LXXXIII
A STATE OF NEUTRALITY
A successor to Pilate, you hand over Christ
to the successor of Ananias, that is, to the Pope,
because, “Secular authority does not create
laws to protect dreamers”; then you say:
“I do not assume this authority because of
some extra-religious agency; I have nothing
against ‘Man as God,’ but I refuse to allow
them to convert the nation into a Travesty.”
A free Church in a free State, and you foist
on us a Christ who has become a mockery,
thinking that it will serve your purpose.
But you are chastened, because whoever tries
to combine the two powers does not understand
that when you have both, one is more than enough.
Salamanca, 25 October 1910.
Miguel de Unamuno
Translation by Armand F. Baker