Liber Aleph

THE BOOK OF WISDOM OR FOLLY 145 Ex De Mysterio Mali (Of the Mystery of Evil) OREOVER, say not thou in thy Syllogism that, since every Change soever, be it the Creation of a Symphony, or a Poem, or the Putrefaction of a Carcass, is an Act of Love, and since we are to make no difference between any Thing and any other Thing, therefore all Changes are equal in Respect of our Praise. For though this be a right Conclusion in the Term of thy Comprehension as a Master of the Temple, yet it is false in the Eyes of the Mind that hath not attained this Understanding. So there- fore any Change (or phenomenon) appeareth noble or base to the imperfect Mind, according to its Consonance and Harmony with the Will that governeth the Mind. Thus if it be thy Will to delight in Rythm and Œconomy of Words, the Advertise-ment of a Commodity may offend thee; but if thou art in Need of that Merchandise, thou wilt rejoice herein. Praise then or blame aught, as seemeth good unto thee; but with this Reflection, that thy Judgment is relative ro thine own Condition, and not absolute. This also is a point of Tolerance, whereby thy shalt avoid indeed those Things that are hateful or noxious to thee, unless thou canst (in our Mode) win them by Love, by withdrawing thine Attention from them; but thou shalt not destroy them, for that they are without doubt the Desire of another. m