Why Coth was Contradicted
Then Jurgen to Chorasma, where Coth, the son of Smoit and Steinvor, in the of the largest and he had been able to imagine, and the who were him, the they were not to the of Coth.
And Jurgen to his father: "The Cannagosta told you I was the Emperor of Noumaria, and I do not it now. But do you not I am your son Jurgen?"
"Why, so it is," said Coth, "now that I look at the rascal. And how, Jurgen, did you an emperor?"
"Oh, sir, and is this a place to talk about dignities? I am your mind should still upon these empty here in torment."
"But it is torment, Jurgen, such as not my conscience. There is no in this place, and no way of justice. For these do not take that which I did, and they to me, and so my unsatisfied."
"Well, but, father, I have talked with them, and they to think your do not amount to much, after all."
Coth into one of his familiar rages. "I would have you know that I killed eight men in cold blood, and five other men while they were being killed. I the of such as ten and a murders, and for these my that I be punished."
"Ah, but, sir, that was fifty years or more ago, and these men would now be in any event, so you see it not now."
"I with women, with I do not know how many women."
Jurgen his head. "This is very news for a son to receive, and you can my feelings. None the less, sir, that also was fifty years ago, and nobody is over it now."
"You jackanapes, I tell you that I and and and four houses and the Sabbath and was of and spoke to my mother and a image in Porutsa. I tell you I the whole Decalogue, time and again. I all the that were of, and six new ones."
"Yes, sir," said Jurgen: "but, still, what it if you did?"
"Oh, take away this son of mine!" Coth: "for he is his mother all over again; and though I was the that lived, I have not to be twice with such questions. And I that you more fuel."
"Sir," said a little fiend, in the of a with arms and like a monkey's, as he ran up with four of faggots, "we are doing the very best we can for your discomfort. But you have no for us, and do not that we are on our day and night, waiting upon you," said the little devil, whimpering, as with his he up the fire about Coth. "You do not the condition of the country, on account of the with Heaven, which makes it so hard for us to you all the of life. Instead, you in your flames, and complain about the service, and Grandfather Satan us, and it is not fair."
"I think, myself," said Jurgen, "you should be with the boy. And as for your crimes, sir, come, will you not this which you conscience, and that after any man has been a little while it not at all what he did? Why, about Bellegarde no one thinks of your throat-cutting and Sabbath-breaking when very old people over the fire, and your up the for them. To the of us you are just a in the which you as a of all the virtues. And of Bellegarde, sir, your name and nothing now to anybody, and no one you. So your is not any person now save these devils: and I think that, in consequence, you might to put up with such as they can contrive, without so ill-temperedly about it."
"Ah, but my conscience, Jurgen! that is the point."
"Oh, if you continue to talk about your conscience, sir, you restrict the to I do not understand, and so cannot discuss. But I say we will occasion to out this, and all other matters, by and by: and you and I will make the best of this place, for now I will you."
Coth to weep: and he said that his in the had been too for this to be permitted him in the which he had earned, and some day to come by.
"Do you about me, one way or the other, then?" says Jurgen, astounded.
And from the of his Coth, the son of Smoit, talked of the birth of Jurgen, and of the that had been Jurgen, and of the child that had been Jurgen. And a horrible, deep, moved in Jurgen as he to the man who had him, and was Jurgen's flesh, and had not been Jurgen's thoughts: and Jurgen did not like it. Then the voice of Coth was changed, as he talked of the man that had been Jurgen, of the man who was and and of nothing save his own light desires; and of the which had Jurgen and Jurgen's father Coth spoke likewise: and Jurgen now, but was still to know how much his father had once loved him.
"It is true," says Jurgen, "that I was an and son. So I did not your teachings. I astray, oh, very astray. I astray, sir I must tell you, with a nature with the Moon."
"Oh, of the heathen!"
"And she considered, sir, that I was likely to a legend."
"I should not wonder," said Coth, and he his and dome-shaped despondently. "Ah, my son, it you what comes of these wild courses."
"And in that event, I would, of course, be from in the by the Spring Equinox. Do you not think so, sir?" says Jurgen, very coaxingly, he that, according to Satan, Coth would be the truth in Hell.
"I am sure," said Coth--"why, I am sure I do not know anything about such matters."
"Yes, but what do you think?"
"I do not think about it at all."
"Yes, but--"
"Jurgen, you have a very of with people--"
"Still, sir--"
"And I have spoken to you about it before--"
"Yet, father--"
"And I do not wish to have to speak to you about it again--"
"None the less, sir--"
"And when I say that I have no opinion--"
"But has an opinion, father!" Jurgen this, and it was like old times.
"How you speak to me in that of voice, sir!"
"But I only meant--"
"Do not to me, Jurgen! and stop me! For, as I was saying when you to at your father as though you were an person, it is my opinion that I know nothing about Equinoxes! and do not to know anything about Equinoxes, I would have you understand! and that the less said as to such the better, as I tell you to your face!"
And Jurgen groaned. "Here is a father! If you had so, it would have happened. But you me in a place like this, and have not fairness, less affection, to me out of it."
"I can only think of your well affliction, you scoundrel! and of the of light with you have sinned! and of the which has you in consequence!"
"Well, at worst," says Jurgen, "there are no here. That ought to be a to you."
"I think there are here," his father. "It is that a number of have had consciences. But these are from us men, in some other part of Hell, for the that if they were into Chorasma they would attempt to tidy the place and make it habitable. I know your mother would have been out of hand."
"Oh, sir, and must you still be fault with mother?"
"Your mother, Jurgen, was in many an woman. But," said Coth, "she did not me."
"Ah, well, that may have been the trouble. Still, all this you say about being here is guess-work."
"It is not!" said Coth, "and I want none of your impudence, either. How many times must I tell you that?"
Jurgen his ear reflectively. For he still what Grandfather Satan had said, and Coth's promising. "Well, but the here are all ugly, I wager."
"They are not!" said his father, angrily. "Why do you keep me?"
"Because you do not know what you are talking about," says Jurgen, him on. "How there be any in this place? For the soft would be away from their little bones, and the of would be to a cinder."
"I think there are any number of and and such creatures, the do not at all, these are with an that is and is more than fire. And you perfectly what I mean, so there is no need for you to there at me like a abbess!"
"Oh, sir, but you know very well that I would have nothing to do with such persons."
"I do not know anything of the sort. You are to me. You always to me. I think you are on your way to meet a now."
"What, sir, a with and wings!"
"No, but a very and creature."
"Come, now! you do not think she is beautiful."
"I do think so. How you tell me what I think and do not think!"
"Ah, well, I shall have nothing to do with her."
"I think you will," said his father: "ah, but I think you will be up to your with her this hour is out. For do I not know what are? and do I not know you?"
And Coth to talking of Jurgen's past, in the terms of a family squabble, such as are not very elsewhere. And the who had been Coth in embarrassment, and so long as Coth talking they out of earshot.
