Labio paused, and by this time the whole of that strangely mixed society was listening with the keenest relish and the most genuine interest to the conversation.
"I see whither you tend," replied Labio, "but I do not believe in that universal ruler and original mind, or first force, which you think to demonstrate. All things go in circles, and serially. Every force which exists has been derived from some other; and each in its turn continues the movement, or communicates the impact."
"Prettily expressed," remarked Velleius Paterculus.
"I beg Augustus," said the Athenian, "to mark and remember Labio's words. Every thing which has force has received its force from something else. Do you say every thing, Labio, without exception?"
"Yes, every thing," said Labio. "I conceive the chain to be endless."
"But not having, good Labio," replied the Athenian, "goes before receiving. I cannot, and you cannot, receive that which we have already. In order to say that we receive any thing, we must first be without it—must we not? The state of not having, I repeat, precedes the act of receiving. Does any person deny this? Does Labio?"
No one here spoke.
"Then," said the Athenian, "in maintaining that every thing which possesses force has received that force from something else, Labio necessarily maintains that every thing which possesses force was first without it. I therefore perceive there must have been a time when nothing possessed any force whatever. The very first thing which possessed any, received it; but whence? For, at that time, there was nothing to give it. What says Labio? Is pantheism silent?"
"I wish to hear more," said Labio; "I will answer you afterward."
A momentary smile, like a passing gleam, lit up the faces of those around, as the Athenian, looking toward Domitius Afer, requested him the next to favor the company with his opinion upon the two momentous questions propounded by Augustus.