A Defense of the Devil (in Short Story Collection Vol. 062 )

MP3 Audio CD. A Defense of the Devil (in Short Story Collection Vol. 062 )

A DEFENSE OP THE DEVIL
From the Epistles

OUR last conversation was about apologetic or defensive writ-
ings, which I confessed I could not endure; partly because
an honest man and a good book need no apology, partly
because it is possible to write in defense of anything, even of the
Devil. You laughed at my words, and replied that the latter
task might prove somewhat difficult. I retorted that it would be
no more difficult than to frame the defense that is made for the
ass, wherein this beast is credited with various heroic qualities.
In order to show that the thing may be done, I will briefly set
forth what an apologist willing to trouble himself in such a cause
may find to say in defense of the Devil.

I will say nothing of his capacity and intelligence; for all,
including his greatest enemies, are agreed that a person who
bears six thousand years on his shoulders, and who has lived
twice as long as the Shoemaker of Jerusalem, must possess more
learning and wisdom than the seven wise men of Greece, perhaps
more than all the professors on earth if they were made into one.
Nor will it be urged that he is falling into the childishness of
age; a thing that cannot be asserted without mdisance since the
most learned theologians, who have made a thorough study of
the man's character, and know him to a nicety, are quite sure
that he is in full vigor, so that age cannot have bitten him much
if at all. Similarly, the learned men of the last century who
had the honor of talking with the Shoemaker of Jerusalem bore
witness that this self-same shoemaker was still in full possession
of his five senses; so that neither understanding nor memory was
at fault, although he had wandered about the