GOREAN CAMPUS – PHILOSOPHY SEMINAR

SEXTO SEMINÁRIO – HONRA

Eu vou começar esse estudo com um pequeno jogo de associação de palavras.

I will begin this essay with a little word association game.

Eu vou lhes dar uma palavra e vocês pensam na primeira palavra que saltar na sua mente.

I will give you a word and you think of the first word that pops in your mind.

- Dog
- Heart
- Gorean

Quando você leu “Goreano”, você pensou “Honra?”

When you read Gorean,

Did you think - Honor?

Goreano não significa automaticamente honorável para você?

Does Gorean automatically mean honorable to you?

O dicionário define o substantivo honra como:

Dictionary.com defines the noun honor as:

Honestidade, justiça, ou integridade nas crenças e ações de um indivíduo.

Honesty, Fairness, or Integrity in one's beliefs and actions.

Ter honra significaria ter uma certa integridade, dignidade e boa reputação. Mostrar respeito para com os
outros e ser justo – ganhando a confiança dos outros.

Having honor would mean having a certain integrity, dignity, and good reputation. Showing respect to
others and being faithful - Having earned the trust of others.

De fato, eu diria, se existe uma palavra que a maioria irá associar ao “ser Goreano”, é ser honorável.
Goreanos tem Honra.

In fact, I would say, if there is one word that most will associate with being Gorean, it's being honorable -
Goreans have Honor.

Você teria que acreditar, então, que ser Goreano é sinônimo de ter honra.

You would agree then - Being Gorean is synonymous with being honorable.

A palavra Honra, de algumas formas, é usada 784 vezes apenas nos 30 primeiros livros.

The word Honor, in some form is used 785 times just within the first 30 books.

E nada, realmente, pode ter um dignificado mais profundo, do que essa passage do Livro 1:

And nothing, really, can really speak deeper meaning than this passage from Book 1:
“Há um ditado em Gor, um ditado cuja origem está perdida no passado desse estranho planeta, que
alguém que fala da Home Stone deveria se levantar, pois questões de honra estão aqui envolvidas e honra
é respeitada nos códigos bárbaros de Gor.”

Tarsman de Gor, página 27.

"There is a saying on Gor, a saying whose origin is lost in the past of this strange planet, that one who
speaks of Home Stones should stand, for matters of honor are here involved, and honor is respected in the
barbaric codes of Gor."

Tarnsman of Gor, Page 27

Honra é distutida de uma forma ou de outra em quase todos os livros.

Honor is discussed in one form or another in almost every book.

Parafraseando “Vagabundos de Gor”, Página 305, Tarl diz: “O Guerreiro é ensinado a ser honorável.”

Paraphrasing Vagabonds of Gor, Page 305, Tarl says; 'The Warrior is taught to be honorable.'

“O Código dos Gerreiros era, em geral, caracterizado por um cavalheirismo rudimentar, enfatizando a
lealdade para com os Orgulhosos Chefes e à Home Stone. Ele era duro, mas com certa galanteria, um senso
de honra que eu tinha que respeitar.”

Tarsman de Gor, página 41

“The Code of the Warrior was, in general, characterized by a rudimentary chivalry, emphasizing loyalty to
the Pride Chiefs and the Home Stone. It was harsh, but with a certain gallantry, a sense of honor that I
could respect.”

Tarnsman of Gor, Page 41

“O Aforismo 97 dos Códigos, eu for a ensinado, é na forma de um enigma:

"The 97th Aphorism in the Codes I was taught, is in the form of a riddle:

“O que é invisível mas mais bonito que diamantes?”

"What is invisible but more beautiful than diamonds?"

“O que é silencioso mas derrota o trovão.”

"That which is silent but deafens thunder."

“Aquilo que não desce qualquer balança, mas é mais valioso que ouro.”

"That which depresses no scale but is weightier than gold."

“Honra,” eu disse.

"Honor," I said.

Vagabundos de Gor, livro 24, página 305.

