Consecration of Valor 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."


[May 8, 1840.]
LECTURE II.
THE HERO AS PROPHET. MAHOMET: ISLAM.

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