need not wonder; for a ball has been served him,
and he must return it to his companion. He is occupied in catching it in its
fall from the roof, to win a game. How can he think of his own affairs,
pray, when he has this other matter in hand? Here is a care worthy of
occupying this great soul and taking away from him every other thought of
the mind. This man, born to know the universe, to judge all causes, to
govern a whole state, is altogether occupied and taken up with the business
of catching a hare. And if he does not lower himself to this and wants
always to be on the strain, he will be more foolish still, because he would
raise himself above humanity; and after all, he is only a man, that is to
say capable of little and of much, of all and of nothing; he is neither
angel nor brute, but man.
141. Men spend their time in following a ball or a hare; it is the pleasure
even of kings.
142. Diversion--Is not the royal dignity sufficiently great in itself to
make its possessor happy by the mere contemplation of what he is? Must he be
diverted from this thought like ordinary folk? I see well that a man is made
happy by diverting him from the view of his domestic sorrows so as to occupy
all his thoughts with the care of dancing well. But will it be th