Vagabonds of Gor Book 24 Page 305

Honra foi usada na cerimônia da Home Stone de Ko-ro-ba, quando Mathew perguntou a Tarl:

Honor was used in the Home Stone ceremony of Ko-ro-ba when Matthew asked Tarl:
“É a essa cidade que você penhora a sua vida, a sua honra e a sua espada?”

"Is it to that city that you pledge your life, your honor, and your sword?".

Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 63

Parece que ser honorável é bastante importante.

Seems being honorable is pretty important.

Depois que Tarl rouba a Home Stone de Ar e voa para os pântanos do Povo Aranha, ele e Talena
encontram-se com a caravana Mercantil de Mintar.

After Tarl steals the Home Stone of Ar and winds up outside the swamps of the Spider People, he and
Talena meet up with the Merchant caravan of Mintar.

Se você lembra, uma luta se segue entre Tarl e Kazrak, e Tarl vence Kazrak.

If you remember, a fight ensues between Tarl and Kazrak and Tarl bests Kazrak.

“Kazrak de Port Kar,” disse Mintar, “você concorda em entregar o saldo de seu preço de contratação para
Tarl de Bristol e ele tomar o seu lugar ao meu serviço?”

"Kazrak of Port Kar," said Mintar, "do you agree to surrender the balance of your hiring price to Tarl of
Bristol if he takes your place in my service?"

“Sim,” respondeu Kazrak. “Ele me honrou e é meu irmão de espada.”

"Yes," responded Kazrak. "He has done me honor and is my sword brother."

Tarnsman de Gor, livro 1, páginas 117 – 121.

Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Pages 117 - 121

Honra está envolvida aqui, também.

Honor was involved here too.

Mesmo os caras maus são mostrados como tendo honra.

Even bad guys are shown to have honor.

Esse é um exemplo do que Pa-Kur disse:

This is an example of what Pa-Kur said:

“Se não fosse pela filha de Marlenus,” disse Pa-Kur, seu rosto metálico tão tranquilo quanto a placa de
prata por trás de um espelho, “eu teria matado você de maneira honrada. Isso eu juro pelo elmo negro da
minha casta.”

"Were it not for the daughter of Marlenus," said Pa-Kur, his metallic face as placid as the quicksilver behind
a mirror, "I would have slain you honorably. That I swear by the black helmet of my caste."

Tarnsman de Gor, livro 1, Página 138.

Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 138

Agora, aqui estão diversas sitações que destacam a honra Goreana:

Now, here are several more quotes which highlight Gorean honor:

“Por que você está dizendo essas coisas?” ela falou, levantando sua cabeça, olhos vermelhos. “Você
arriscou a sua vida para me proteger dele, quando ele ia me chicotear.”

"Why are you saying these things?" she asked, lifting her head, red-eyed. "You risked your life to protect
me from him, when he was going to whip me."

“Eu não acho que ele iria chicoteá-la,” eu disse, “embora eu imagine que ele seja bem capaz disso e não
hesitaria em fazer isso, se isso parecesse apropriado, ou em várias ocasiões, se isso o satisfizesse.”

"I do not think he was going to whip you," I said, "though I expect he is quite capable of it, and would
unhesitantly do so if it seemed appropriate, or upon various occasions, if it pleased him."

“Por que, então, você interferiu?” Ela perguntou confusa. “Por que você chamou a atenção sobre si
mesmo, porque obviamente havia algo entre você e você poderia estar em perigo, se reconhecido.”

"Why then did you interfere?" she asked, puzzled. "Why did you call attention to yourself when obviously
there was something between you two, and you would be in danger, if recognized."

“Você realmente não sabe?” Eu perguntei.

"Do you truly not know?" I asked.

“Foi para me proteger, certamente.”

"It was to protect me, surely."

“Não,” Eu disse.

"No," I said.

“Por que, então?” Ela perguntou, em dúvida.

"Why then?" she asked, wonderingly.

“Porque,” eu disse, sobriamente, “você estava me servindo.”

"Because," I said, soberly, "you were serving me."

“Isso é o que você diz,” ela disse.

"That is what you said," she said.

