Ernst Jünger, Die Schere #25: Text, Translation, Notes 25
Das Zweite Gesicht ist, besonders auf keltischen Böden, eine nicht seltene Erscheinung; Spuren davon finden sich, gewissermaßen als Stammwürze, bei irischen Romanciers. Es auf einen zerebralen Vorgang zu reduzieren, dürfte schwierig sein. Als Vorschau ist es der Prophezeiung ähnlich, obwohl das Erhabene keine Rolle spielt. Absenz, Entrückung geht hier wie dort voraus. Näher liegt die Verwandtschaft mit epileptischen Anfällen. Die Entrückung kommt unvermutet; sie zeigt Nebendinge, auch Unfälle, Begräbnisse, »Vorbrände«. Soldaten in fremden Uniformen werden nicht als Feinde wahrgenommen, sondern wie sie ein Kind am Wegrand sieht. Die Visionen reichen nur über einige Jahre hinaus, sind bodenständig, die Bestätigung kann schon am nächsten Morgen eintreten. Französische Kürassiere ritten durch Westfalen, als Napoleon noch Kriegsschüler war. Die Schere #25: Walter's Translation 25 The second vision is not a seldom occurrence, especially not on celtic grounds; traces can be found in the works of irish novelists, as a kind of basic yeast. To reduce it to a merely cerebral event should be difficult. As a pre-vision it is similar to a prophecy, although the exalted has no significance in it. Absentmindedness and mental displacement precede both. It is of closer relationship to epileptic fits. The mental displacement comes unexpected, it shows side events, also accidents, funerals, "pre-fires". Soldiers in alien uniforms are not recognized as enemies, but as a child alongside the road sees them. The visions only extend a few years, they are down to home and can possibly be confirmed the following morning. French curassiers (cavalry) were riding through Westfalia while Napoleon was still attending military school. Die Schere #25: Notes Let us keep in mind that the reason why EJ focusses now on the phenomenon of mystical foresight or "second sight" (1) is that it seems to be another way of transcending the threshold of death. This will become more evident in the subsequent aphorisms. Here he starts out on the subject with a soberly worded collection of phenomenological data and some notes toward a definition of the phenomenon: where it uses to occur and when; what makes it different from prophecy but similar to an epileptic fit; objects and events most frequently seen in this mystical way; some conditions and limitations: local events, what is seen might not be understood by him who sees it, will actually happen not more than a few years ahead. He closes with one of his masterful memorable images: local visionaries saw Napoleon's troops riding through Westphalia when the future emperor was still a cadet at military academy. (1) I think "second sight" is an appropriate translation since the Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition says: "SECOND SIGHT, a term denoting the opposite of its apparent significance, meaning in reality the seeing, in vision, of events BEFORE they occur. "Foresight" expresses the meaning of second sight, which perhaps was originally so called because normal vision was regarded as coming first, while supernormal vision is a secondary thing, confined to certain individuals. (vol. 24, p. 570) Günter Rebing
