/part of the poem arise one after another, presenting
/ themselves to him not at all as general problems
/ concerning the nature of the future life, but rather
I as agonising doubts which must be answered before
; he can adjust his thoughts and hopes to the new
. and mysterious relations that have sprung up between
\him and his friend.
And, first of all, comes the question. Is there any
future life at all ? When the heart is cold and calm,
this question is hardly realised, and a logical " yes "
or " no " or " perhaps " can be heard, as if something
far other than the key to the whole riddle and
hohness and pathos of human life were under dis-
cussion. But let death step in and remove your
best-beloved from your side, then " Is there any future
life ? " means to you " Is there any longer a love that
gave your life all its highest joy and worth ? is there
any more one in love for whom you found your best
help in the struggle after goodness ? is there any
more a hope that can keep the tears you are now
shedding from withering and hardening your heart
for ever ? " This, and not the general question of
the destiny of the human race, not even the question
of your own personal destiny, is the intensest form
of the problem of the future life.
T_he_^^eL_says_tIiat_ the mystery and darkness of
"~"the present n ecessitatgs_ a belief in tlie~futura The
world is an i nsoluble ridd le judthout __the_key of
Immortality. Eeligion hasno meaning, patience and
virtue are not at all worth_while,_and suicide is the
onlyjwisdom.