“E essa foi a razão,” eu disse.

"And that was the reason," I said.

“Foi uma coisa tão pequena,” ela perguntou, “uma questão de propriedade, de precedência?” ela
perguntou.

"It was so tiny a thing," she asked, "a point of propriety, of precedence?" she asked.

“Sim,” eu disse.

"Yes," I said.

“Você arriscou demais por uma mera questão de honra?” Ela perguntou.

"You risked so much for a mere point of honor?" she asked.

“Não existem meras questões de honra,” eu expliquei a ela.

"There are no mere points of honor," I told her.

Vagabundos de Gor, livro 24, Página 63

Vagabonds of Gor Book 24 Page 63

“Quando Goreanos têm a ideia que honra está envolvida, eles subitamente se tornam bem difíceis de se
lidar.”

Mágicos de Gor, livro 25, Página 400.

When Goreans get the idea that honor is involved they suddenly become quite difficult to deal with.

Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 400

É raramente sábio, a propósito, impugnar, ou tentar manipular, a honra de um Goreano.

It is seldom wise, incidentally, to impugn, or attempt to manipulate, the honor of a Gorean.

Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 297

“Você entende honra? Ela perguntou.

"Do you understand honor?" she asked.

“Não,” ela disse.

"No," I said.

“Como, então, você pode falar dela?” Ela perguntou.

"How, then, can you speak of it?" she asked.

“Uma ou duas vezes eu a vislumbrei,” eu disse.

"Once or twice I glimpsed it," I said.

“E como ela era?” Ela perguntou.

"And what is it like?" she asked.

“É como um sol, na manhã,” eu disse, “se elevando sobre escuras montanhas.”

"It is like a sun, in the morning," I said, "rising over dark mountains."

Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 481

Eu sabia tão pouco desse mundo!

I knew so little of this world!

Quando eu o entendi eu me tornei consciente, mais seriamente do que até agora, da natureza dos homens
nessa cidade, de suas habilidades, ferocidade e orgulho, e do seu senso de honra.

When I did understand it I became aware, more seriously than hitherto, of the nature of the men in this city
- of their skill, ferocity and pride, and their sense of honor.

Os homens de Gor, nossos mestres, têm a tendência de encarar honra muito seriamente.

The men of Gor, our masters, tend to take honor very seriously.

Testemunha de Gor, livro 26, Página 408

Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 408

Honra é importante para os Goreanos, de uma maneira que aqueles da Terra deveriam achar difícil de
entender; por exemplo, aqueles da Terra acham natural que homens devem ir à guerra por questões de
ouro e riquezas, mas não por honra; o Goreano, ao contrário, é mais disposto a colocar questões de honra
sob o julgamento do aço, do que por questões de riquezas e ouro; existe uma simples explicação para isso;
honra é mais importante para ele. Estranhamente as meninas das cidades são ansiosas para participar
desse esporte. Sem dúvida, cada uma acredita que seu estandarte será vitorioso e ela retornará honrada
para sua cidade.

Bestas de Gor, livro 12, página 42

Honor is important to Goreans, in a way that those of Earth might find hard to understand; for example,
those of Earth find it natural that men should go to war over matters of gold and riches, but not honor; the
Gorean, contrariwise, is more willing to submit matters of honor to the adjudication of steel than he is
matters of riches and gold; there is a simple explanation for this; honor is more important to him. Strangely
the girls of the cities are eager to participate in this sport. Doubtless each believes her standard will be
victorious and she will return in honor to her city.

Beasts of Gor Book 12 Page 42

“Goreanos respeitam a riqueza mas têm a tendência de valorizar outros atributos de maneira mais alta e,
de fato, para mérito dos Mercadores, pode-se notar que eles também agem assim, usualmente. Um desses
atributos é a fidelidade; um outro é a honra. Gor não é a Terra.”

Prêmio de Gor, livro 27, páginas 491 - 492

Goreans respect wealth but tend to value other attributes more highly, and, indeed, to the credit of the
Merchants, it should be noted that they usually do so, as well. One such attribute is fidelity; another is
honor. Gor is not Earth.

