Chapter XXVIII.—Time in the Human
Mind, Which Expects, Considers, and Remembers.
37. But how is that future diminished or consumed
which as yet is not? Or how doth the past, which is no longer, increase, unless in the mind which enacteth this there are three things done? For it both expects, and considers, and remembers, that that which it expecteth, through that which it considereth, may pass into that which it remembereth. Who, therefore, denieth that future things as yet are not? But yet there is already in the mind the expectation of things future. And who denies that past things are now no longer? But, however, there is still in the mind the memory of things past. And who denies that time present wants space, because it passeth away in a moment? But yet our consideration endureth, through which that which may be present may proceed to become absent. Future time, which is not, is not therefore long; but a “long future” is “a long expectation of the future.” Nor is time past, which is now no longer, long; but a long past is “a long memory of the past.”
38. I am
about to repeat a psalm that I know. Before I begin, my attention
is extended to the whole; but when I have begun, as much of it as
becomes past by my saying it is extended in my memory; and the life
of this action of mine is divided between my memory, on account of
what I have repeated, and my expectation, on account of what I am
about to repeat; yet my consideration is present with me, through
which that which was future may be carried over so that it may
become past. Which the more it is done and repeated, by so much
(expectation being shortened) the memory is enlarged, until the
whole expectation be exhausted, when that whole action being ended
shall have passed into memory. And what takes place in the entire
psalm, takes place also in each individual part of it, and in each
individual syllable: this holds in the longer action, of which that
psalm is perchance a portion; the same holds in the whole life of
man, of which all the actions of man are parts; the same holds in
the whole age of the sons of men, of which all the lives of men are
parts.