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stones； and the like； or he would come near to incurring the guilt
of infanticide。 The grain of cereals； according to him； was out of
the question； for every such grain had a living soul as much as man
had； and had as good a right as man to possess that soul in peace。
Having thus driven his fellow countrymen into a corner at the point
of a logical bayonet from which they felt that there was no escape；
he proposed that the question what was to be done should be
referred to an oracle in which the whole country had the greatest
confidence； and to which recourse was always had in times of
special perplexity。 It was whispered that a near relation of the
philosopher's was lady's…maid to the priestess who delivered the
oracle； and the Puritan party declared that the strangely
unequivocal answer of the oracle was obtained by backstairs
influence； but whether this was so or no； the response as nearly as
I can translate it was as follows：…
〃He who sins aught
Sins more than he ought；
But he who sins nought
Has much to be taught。
Beat or be beaten；
Eat or be eaten；
Be killed or kill；
Choose which you will。〃
It was clear that this response sanctioned at any rate the
destruction of vegetable life when wanted as food by man； and so
forcibly had the philosopher shown that what was sauce for
vegetables was so also for animals； that； though the Puritan party
made a furious outcry； the acts forbidding the use of meat were
repealed by a considerable majority。 Thus； after several hundred
years of wandering in the wilderness of philosophy； the country
reached the conclusions that common sense had long since arrived
at。 Even the Puritans after a vain attempt to subsist on a kind of
jam made of apples and yellow cabbage leaves； succumbed to the
inevitable； and resigned themselves to a diet of roast beef and
mutton； with all the usual adjuncts of a modern dinner…table。
One would have thought that the dance they had been led by the old
prophet； and that still madder dance which the Professor of botany
had gravely； but as I believe insidiously； proposed to lead them；
would have made the Erewhonians for a long time suspicious of
prophets whether they professed to have communications with an
unseen power or no； but so engrained in the human heart is the
desire to believe that some people really do know what they say
they know； and can thus save them from the trouble of thinking for
themselves； that in a short time would…be philosophers and faddists
became more powerful than ever； and gradually led their countrymen
to accept all those absurd views of life； some account of which I
have given in my earlier chapters。 Indeed I can see no hope for
the Erewhonians till they have got to understand that reason
uncorrected by instinct is as bad as instinct uncorrected by
reason。
CHAPTER XXVIII： ESCAPE
Though busily engaged in translating the extracts given in the last
five chapters； I was also laying matters in train for my escape
with Arowhena。 And indeed it was high time； for I received an
intimation from one of the cashiers of the Musical Banks； that I
was to be prosecuted in a criminal court ostensibly for measles；
but really for having owned a watch； and attempted the
reintroduction of machinery。
I asked why measles？ and was told that there was a fear lest
extenuating circumstances should prevent a jury from convicting me；
if I were indicted for typhus or small…pox； but that a verdict
would probably be obtained for measles； a disease which could be
sufficiently punished in a person of my age。 I was given to
understand that unless some unexpected change should come over the
mind of his Majesty； I might expect the blow to be struck within a
very few days。
My plan was thisthat Arowhena and I should escape in a balloon
together。 I fear that the reader will disbelieve this part of my
story； yet in no other have I endeavoured to adhere more
conscientiously to facts； and can only throw myself upon his
charity。
I had already gained the ear of the Queen； and had so worked upon
her curiosity that she promised to get leave for me to have a
balloon made and inflated； I pointed out to her that no complicated
machinery would be wantednothing； in fact； but a large quantity
of oiled silk； a car； a few ropes； &c。； &c。； and some light kind of
gas； such as the antiquarians who were acquainted with the means
employed by the ancients for the production of the lighter gases
could easily instruct her workmen how to provide。 Her eagerness to
see so strange a sight as the ascent of a human being into the sky
overcame any scruples of conscience that she might have otherwise
felt； and she set the antiquarians about showing her workmen how to
make the gas； and sent her maids to buy； and oil； a very large
quantity of silk （for I was determined that the balloon should be a
big one） even before she began to try and gain the King's
permission； this； however； she now set herself to do； for I had
sent her word that my prosecution was imminent。
As for myself； I need hardly say that I knew nothing about
balloons； nor did I see my way to smuggling Arowhena into the car；
nevertheless； knowing that we had no other chance of getting away
from Erewhon； I drew inspiration from the extremity in which we
were placed； and made a pattern from which the Queen's workmen were
able to work successfully。 Meanwhile the Queen's carriage…builders
set about making the car； and it was with the attachments of this
to the balloon that I had the greatest difficulty； I doubt； indeed；
whether I should have succeeded here； but for the great
intelligence of a foreman； who threw himself heart and soul into
the matter； and often both foresaw requirements； the necessity for
which had escaped me； and suggested the means of providing for
them。
It happened that there had been a long drought； during the latter
part of which prayers had been vainly offered up in all the temples
of the air god。 When I first told her Majesty that I wanted a
balloon； I said my intention was to go up into the sky and prevail
upon the air god by means of a personal interview。 I own that this
proposition bordered on the idolatrous； but I have long since
repented of it； and am little likely ever to repeat the offence。
Moreover the deceit； serious though it was； will probably lead to
the conversion of the whole country。
When the Queen told his Majesty of my proposal； he at first not
only ridiculed it； but was inclined to veto it。 Being； however； a
very uxorious husband； he at length consentedas he eventually
always did to everything on which the Queen had set her heart。 He
yielded all the more readily now； because he did not believe in the
possibility of my ascent； he was convinced that even though the
balloon should mount a few feet into the air； it would collapse
immediately； whereon I should fall and break my neck； and he should
be rid of me。 He demonstrated this to her so convincingly； that
she was alarmed； and tried to talk me into giving up the idea； but
on finding that I persisted in my wish to have the balloon made；
she produced an order from the King to the effect that all
facili