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.