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was immoral in its tendency； and not to be desired by any
reasonable beings。
When I asked how it could be immoral； I was answered； that if
firmly held； it would lead people to cheapen this present life；
making it appear to be an affair of only secondary importance； that
it would thus distract men's minds from the perfecting of this
world's economy； and was an impatient cutting； so to speak； of the
Gordian knot of life's problems； whereby some people might gain
present satisfaction to themselves at the cost of infinite damage
to others； that the doctrine tended to encourage the poor in their
improvidence； and in a debasing acquiescence in ills which they
might well remedy； that the rewards were illusory and the result；
after all； of luck； whose empire should be bounded by the grave；
that its terrors were enervating and unjust； and that even the most
blessed rising would be but the disturbing of a still more blessed
slumber。
To all which I could only say that the thing had been actually
known to happen； and that there were several well…authenticated
instances of people having died and come to life againinstances
which no man in his senses could doubt。
〃If this be so；〃 said my opponent； 〃we must bear it as best we
may。〃
I then translated for him； as well as I could； the noble speech of
Hamlet in which he says that it is the fear lest worse evils may
befall us after death which alone prevents us from rushing into
death's arms。
〃Nonsense；〃 he answered； 〃no man was ever yet stopped from cutting
his throat by any such fears as your poet ascribes to himand your
poet probably knew this perfectly well。 If a man cuts his throat
he is at bay； and thinks of nothing but escape； no matter whither；
provided he can shuffle off his present。 No。 Men are kept at
their posts； not by the fear that if they quit them they may quit a
frying…pan for a fire； but by the hope that if they hold on； the
fire may burn less fiercely。 'The respect；' to quote your poet；
'that makes calamity of so long a life；' is the consideration that
though calamity may live long； the sufferer may live longer still。〃
On this； seeing that there was little probability of our coming to
an agreement； I let the argument drop； and my opponent presently
left me with as much disapprobation as he could show without being
overtly rude。
CHAPTER XVIII： BIRTH FORMULAE
I heard what follows not from Arowhena； but from Mr。 Nosnibor and
some of the gentlemen who occasionally dined at the house： they
told me that the Erewhonians believe in pre…existence； and not only
this （of which I will write more fully in the next chapter）； but
they believe that it is of their own free act and deed in a
previous state that they come to be born into this world at all。
They hold that the unborn are perpetually plaguing and tormenting
the married of both sexes； fluttering about them incessantly； and
giving them no peace either of mind or body until they have
consented to take them under their protection。 If this were not so
（this at least is what they urge）； it would be a monstrous freedom
for one man to take with another； to say that he should undergo the
chances and changes of this mortal life without any option in the
matter。 No man would have any right to get married at all；
inasmuch as he can never tell what frightful misery his doing so
may entail forcibly upon a being who cannot be unhappy as long as
he does not exist。 They feel this so strongly that they are
resolved to shift the blame on to other shoulders； and have
fashioned a long mythology as to the world in which the unborn
people live； and what they do； and the arts and machinations to
which they have recourse in order to get themselves into our own
world。 But of this more anon： what I would relate here is their
manner of dealing with those who do come。
It is a distinguishing peculiarity of the Erewhonians that when
they profess themselves to be quite certain about any matter； and
avow it as a base on which they are to build a system of practice；
they seldom quite believe in it。 If they smell a rat about the
precincts of a cherished institution； they will always stop their
noses to it if they can。
This is what most of them did in this matter of the unborn； for I
cannot （and never could） think that they seriously believed in
their mythology concerning pre…existence： they did and they did
not； they did not know themselves what they believed； all they did
know was that it was a disease not to believe as they did。 The
only thing of which they were quite sure was that it was the
pestering of the unborn which caused them to be brought into this
world； and that they would not have been here if they would have
only let peaceable people alone。
It would be hard to disprove this position； and they might have a
good case if they would only leave it as it stands。 But this they
will not do； they must have assurance doubly sure； they must have
the written word of the child itself as soon as it is born； giving
the parents indemnity from all responsibility on the score of its
birth； and asserting its own pre…existence。 They have therefore
devised something which they call a birth formulaa document which
varies in words according to the caution of parents； but is much
the same practically in all cases； for it has been the business of
the Erewhonian lawyers during many ages to exercise their skill in
perfecting it and providing for every contingency。
These formulae are printed on common paper at a moderate cost for
the poor； but the rich have them written on parchment and
handsomely bound； so that the getting up of a person's birth
formula is a test of his social position。 They commence by setting
forth； That whereas A。 B。 was a member of the kingdom of the
unborn； where he was well provided for in every way； and had no
cause of discontent； &c。； &c。； he did of his own wanton depravity
and restlessness conceive a desire to enter into this present
world； that thereon having taken the necessary steps as set forth
in laws of the unborn kingdom； he did with malice aforethought set
himself to plague and pester two unfortunate people who had never
wronged him； and who were quite contented and happy until he
conceived this base design against their peace； for which wrong he
now humbly entreats their pardon。
He acknowledges that he is responsible for all physical blemishes
and deficiencies which may render him answerable to the laws of his
country； that his parents have nothing whatever to do with any of
these things； and that they have a right to kill him at once if
they be so minded； though he entreats them to show their marvellous
goodness and clemency by sparing his life。 If they will do this；
he promises to be their most obedient and abject creature during
his earlier years； and indeed all his life； unless they should see
fit in their abundant generosity to remit some portion of his
service hereafter。 And so the formula continues； going sometimes
into very minute details； according to the fancies of family
lawyers； who will not make it any shorter than they can help。
The deed being thus prepared； on the t