_Intensive vision has this Mr. Hardy,_ _With a dark skill in weaving word-patterns_ _Of subtle ideographies that mark him_ _A man of genius. So am not I,_ _But a plain Spirit, simple and forthright,_ _With no damned philosophical fal-lals_ _About me. When I visited that planet_ _And watched the animalculae thereon,_ _I never said they were "automata"_ _And "jackaclocks," nor dared describe their deeds_ _As "Life's impulsion by Incognizance."_ _It may be that those mites have no free will,_ _But how should I know? Nay, how Mr. Hardy?_ _We cannot glimpse the origin of things,_ _Cannot conceive a Causeless Cause, albeit_ _Such a Cause must have been, and must be greater_ _Than we whose little wits cannot conceive it._ _"Incognizance"! Why deem incognizant_ _An infinitely higher than ourselves?_ _How dare define its way with us? How know_ _Whether it leaves us free or holds us bond?_ SPIRIT OF THE PITIES. _Allow me to associate myself_ _With every word that's fallen from your lips._ _The author of "The Dynasts" has indeed_ _Misused his undeniably great gifts_ _In striving to belittle things that are_ _Little enough already. I don't say_ _That the phrenetical behaviour_ _Of those aforesaid animalculae_ _Did, while we watched them, seem to indicate_ _Possession of free-will. But, bear in mind,_ _We saw them in peculiar circumstances--_ _At war, blinded with blood and lust and fear._ _Is it not likely that at other times_ _They are quite decent midgets, capable_ _Of thinking for themselves, and also acting_ _Discreetly on their own initiative,_ _Not drilled and herded, yet gregarious--_ _A wise yet frolicsome community?_ SPIRIT IRONIC. _What are these "other times" though? I had thought_ _Those midgets whiled away the vacuous hours_ _After one war in training for the next._ _And let me add that my contempt for them_ _Is not done justice to by Mr. Hardy._ SPIRIT SINISTER. _Nor mine. And I have reason to believe_ _Those midgets shone above their average_ _When we inspected them._ A RUMOUR (tactfully intervening). _Yet have I heard_ _(Though not on very good authority)_ _That once a year they hold a festival_ _And thereat all with one accord unite_ _In brotherly affection and good will._ SPIRIT OF THE YEARS (to Recording Angel). _Can you authenticate this Rumour?_ RECORDING ANGEL. _Such festival they have, and call it "Christmas."_ SPIRIT OF THE PITIES. _Then let us go and reconsider them_ _Next "Christmas."_ SPIRIT OF THE YEARS (to Recording Angel). _When is that?_ RECORDING ANGEL (consults terrene calendar). _This day three weeks._ SPIRIT OF THE YEARS. _On that day we will re-traject ourselves._ _Meanwhile, 'twere well we should be posted up_ _In details of this feast._ SPIRIT OF THE PITIES (to Recording Angel). _Aye, tell us more._ RECORDING ANGEL.