and further attempts to improve it will in fact destroy it. Such is the
case in this example. Your idea of incorporating both of my sugges-
tions together does not yield the desired extra amount of beauty, but
on the contrary creates an imbalance which quite takes away all the
charm.
Achilles: How is it that two very similar pieces, such as yours with thirteen
S's, and mine with fourteen S's, seem to you to be so different in their
m'usical worth? Other than in that minor respect, the two are identical.
Crab: Gracious! There is a world of difference between your piece and
mine. Perhaps this is a place where words fail to convey what the spirit
can feel. Indeed, I would venture to say that there exists no set of rules
which delineate what it is that makes a piece beautiful, nor could there
ever exist such a set of rules. The sense of Beauty is the exclusive
domain of Conscious Minds, minds which through the experience of
living have gained a depth that transcends explanation by any mere set
of rules.
Achilles: I will always remember this vivid clarification of the nature of
Beauty. I suppose that something similar applies to the concept of
Truth, as well?
Crab: Without doubt. Truth and Beauty are as interrelated as-as-
Achilles: As interrelated as, say, mathematics and music?
Crab: Oh! You took the words right out of my mouth! How did you know
that that is what I was thinking?
Tortoise: Achilles is very clever, Mr. C. Never underestimate the potency
of his insight.
Achilles: Would you say that there could conceivably be any relationship
between the truth or falsity of a particular statement of mathematics,
and the beauty, or lack of beauty, of an associated piece of music? Or is
that just a far-fetched fancy of mine, with no basis in reality?
Crab: If you are asking me, that is carrying things much too far. When I
spoke of the interrelatedness of music and mathematics, I was speak-
ing very figuratively, you know. As for a direct connection between
specific pieces of music and specific statements of mathematics, how-
ever, I harbor extremely grave doubts about its possibility. I would
humbly counsel you not to give too much time to such idle specula-
tions.
Achilles: You are no doubt right. It would be most unprofitable. Perhaps I
ought to concentrate on sharpening my musical sensitivity by compos-
ing some new pieces. Would you be willing to serve as my mentor,
Mr. C?
Crab: I would be very happy to aid you in your steps towards musical
understanding.
(So Achilles takes pen in hand, and, with what appears to be a great deal of
concentration, writes:
f\OOaV'v-f\f\:b+cS(33=Or<J{(-d)<v(VS' +(>vThe Magnijicrab, Indeed 555