descrição
- Description, depiction, account or portrayal
- existiam
- Existed, were present, lived or occurred
- fato
- Fact, deed, event or occurrence
- corriam
- Ran, moved quickly, flowed (past tense)
- pelas
- Through the, by the (feminine plural)
- planícies
- Plains, flatlands, level areas or fields
- Se
- If, in case that (conditional conjunction)
- seu
- His, her, its, your (possessive adjective)
- método
- Method, procedure, systematic way of doing
- era
- Was (past tense of ser)
- bom
- Good, well, beneficial or positive
- curso
- Course, direction, progression or flow
- eventos
- Events, occurrences, incidents or happenings
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