Live the lie, blame and cry

Lodged in her spine was a torched arrow, which did not kill her, but left her paralysed from the waist down. Truth gasped, and flopped to the dirt with the thud of a heavy book.  Meanwhile, Milton desperately tried to put out the flames on his friend’s back.  This happened one dark English evening, while Truth was walking with Milton along the road Discovery, on their way to the crossroads of Wisdom and Reason, near Mount Aeropagus.1

If Milton's job was to be Truth's bodyguard one could argue, that so far, he has been doing a lousy job.  On the other hand, not every night do you find a hot arrow betraying you from the dark ditches.  But since the invention of the longbow and pre-censorship anything was likely.2

What got censored before publication?  What truth was hidden?  That's always the question, isn't it?  In every relationship that fails there is communication break down.  Nothing is quite so cold as a silent arrow with deadly intent in the dark, splitting hands with a women's terrifying yelp.  Nothing shrieks louder than fallen Truth.  Truth left exposed and helpless, found to be what it is at its base: complete human frailty.3

Before this Truth and Milton were happy with their lie.  Milton walked along Discovery telling passers they were married, and when Truth tried to object he would kiss her, and she would return the kiss forgetting her intent to clear the record.  The passer would gloomily envy that kiss.4

Milton played rich doctor and referred to Truth as nurse.  Other times truth called Milton friend and Milton looked down and became quiet.  He remembered the day She said she loved him.  He had nothing to say then.5

If Milton hadn’t lost sight, of etymology in such words as “girlfriend,” then maybe he would have understood better.  Still he was not wrong to remember what she had said.  Typically any man would validate his conclusion, which wasn’t necessarily in error.6

With enough little episodes like these you begin to live the lie without really knowing or caring.  Why would anyone think about love all the time?  That’s no way to live.  Why would anyone think about life all the time?  You’ll go mad.  If you want to think about life you have to live a little first.  If you don’t live this way you will only last for so long before the truth is laid before you.  Love is a part of life; life is a part of living.7

Perhaps they did not know that they lived a lie by the accumulation of their playful episodes, but they did.  If you lie enough your lie becomes truth.  For know neither was the cause of their fate, if the Fates know how to draw a bow.  Who draws a bow?8

After all, Truth is truth and you cannot go wrong with that, right? Nor is it fair to blame Milton because he loved truth so passionately all women wished they were loved so.9

Then why were they separated?  What wedged their marriage?  Who can’t you see in the dark without a candle?  Perhaps Milton would have discovered this if he weren’t so busy putting out the fire.10

Some say Love is fickle.  Some say Love is a real pal.  Most never meet him personally, but they know of his work, at least in daylight.11

Sometimes it is not always a matter of who did what to whom.  Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the devil, the devil blamed God and God blamed them all.12

The truth about Truth is that she doesn’t have a face.  If she did then Milton couldn’t see himself in her: the face of both Adam and Eve.13

Is it a sin to fall in love?  Surely it’s not Milton’s fault he fell in love with Truth.  What comes to pass happens for a reason.  That’s the only reasonable conclusion.  However, anyone who falls in love with truth is going to have a devil of a time, because there’s more to life than truth.  Perhaps this is unfortunate, but it is true.14