Stuff and nonsense

August 7, 2014
More than a little bit of nonsense

Wisdom is not letting the truth get in the way, but also staying out of the way of those that know it.  

– Uncle Albert 

This is the truth; on the other hand, if you want a nice story . . . .  – Callimachus

Yada-yada-yada.

Callimachus’ poem, from The Greek Anthology, imagines two conversations, the first with the grave of Charidas, then with grave Charidas himself.

     The epigram begins, “Is it true Charidas sleeps beneath you?” The stone answers, “If you mean Charidas, the son of Arimmas the Cyrene, yes, he does, here, beneath me.”

     And it goes on, the poet speaking, then the dead man, and so on:

    

                           — So, Charidas, what of life after?

                          —  Only darkness.

                           — So, the resurrection?

                           — It’s a lie.

                           — Then, Pluto, the god of death?

                           — A complete myth. We just die.

                                 That’s the truth; but if you want a nice story,

                                 like the Samian would tell: I am a large ox in Hades.

“The Samian” is Pythagoras, who believed, contrariwise, that we don’t “just die”; we are reincarnated. But what does he know, besides a bit of math? Imagine Lillie Tomlin’s Edith Ann blowing her raspberry. Charidas: If Pythagoras is right, I’m a great ox in Hades, and that’s the truth. 

Or, that's the truth In Hades. But there is no Hades! No place for the dead, because the dead don’t exist: life after, resurrection, reincarnation — so many fig newtons of the imagination. So (says) Charidas.

          — But so, Charidas? How are you saying anything?  — Well, that’s an interesting story. — If you don't let the truth get in the way . . . — Right.

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