Prize of Gor Book 27 Pages 491 - 492

“Eu não posso, honradamente, fazer a sua vontade,” disse Cabot.

"I could not in honor do his will," said Cabot.

“Tolo, tolo, tolo!” Ela chorou.

"Fool, fool, fool!" she wept.

“Sim, disse Cabot, “mas um tolo pela honra é um tolo com honra, e melhor tal tolo que Agamemnon em
toda a sua astúcia e inteligência, em toda a sua sabedoria e perspicácia.”

Kur de Gor, livro 28, página 270

"Yes," said Cabot, "but a fool for honor is a fool with honor, and better such a fool than Agamemnon in all
his shrewdness and cunning, in all his wisdom and astuteness."

Kur of Gor Book 28 Page 270

São a honra e os códigos, eu imaginava, que nos separam dos animais, ou melhor, são eles que nos trazem
mais para perto da inocência dos animais.

Espadachins de Gor, livro 29, página 430

Is it honor and the codes, I wondered, which separate us from animals, or, rather, is it they which bring us
closer to the innocence of the animals.

Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 430

“Eu tenho respeito pela honra de casta. Honra era honra, nas pequenas coisas, assim como nas grandes. De
fato, como alguém pode praticar a honra nas grandes coisas, se não o faz nas pequenas coisas?

Falsários de Gor, livro 15, Página 231

I had a respect for caste honor. Honor was honor, in small things as well as great. Indeed, how can one
practice honor in great things, if not in small things?

Rogue of Gor Book 15 Page 231

O que é um exemplo de uma pequena coisa?

What is an example of a small thing?

Bom, aqui está um:

Well, here's one:

Ela segurou o meu braço, esteitamente, olhando para mim. Seus seios, doces, pendentes, brancos, estavam
adoráveis no largo tecido-rep da sua túnica.

She held my arm, closely, looking up at me. Her breasts, sweet, pendant, white, were lovely in the loose
rep-cloth of her tunic.

“Por favor, Mestre,” ela sussurou.

"Please, Master," she whispered.

“Você traz um recado do seu mestre?” Eu perguntei.

"Are you on an errand for your master?" I asked.

“Não, Mestre,” ela disse. “Não sou necessária até a ceia.”

"No, Master," she said. "I am not needed until supper."

Eu tirei os olhos dela.

I looked away from her.

Suas mãos, pequenas e patéticas, se agarraram em mim. “Por favor, Mestre,” ela disse.

Her hands, small and piteous, grasped my arm. "Please, Master," she said.

Eu olhei nos olhos dela.

I looked down into her eyes.

Haviam lágrimas neles.

There were tears in them.

“Por favor, Mestre,” ela disse, “tenha pena de mim. Tenha pena dos desejos miseráveis de uma menina.”

"Please, Master," she said, "take pity on me. Take pity on the miserable needs of a girl."

“Você não é minha,” eu disse a ela. “Você é uma linda pequena coisa, mas eu não sou o seu dono.”

"You are not mine," I told her. "You are a pretty little thing, but I do not own you."

“Por favor,” ela disse.

"Please," she said.

“Seu mestre,” eu disse, “se ele escolher, irá satisfazer os seus desejos. Se ele não quiser, não fará.”

"Your master," I said, "if he chooses, will satisfy your needs. If he does not, he will not."

Pelo que eu sabia, ela devia estar sob a disciplina da privação. Se fosse isso, eu não tinha desejo de
prejudicar a efetividade do controle de seu mestre sobre ela. Além disso, eu não o conhecia. Eu não
desejava desonra-lo, quem quer que ele fosse.”

Bestas de Gor, livro 12, páginas 48 – 49.

For all I knew she might be under the discipline of deprivation. If that were so, I had no wish to impair the
effectiveness of her master's control over her. Besides I did not know him. I did not wish to do him
dishonor, whoever he might be.

