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there were no consequences。 The gods themselves； that kind of gods；
became as extinct as the deities of the Druids； the Greek fates； the
terrible figures of German mythology。 Yes； and as the God of Christian
orthodoxy。
Had any dire calamities overtaken the modern Macbeths； of whose personal
lives we happened to know something？ Had not these great ones broken
with impunity all the laws of traditional morality？ They ground the
faces of the poor； played golf and went to church with serene minds；
untroubled by criticism； they appropriated； quite freely； other men's
money； and some of them other men's wives； and yet they were not haggard
with remorse。 The gods remained silent。 Christian ministers regarded
these modern transgressors of ancient laws benignly and accepted their
contributions。 Here； indeed； were the supermen of the mad German prophet
and philosopher come to life； refuting all classic tragedy。 It is true
that some of these supermen were occasionally swept away by disease；
which in ancient days would have been regarded as a retributive scourge；
but was in fact nothing but the logical working of the laws of hygiene；
the result of overwork。 Such； though stated more crudely； were my
contentions when desire did not cloud my brain and make me incoherent。
And I did not fail to remind Nancy； constantly； that this was the path on
which her feet had been set； that to waver now was to perish。 She
smiled； yet she showed concern。
〃But suppose you don't get what you want？〃 she objected。 〃What then？
Suppose one doesn't become a superman？ or a superwoman？ What's to happen
to one？ Is there no god but the superman's god； which is himself？ Are
there no gods for those who can't be supermen？ or for those who may
refuse to be supermen？〃
To refuse； I maintained； were a weakness of the will。
〃But there are other wills；〃 she persisted； 〃wills over which the
superman may conceivably have no control。 Suppose； for example； that you
don't get me； that my will intervenes； granting it to be conceivable that
your future happiness and welfare； as you insist； depend upon your
getting mewhich I doubt。〃
〃You've no reason to doubt it。〃
〃Well； granting it； then。 Suppose the orthodoxies and superstitions
succeed in inhibiting me。 I may not be a superwoman； but my will； or my
conscience； if you choose； may be stronger than yours。 If you don't get
what you want； you aren't happy。 In other words； you fail。 Where are
your gods then？ The trouble with you； my dear Hugh； is that you have
never failed；〃 she went on； 〃you've never had a good； hard fall； you've
always been on the winning side； and you've never had the world against
you。 No wonder you don't understand the meaning and value of tragedy。〃
〃And you？〃 I asked。
〃No；〃 she agreed； 〃nor I。 Yet I have come to feel； instinctively； that
somehow concealed in tragedy is the central fact of life； the true
reality； that nothing is to be got by dodging it； as we have dodged it。
Your superman； at least the kind of superman you portray； is petrified。
Something vital in him； that should be plastic and sensitive； has turned
to stone。〃
〃Since when did you begin to feel this？〃 I inquired uneasily。
〃Sincewell； since we have been together again； in the last month or
two。 Something seems to warn me that if we takewhat we want； we shan't
get it。 That's an Irish saying； I know； but it expresses my meaning。 I
may be little； I may be superstitious； unlike the great women of history
who have dared。 But it's more than mere playing safemy instinct； I
mean。 You see； you are involved。 I believe I shouldn't hesitate if only
myself were concerned； but you are the uncertain quantitymore uncertain
than you have any idea； you think you know yourself； you think you have
analyzed yourself； but the truth is； Hugh； you don't know the meaning of
struggle against real resistance。〃
I was about to protest。
〃I know that you have conquered in the world of men and affairs；〃 she
hurried on； 〃against resistance； but it isn't the kind of resistance I
mean。 It doesn't differ essentially from the struggle in the animal
kingdom。〃
I bowed。 〃Thank you；〃 I said。
She laughed a little。
〃Oh； I have worshipped success； too。 Perhaps I still dothat isn't the
point。 An animal conquers his prey； he is in competition； in constant
combat with others of his own kind； and perhaps he brings to bear a
certain amount of intelligence in the process。 Intelligence isn't the
point； either。 I know what I'm saying is trite； it's banal； it sounds
like moralizing； and perhaps it is； but there is so much confusion to…day
that I think we are in danger of losing sight of the simpler verities；
and that we must suffer for it。 Your super…animal； your supreme…stag
subdues the other stags； but he never conquers himself； he never feels
the need of it； and therefore he never comprehends what we call tragedy。〃
〃I gather your inference；〃 I said； smiling。
〃Well；〃 she admitted； 〃I haven't stated the case with the shade of
delicacy it deserves； but I wanted to make my meaning clear。 We have
raised up a class in America； but we have lost sight； a little
considerably； I thinkof the distinguishing human characteristics。 The
men you were eulogizing are lords of the forest； more or less； and we
women； who are of their own kind； what they have made us； surrender
ourselves in submission and adoration to the lordly stag in the face of
all the sacraments that have been painfully inaugurated by the race for
the very purpose of distinguishing us from animals。 It is equivalent to
saying that there is no moral law； or； if there is； nobody can define it。
We deny； inferentially； a human realm as distinguished from the animal；
and in the denial it seems to me we are cutting ourselves off from what
is essential human development。 We are reverting to the animal。 I have
lost and you have lostnot entirely； perhaps； but still to a
considerable extentthe bloom of that fervour； of that idealism； we may
call it； that both of us possessed when we were in our teens。 We had
occasional visions。 We didn't know what they meant； or how to set about
their accomplishment； but they were not； at least； mere selfish
aspirations； they implied； unconsciously no doubt； an element of service；
and certainly our ideal of marriage had something fine in it。〃
〃Isn't it for a higher ideal of marriage that we are searching？〃 I asked。
〃If that is so；〃 Nancy objected； 〃then all the other elements of our
lives are sadly out of tune with it。 Even the most felicitous union of
the sexes demands sacrifice； an adjustment of wills； and these are the
very things we balk at； and the trouble with our entire class in this
country is that we won't acknowledge any responsibility； there's no
sacrifice in our eminence； we have no sense of the whole。〃
〃Where did you get all these ideas？〃 I demanded。
She laughed。
〃Well；〃 she admitted； 〃I've been thrashing around a little； and I've read
some of the moderns； you know。 Do you remember my telling you I didn't
agree with them？ and now this thing has come on me like a judgment。 I've
caught their mania for liberty； for self…re