Page:Queen Mab (Shelley).djvu/245

Rh the world. Milton tells us all originated from Chaos, and Old Night. But whence came Chaos? What produced Old Night? We laugh at the fable of the World being supported by an elephant, and the elephant by a tortoise, while the tortoise stands upon nothing;—but we forget that in pursuing a similar enquiry, our metaphysicians pursue a similar course of illustration. Of all the lame substitutes devised for creation, that of necessity seems the most childish, though universally useful in its application, if it were of any import. So, if we ask Mr. S. how he could imagine himself removing a difficulty, by introducing an absurdity, he will tell us it was of necessity! If we enquire how he comes to contradict himself, he will say it is of necessity! Or how he comes to lay down dangerous, and inexplicable doctrines,—it is all of necessity, sheer necessity! But unluckily this necessity, which has been aptly described as the plea of tyrants, and the creed of slaves, is equally applicable to vice, as to folly. The Inquisition may say, with equal truth, it roasts its victims out of absolute necessity! The despot may plead he lights up the conflagration of empires, and encreases the miseries of human nature to the most horrible climax of anguish, by the