And what agony, thought Krug the thinker, to love so madly a little creature, formed in some mysterious fashion {even more mysterious to us than it had been to the very first thinkers in their pale olive gloves} by the fusion of two mysteries, or rather two sets of a trillion of mysteries each; formed by a fusion which is, at the same time, a matter of choice and a matter of chance and a matter of pure enchantment; thus formed and then permitted to accumulate trillions of its own mysteries; the whole suffused with consciousness, which is the only real thing in the world and the greatest mystery of all.
In Vladimir Nabokov's "Bend Sinister," the character Krug reflects on the complexities and profound nature of love, particularly towards a beloved being who is incredibly intricate and enigmatic. He contemplates the origins of this creature, which results from an intricate combination of choices and chance encounters among countless mysteries, evoking a sense of wonder and sorrow in the intensity of his feelings.
Krug perceives love not only as an emotional bond but also as a journey through an endless array of mysteries. He acknowledges that every individual carries their own intricate set of experiences and secrets, culminating in a deeply conscious existence. This recognition leads him to ponder the nature of consciousness itself, which he views as the ultimate enigma of life, highlighting the profound connection between love and the mysteries that define human existence.
