Dirimens Copulatio (di’-ri-mens ko-pu-la’-ti-o): A figure by which one balances one statement with a contrary, qualifying statement (sometimes conveyed by “not only … but also” clauses). A sort of arguing both sides of an issue.
“Time will tell.“
It was another worn out saying, but damn it, it was true. Worn out and “true” nevertheless.
Like so much in my scattered life—so much depends on tradition, but tradition depends on nothing, except other traditions, or maybe the “authority” of the herd, or the authority of some human who for whatever reason, has “authority” to wield authority ordained by acquiescence, or appointment by a higher authority.
Shared traditions create cohesion. But by virtue of their grounding in authority, they an be contested for all the reasons that anything constituted by faith can be broken—rended by schism, sacred or secular.
Time will tell.
What will it tell? “Time telling” engages the vicissitudes of life for better and for worse. It may be a call for patience or a prediction.
Two people get married. When they finish ther vows, and are pronounced married, one guest may may turn to another and say “Time will tell” as a sort of doubt in the marriage’s future, which may be countered by the other other guest with same statement: Time will tell.” They know the future is wide open, and time will tell. Tell what? Whether the bride and groom live happily ever after or find woe together, or a little bit of each, or . . .
We live in time. We are bound by time, only vows and promises can break time’s hold, and hold us in their embrace through time’s vexations, But, it is our existential embrace, our consent, not the promises per se that keeps us together through time for good reason—that legitimate long-term relationships and their trajectories. But then again, there is bad faith, and deception: adhering to the practices that may be signs of faith and “love” while bearing motives that are not faith and love. These are the ulterior motives that are told by time’s telling pressures—leaks that are formed by time’s unceasing pressure on deception, that may, in fact, induce confession.
Time’s unceasing pressure pressure on Truth and sincerity amplify them and and give them presence in relationships established by mutual adherence to their call. But again, the fact that one’s relationship endures is no guarantee that its foundation is truth and love.
Time will tell.
