The Processionary : the Procession 



march and who in reality has been abolished 

 by my trickery. 



From the first circuit of the edge of the 

 tub the rail of silk has been laid in position 

 and is soon turned into a narrow ribbon by 

 the procession, which never ceases dribbling 

 its thread as it goes. The rail is simply 

 doubled and has no branches anywhere, for 

 my brush has destroyed them all. What will 

 the caterpillars do on this deceptive, closed 

 path? Will they walk endlessly round and 

 round until their strength gives out entirely? 



The old schoolmen were fond of quoting 

 Buridan's 1 Ass, that famous Donkey who, 

 when placed between two bundles of hay, 

 starved to death because he was unable to 

 decide in favour of either by breaking the 

 equilibrium between two equal but opposite 

 attractions. They slandered the worthy ani- 

 mal. The Ass, who is no more foolish than 

 any one else, would reply to the logical snare 

 by feasting off both bundles. Will my cater- 



1 Jean Buridan (circa i^oo-circa 1360), a famous 

 scholastic doctor, who was several times rector of the 

 university of Paris and subsequently founded the uni- 

 versity of Vienna. He forms the subject of many 

 legends, including that of the argument known by his 

 name, of which no trace is to be found in any of his 

 works. Translator's Note. 



73 



