294
PARTISAN REVIEW
DoN PAoLO. Like blindfold sheep the soldiers will go to the slaughter.
UuvA. Well, after all, maybe that's the least painful way of dying. An
increase of consciousness, mark my words, always means an increase
of suffering. A humanitarian like you should think that over.
DoN PAOLO. It would mean intensifying pain only if our consciousness
were by nature condemned exclusively to contemplation and were pow–
erless to change the course of events.
UuvA
(abandoning for the first time his tone of indifference and almost
of boredom, and expressing himself with energetic conviction).
I know
what kind of events you think would prove the victory of conscience, that
is, revolutions; but if you examine them closely, they prove exactly the
opposite. Believe me, my dear boy, exactly the opposite. But I don't
advise a good fellow like you to examine them too closely. (DoN PAoLo
wants to interrupt, but
UuvA
cuts him short.)
Let me speak. I've still
got something else to tell you, namely that the soutane suits you very
well; remarkably well in fact; congratulations. Don't you think it would
be a good idea to make it obligatory, together with the tonsure, for all
functionaries of the Party?
DoN PAOLO
(jokingly).
Celibacy too?
UuvA. Of course. All the more so since celibacy doesn't exclude the
rest, not even polygamy; rather the contrary.
Through the closed bedroom window re-echoes the sound of applause
from a crowd gathered in a public meeting.
DoN PAOLO
opens the win–
dow. The voice of an orator can be heard distinctly, if somewhat attenu–
ated by distance.
VoiCE OF DoN ZABAGLIONE. Descendant of Rome eternal, 0 thou, my
people! Tell me, who was it brought civilization and culture to the
Mediterranean and to all that was then known of Africa?
VoiCEs oF THE CROWD. We did!
VorcE oF DoN ZABAGLIONE. Tell me further, I beg thee, who brought
civilization and culture to the whole of Europe, even to the foggy shores
of England, and built cities on the very soil where savages, together with
wild boars and stags, had grubbed for food?
VoiCES OF THE CRowD. We did!
VorcE oF DoN ZABAGLIONE. Tell me again, I implore thee, who dis–
covered America?
VoiCES oF THE CROWD. We did! We did! We did!
VorcE OF DoN ZABAGLIONE. Tell me yet again, I entreat thee, who
invented electricity, the radio, and all the conveniences, wonders and
beauties of modern life?
