The Essential Augustine
PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY 239 which has not yet ended cannot be measured, so that a statement may be made as to how long or short it is; nor can it be called equal to another, or single or double in relation to some unit, or anything else. But when it will have ended, then it will not exist. How then can it be measured? Yet, we do measure periods of time, and not those which do not yet exist, or those which are no longer -in existence, or those which extend over no duration, or those which have no endings. So then we do not measure future ones or present or past or those which are going into the past, yet we do measure periods of time.
"OQ God, who hast created all"—this verse is of 35. eight syllables, alternately short and long. Thus the four short ones, first, third, fifth, seventh, are simple in relation to the four longs, the second, fourth, sixth, eighth. Each of these latter, in relation to each of the former, has twice as much time. This I proclaim and report, and it is so, in so far as it is perceived by evident perception. To the extent that sense perception is evident, I measure a long syllable by a short one and I perceive that it is just twice as much. But when one sounds after another, the first being short, the following one long, how can I hold on to the short 'one and how can I apply it to the long as I am making the measurement, so as to find out that the latter is just twice— since the long one does not begin to sound unless the short one stops sounding? And can I even measure the long one while it is present since, unless it has ended, I cannot measure it? But its ending is its passing out of existence.
What then is it that I measure? Where is the short one by which I do the measuring? Where is the long one which I measure? Both have sounded, flown away, passed by; they exist no longer. Yet I do measure and I answer with confidence, in so far as confidence can be placed in any exercise of sense perception, that this one is single, that double —in the extent of time, that is. Nor can I do this except because they have passed away and are ended. Therefore I do not measure these syllables which no longer exist, but something in my memory which remains as a fixed impression.
In thee, O mind of mine, do I measure periods of 36. time. Do not interrupt me by clamoring: "But it does exist," do not interrupt thyself with the noisy disturbances of thy previous mental habits. In thee, I say, do I measure periods of time. I measure the present mental disposition which things passing by produce in thee and which