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coexistence and time an order of sequences； whether it be by space that we
succeed in representing time or whether time be an essential form of any
representation； whether time be the father of space or space the father of
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time； one thing is certain； which is that the efforts of the Kantian or neo…
Kantian apriorists and of the pure empiricists and the idealistic empiricists
all end in the same darkness； that all the philosophers who have grappled
with the formidable dual problem； among whom one may mention
indiscriminately the names of the greatest thinkers of yesterday and to…
dayHerbert Spencer； Helmholtz； Renouvier； James Sully； Stumpf； James
Ward； William James； Stuart Mill； Ribot； Fouillee； Guyau； Bain； Lechalas；
Balmes； Dunan and endless othershave been unable to tame it； and that；
however much their theories may contradict one another； they are all
equally defensible and alike struggle vainly in the darkness against
shadows that are not of our world。
25
To catch a glimpse of this strange problem of the preexistence of the
future； as it shows itself to each of us； let us essay more humbly to
translate it into tangible images； to place it as it were upon the stage。 I am
writing these lines sitting on a stone； in the shade of some tall beeches that
overlook a little Norman village。 It is one of those lovely summer days
when the sweetness of life is almost visible in the azure vase of earth and
sky。 In the distance stretches the immense； fertile valley of the Seine； with
its green meadows planted with restful trees； between which the river
flows like a long path of gladness leading to the misty hills of the estuary。
I am looking down on the village…square； with its ring of young lime…trees。
A procession leaves the church and； amid prayers and chanting； they carry
the statue of the Virgin around the sacred pile。 I am conscious of all the
details of the ceremony： the sly old cure perfunctorily bearing a small
reliquary； four choirmen opening their mouths to bawl forth vacantly the
Latin words which convey nothing to them； two mischievous serving…boys
in frayed cassocks； a score of little girls； young girls and old maids in
white； all starched and flounced； followed by six or seven village notables
in baggy frockcoats。 The pageant disappears behind the trees； comes into
sight again at the bend of the road and hurries back into the church。 The
clock in the steeple strikes five； as though to ring down the curtain and
mark in the infinite history of events which none will recollect the
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conclusion of a spectacle which never again； until the end of the world and
of the universe of worlds； will be just what it was during those seconds
when it beguiled my wandering eyes。
For in vain will they repeat the procession next year and every year
after： never again will it be the same。 Not only will several of the actors
probably have disappeared； but all those who resume their old places in
the ranks will have undergone the thousand little visible and invisible
changes wrought by the passing days and weeks。 In a word； this
insignificant moment is unique； irrecoverable； inimitable； as are all the
moments in the existence of all things； and this little picture； enduring for
a few seconds suspended in boundless duration； has lapsed into eternity；
where henceforth it will remain in its entirety to the end of time； so much
so that； if a man could one day recapture in the past； among what some
one has called the 〃astral negatives；〃 the image of what it was； he would
find it intact； unchanged； ineffaceable and undeniable。
26
It is not difficult for us to conceive that one can thus go back and
seeagain the astral negative of an event that is no more； and retrospective
clairvoyance appears to us a wonderful but not an impossible thing。 It
astonishes but does not stagger our reason。 But； when it becomes a
question of discovering the same picture in the future； the boldest
imagination flounders at the first step。 How are we to admit that there
exists somewhere a representation or reproduction of that which has not
yet existed？ Nevertheless； some of the incidents which we have just been
considering seem to prove in an almost conclusive manner not only that
such representations are possible； but that we may arrive at them more
frequently； not to say more conveniently； than at those of the past。 Now；
once this representation preexists； as we are obliged to admit in the case of
certain number of premonitions； the riddle remains the same whether the
preexistence be one of a few hours； a few years or several centuries。 It is
therefore possiblefor； in these matters； we must go straight to extremes
or else leave them aloneit is therefore possible that a seer mightier than
any of to…day； some god； demigod or demon； some unknown； universal or
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vagrant intelligence； saw that procession a million years ago； at a time
when nothing existed of that which composes and surrounds it and when
the very earth on which it moves had not yet risen from the ocean depths。
And other seers； as mighty as the first； who from age to age contemplated
the same spot and the same moment； would always have perceived；
through the vicissitudes and upheavals of seas； shores and forests； the
same procession going round the same little church that still lay
slumbering in the oceanic ooze and made up of the same persons sprung
from a race that was perhaps not yet represented on the earth。
27
It is obviously difficult for us to understand that the future can thus
precede chaos； that the present is at the same time the future and the past；
or that that which does not yet exists already at the same time at which it is
no more。 But； on the other hand； it