Beasts of Gor Book 12 Pages 48 - 49

O pensamento de Goreanos e Honra também se aplica às mulheres:

The thought of Goreans and Honor applies just as well to the women:

“Me ocorreu que existia ao menos uma resposta que ela, criada na honra dos códigos de Gor, poderia
entender.

Tarnsman de Gor, livro 1, página 72

It occurred to me that there was at least one reply which she, bred in the honor codes of Gor, should
understand,

Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 72

Eles também lhe deram algum entendimento sobre as disposições sociais comuns no que eram chamadas
de “altas cidades”, em particular o sistema de castas, a existência de códigos de honra e assim por diante,
aparentemente levados muito a sério nesse mundo.

Prêmio de Gor, livro 27, página 48

They also gave her some understanding of the social arrangements common in what were called the "high
cities," in particular, the caste system, and the existence of codes of honor, and such, apparently taken
seriously on this world.

Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 48

Honra também é ensinada aos jovens.

Honor is also taught to the youth.

“Ele vive nesse edifício,” disse o proprietário. “Ele e alguns outros, algumas vezes em bandos, gostam de
brincar de ‘Captura da Escrava’”.

"He lives in the building," said the proprietor. "He, and some of the others, sometimes in gangs, enjoy
playing "Capture the Slave Girl."

“Eu vejo,” eu disse.

"I see," I said.

Feiqa, ainda de joelhos, um pouco trêmula, ajustou a sua túnica.

Feiqa, still kneeling, somewhat shaken, adjusted her tunic.

Eu sorri. Agora eu tinha uma excelente ideia do que acontecera com a adorável escrava de cabelos claros
que víramos mais cedo em um aterro, ela cuja túnica tinha sido aberta e cujo cabelo estava em grande
desordem. Ela fora “capturada” mais cero

I smiled. I now had an excellent idea what had happened to the lovely, light-haired slave we had seen
earlier on a lower landing, she whose tunic was opened and whose hair had been in such disorder. She had
been "captured" earlier.

“É um jogo excelente,” disse o proprietário. “Os ajuda a se tornarem homens.” Muitos jogos Goreanos, a
propósito, tinham elementos que encorajavam o desenvolvimento de propriedade vistas como desejáveis
em um jovem Goreano, como coragem, disciplina e honra. Da mesma forma, muitos dos jogos tinham a
tendência para encorajar a audácia e a liderança.

Mercenários de Gor, livro 21, página 278

"It is an excellent game," said the proprietor. "It helps them to become men." Many Gorean games,
incidentally, have features which encourage the development of properties regarded as desirable in a
Gorean youth, such as courage, discipline, and honor. Similarly, some of the games tend to encourage the
development of audacity and leadership.

Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 278

E também, sim, há honra entre escravos.

And, too, yes, there is honor among slaves.

Quando eu saltei, rindo, agitando minha cabeça e meu cabelo, ele novamente ofececeu para colocar a sua
capa sobre os meus ombros, para que meu corpo estivesse coberto quando eu entrasse no galpão para as
escravas de trabalho.

When I leaped up, laughing, shaking my head and hair, he again offered to place his cloak about my
shoulders, that my body might be covered when I went to the shed for the work slaves.

Isso era uma grande honra que ele fazia a mim, uma mera escrava.

It was much honor that he did me, a mere female slave.

Como as meninas teriam chorado de inveja ao me ver segura em tal capa e, também, pelo poderoso Rask
de Treve.

Cativa de Gor, livro 7, página 348

How the girls would have cried out with envy to see me, secure in such a cloak, and that, too, of the mighty
Rask of Treve!

Captive of Gor Book 7 age 348

“Apesar de ser você apenas uma escrava, seu mestre está permitindo a você servi-lo,” eu disse.

"Although you are only a slave your master is permitting you to serve him," I said.

“Essa é uma grande honra.” Ela parecia surpresa. Então ficou claro para ela que isso era, para ela, uma
escrava, uma honra.

Escrava de Gor, livro 11, página 406

"This is a great honor." She seemed startled. Then it became clear to her that this was, for her, a slave, an
honor.

Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 406

“É uma grande honra para mim, Mestre,” ela disse, “alguém como você ter escolhido Beverly para servi-lo.”

