ar's time 'Neptune was seen once
at the Nemean Games,' what was this Neptune too but a 'stranger of
noble grave aspect,' _fit_ to be 'seen'! There is something pathetic,
tragic for me in this last voice of Paganism. Thor is vanished, the
whole Norse world has vanished; and will not return ever again. In
like fashion to that pass away the highest things. All things that
have been in this world, all things that are or will be in it, have to
vanish, we have our sad farewell to give them.

That Norse Religion, a rude but earnest, sternly impressive
_Consecration of Valour_ (so we may define it), sufficed for these old
valiant Northmen. Consecration of Valour is not a _bad_ thing! We will
take it for good, so far as it goes. Neither is there no use in
_knowing_ something about this old Paganism of our Fathers.
Unconsciously, and combined with higher things, it is in _us_ yet,
that old Faith withal! To know it consciously, brings us into closer
and clearer relation with the Past--with our own possessions in the
Past. For the whole Past, as I keep repeating, is the possession of
the Present; the Past had always something _true_, and is a precious
possession. In a different time, in a different place, it is always
some other _side_ of our common Human Nature that has been developing
itself. The actual True is the _sum_ of all these; not any one of them
by itself, constitutes what of Human Nature is hitherto developed.
Better to know them all than misknow them. "To which of these Three
Religions do you specially adhere?" inquires Meister of his Teacher.
"To all the Three!" answers the other: "To all the Three: for they by
their union first constitute the True Religion."

LECTURE II

THE HERO AS PROPHET. MAHOMET: ISLAM

[_Friday, 8th May 1840_]

From the first rude times of Paganism among the Scandinavians in the
North, we advance to a very different epoch of religion, among a very
different people: Mahometanism among the Arabs. A great change; what a
change and progress is indicated here, in the universal condition and
thoughts of men!

The Hero is not now regarded as a God among his fellowmen; but as one
God-inspired, as a prophet. It is the second phasis of Hero-worship;
the first or oldest, we may say, has passed away without return; in
the history of the world there will not again be any man, never so
great, whom his fellowmen will take for a god. Nay we might rationally
ask, Did any set of human beings ever