Thereisnothingmorerealthanthis, , , andthensaywhetheritisnotbeyonddoubtthatthereisnogoodinthislifebutinthehopeofanother; thatwearehappyonlyinproportionaswedrawnearit; andthat, astherearenomorewoesforthosewhohavecompleteassuranceofeternity, sothereisnomorehappinessforthosewhohavenoinsightintoit.
Surelythenitisagreatevilthustobeindoubt, butitisatleastanindispensabledutytoseekwhenweareinsuchdoubt; , professestobeso, andindeedboastsofit; ifitisthisstateitselfwhichisthesubjectofhisjoyandvanity, Ihavenowordstodescribesosillyacreature.
Howcanpeopleholdtheseopinions? Whatjoycanwefindintheexpectationofnothingbuthopelessmisery? Whatreasonforboastingthatweareinimpenetrabledarkness? Andhowcanithappenthatthefollowingargumentoccurstoareasonableman?
"Iknownotwhoputmeintotheworld, norwhattheworldis, , normysenses, normysoul, noteventhatpartofmewhichthinkswhatIsay, whichreflectsonallandonitself, , andIfindmyselftiedtoonecornerofthisvastexpanse, withoutknowingwhyIamputinthisplaceratherthaninanother, , whichsurroundmeasanatom, , butwhatIknowleastisthisverydeathwhichIcannotescape.
"AsIknownotwhenceIcome, , inleavingthisworld, IfallforevereitherintoannihilationorintothehandsofanangryGod, , , butIwillnottakethetrouble, nortakeasteptoseekit; andaftertreatingwithscornthosewhoareconcernedwiththiscare, Iwillgowithoutforesightandwithoutfeartotrythegreatevent, andletmyselfbeledcarelesslytodeath, uncertainoftheeternityofmyfuturestate."