"It is a great honor for me, Master," she said, "that one such as you should select Beverly to serve you."

Falsários de Gor, livro 15, Página 200

Rogue of Gor Book 15 Page 200

Que preciosa e gloriosa honra, que enorme privilégio, para uma escrava, ser autorizada a servir o seu
mestre!”

Prêmio de Gor, livro 27, página 228

What a precious and glorious honor, what a coveted privilege, for a slave, to be permitted to serve her
master!

Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 228

"Thank you," he said.

"You do not thank her," I informed him. "It is a great honor and privilege for a slave to be permitted to
serve her master. Too, it is what she is for."

Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 61

Therefore . . . Honor is Honor . . . is Honor

It doesn't really matter how it is shown or what it entails . . . as long as you feel your actions are honorable.
- Right?

In other words, honorable actions are a universally accepted standard.

Notice this case in point from Book 29:

"Four of my people," said Tajima, "fled back from the tarns, and two found they could not approach them."

"That is understandable," I said.

"But not acceptable," said Tajima. "But each has regained his honor."

"I do not see how honor is involved in this sort of thing," I said, "courage perhaps, but how honor?"

"For us, honor is involved," said Tajima. "But do not fear, for they have regained their honor."

"How?" I asked.

"By the knife," he said.

Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 245

How does Tarl respond to this type of honor?

"I will not lose men in this fashion," I said.

"It is better to lose such men," said Tajima.

"If you want to die," I said to the kneeling figure on the platform, "do so under the talons of the tarn."

"It is wrong for you to interfere in this, Tarl Cabot, tarnsman," said Tajima. "One must recover honor."
"One recovers honor in life," I said, "not in death. If he lives, he may begin again, and gain honor."

"That is not our way," said Tajima.

"But it is a way," I said.

"Doubtless," said Tajima.

"And it is my way," I said.

Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 259

Therefore, Gorean Honor to one Gorean may not be Gorean Honor to another Gorean.

In other words, Gorean Honor is -not- a universal constant.

A discussion of Gorean Honor - What it means to be Gorean - cannot be complete without speaking of
Tarl's fall into slavery.

"I," I said, "I do not want to die."

I lowered my head, burning with shame. In my eyes in that moment it seemed I had lost myself, that my
codes had been betrayed, Ko-ro-ba my city dishonored, even the blade I had carried soiled. I could not look
Ho-Hak again in the eyes. In their eyes, and in mine, I could now be nothing, only slave.

"I had thought the better of you," said Ho-Hak. "I had thought you were of the warriors."

I could not speak to him.

"I see now," said Ho-Hak, "you are indeed of Port Kar."

I could not raise my head, so shamed I was. It seemed I could never lift my head again.

"Do you beg to be a slave?" asked Ho-Hak. The question was cruel, but fair.

I looked at Ho-Hak, tears in my eyes. I saw only contempt on that broad, calm face.

I lowered my head. "Yes," I said. "I beg to be a slave."

There was a great laugh from those gathered about, and, too, in those peals of merriment I heard the laugh
of he who wore the headband of the pearls of the Vosk sorp, and most bitter to me of all, the laugh of
contempt of the girl who stood beside me, her thigh at my cheek. "Slave," said Ho-Hak.

"Yes," said I," Master." The word came bitterly to me. But a Gorean slave addresses all free men as Master,
all free women as Mistress, though, of course, normally but one would own him.

There was further laughter.

"Perhaps now," said Ho-Hak, "we shall throw you to tharlarion."

I put down my head.

There was more laughter.

To me, at that moment, it seemed I cared not whether they chose to throw me to tharlarion or not. It
seemed to me that I had lost what might be more precious than life itself. How could I face myself, or
anyone? I had chosen ignominious bondage to the freedom of honorable death.

Raiders of Gor Book 6 Pages 24 - 25

Tarl had swore to live up to a certain standard.

It should have been better to die and remain faithful to his oath than accept slavery.

He gave his word and before he would ever break his word, or go back on his word - he would die first.

But he didn't.

He said, "I do not want to die."

He lost his honor.

And, because of this, he was no longer Gorean . . . . . . Right?

Well that is just a stupid statement, of course he was still Gorean.

So how do you reconcile this?

If - being Gorean is synonymous with being honorable,

How can this experience with Tarl have happened?

This is so important, so fundamental to truly being Gorean,

Notice this quote from Marauders of Gor, Page 4.

Wounds had I at the shore of Thassa, high on the coast, at the edge of the forests, when one night I had, in
a stockade of enemies, commanded by Sarus of Tyros, chosen to recollect my honor.

Never could I regain my honor, but I had recollected it. And never had I forgotten it.

Marauders of Gor Book 9 Page 4

Ahh, ok, yes, he stumbled and fell but he got back up, he recollected his honor.

We can accept that, right?

After everything I have recounted to you from the books on the subject of honor,

I am now going to show you excerpts from Raiders of Gor, pages 101 thru 122.

Read carefully the one last point that being Gorean is synonymous with being honorable.

There was something of an uproar as a large, fierce-looking fellow, narrow-eyed, ugly, missing an ear,
followed by some twenty or thirty sailors, burst into the tavern.

"Paga! Paga!" they cried, throwing over some tables they wished, driving men from them, who had sat
there, then righting the tables and sitting about them, pounding on them and shouting.

Girls ran to serve them paga.

"It is Surbus," said a man near me, to another.

The fierce fellow, bearded, narrow-eyed, missing an ear, who seemed to be the leader of these men, seized
one of the paga girls, twisting her arm, dragging her toward one of the alcoves. I thought it was the girl who
had served me, but I was not certain.

Another girl ran to him, bearing a cup of paga. He took the cup in one hand, threw it down his throat, and
carried the girl he had seized, screaming, into one of the alcoves. The girl had stopped dancing the Whip
Dance, and cowered on the sand. Other men, of those with Surbus seized what paga girls they could, and
what vessels of the beverage, and dragged their prizes toward the alcoves, sometimes driving out those
who occupied them. Most, however, remained at the tables, pounding on them, demanding drink.

I had heard the name of Surbus. It was well know among the pirate captains of Port Kar, scourge of
gleaming Thassa.

He was pirate indeed, and slaver, and murderer and thief, a cruel and worthless man, abominable, truly
Port Kar. I felt little but disgust.

Did you pick up on Tarl's description of Surbus?

Tarl says Surbus was a pirate and slaver. He was a murderer and thief.

He was cruel, worthless and abominable.

And Tarl felt little but disgust for him.

Back now to the tavern . . .

There was a girl's scream and, from the alcove into which Surbus had dragged her, the girl, bleeding, fled
among the tables, he plunging drunken after her.

"Protect me!" she cried, to anyone who would listen.

But there was only laughter, and men reaching out to seize her.
She ran to my table and fell to her knees before me. I saw now she was the one who had served me earlier.

"Please," she wept, her mouth bloody, "protect me." She extended her chained wrists to me.

"No," I said.

Then Surbus was on her, his hand in her hair, and he bent her backwards.

He scowled at me.

I took another sip of paga. It was no business of mine.

I saw the tears in the eyes of the girl, her outstretched hands, and then, with a cry of pain, she was dragged
back to the alcove by the hair.

Tarl leaves the tavern but after a while he returns . . .

My steps took me again to the paga tavern where I had begun this night.

The musicians, and the dancer, had gone, long ago I supposed.

I threw down a copper tarn disk and he tilted the great bottle.

I took my goblet of paga to a table and sat down, cross-legged, behind it.

I did not want to drink. I wanted only to be alone.

I did not even want to think. I wanted only to be alone.

I heard weeping from one of the alcoves.

It irritated me. I did not wish to be disturbed. I put my head in my hands and leaned forward, elbows on the
table.

The curtain from one of the alcoves was flung apart.

There stood there, framed in its conical threshold, Surbus, he who was a captain of Port Kar. I looked upon
him with loathing, despising him. How ugly he was, with his fierce beard, the narrow eyes, the ear gone
from the right side of his face. I had heard of him, and well. I knew him to be pirate; and I knew him to be
slaver, and a murderer, and thief; I knew him to be a cruel and worthless man, abominable, truly of Port Kar
and, as I looked upon him, the filth and rottenness, I felt nothing but disgust.

See, Tarl again recounts his description of Surbus and how he felt about him.

Cruel, worthless and abominable, filthy and rotten.

And Tarl again says he felt nothing but disgust.

Back now to what is happening in the tavern . . .

In his arms he held, stripped, the bound body of a slave girl. It was she who had served me the night before,
before Surbus, and his cutthroats and pirates, had entered the tavern. I had not much noticed her. She was
thin, and not very pretty. She had blond hair, and, as I recalled, blue eyes. She was not much of a slave. I
had not paid her much attention. I remembered that she had begged me to protect her and that I, of
course, had refused.

Surbus threw the girl over his shoulder and went to the counter.

"I am not pleased with her," he said to the proprietor.

I am sorry, Noble Surbus," said the man. "I shall have her beaten."

"I am not pleased with her!" cried Surbus.

"You wish her destroyed?" asked the man.

"Yes," said Surbus, "destroyed."

"Her price," said the proprietor, "is five silver tarsks."

From his pouch Surbus placed five silver tarsks, one after the other, on the counter.

"I will give you six," I said to the proprietor.

Surbus scowled at me.

"I have sold her for five," said the proprietor, "to this noble gentleman. Do not interfere, Stranger, this man
is Surbus."

Surbus threw back his head and laughed. "Yes," he said, "I am Surbus."

"I am Bosk," I said, "from the Marshes."

Surbus looked at me, and then laughed. He turned away from the counter now, taking the girl from his
shoulder and holding her, bound, in his arms. I saw that she was conscious, and her eyes red from weeping.
But she seemed numb, beyond feeling.

"What are going to do with her?" I asked.

"I am going to throw her to the urts," said Surbus.

"Please," she whispered, "please, Surbus."

"To the urts!" laughed Surbus, looking down at her.

She closed her eyes.

"To the urts!" laughed Surbus.

I looked upon him, Surbus, slaver, pirate, thief, murderer. This man was totally evil. I felt nothing but hatred
and an ugly, irrepressible disgust of him.

"No," I said.

He looked at me, startled.

"No," I said, and moved the blade from the sheath.

"She is mine," he said.

"Surbus often," said the proprietor, "thus destroys a girl who has not pleased him."

I regarded them both.

"I own her," said Surbus.

"That is true," said the proprietor hastily. "You saw yourself her sale. She is truly his slave, his to do with as
he wishes, duly purchased."

"She is mine," said Surbus. "What right have you interfere?"

"The right of one of Port Kar," I said, "to do what pleases him."

Surbus threw the girl from him and, with a swift, clean motion, unsheathed his blade.

"You are a fool, Stranger," said the proprietor. "This is Surbus, one of the finest swords in Port Kar."

Our discourse with steel was brief.

Then, with a cry of hatred and elation, my blade parallel to the ground, that it not wedge itself between the
ribs of its target, passed through his body. I kicked him from the blade and withdrew the bloodied steel.

I tore off some of his tunic and cleaned my blade on it.

He lay there on his back, blood moving from his mouth, the chest of his tunic scarlet, fighting for breath I
looked down on him. I had been of the warriors, I knew he would not live long.

I felt no compunction.

Where was honor shown in this account of Surbus?

Would you say Surbus was honorable?

No, Surbus was the very antitheses of honor.

He was, in Tarl's own words,

"pirate and slaver, murderer and thief, a cruel and worthless man."

Bosk felt nothing but hatred and an ugly, irrepressible disgust of him.

Tarl even says Surbus was totally evil.

Because of who Surbus was, Tarl killed him . . . and felt no compunction.
Ohhhhhhhh . . . . . wait . . . . . Surbus was Gorean too.

Think about it.

I am Fogaban,

I wish you well