heroes and hero worship-第10节
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or on the stage of this world！
Do we not see well enough how the Fable might arise； without unveracity on the part of any one？ It is the way most Gods have come to appear among men： thus； if in Pindar's time 〃Neptune was seen once at the Nemean Games；〃 what was this Neptune too but a 〃stranger of noble grave aspect；〃fit to be 〃seen〃！ There is something pathetic； tragic for me in this last voice of Paganism。 Thor is vanished； the whole Norse world has vanished； and will not return ever again。 In like fashion to that； pass away the highest things。 All things that have been in this world； all things that are or will be in it； have to vanish： we have our sad farewell to give them。
That Norse Religion； a rude but earnest； sternly impressive _Consecration of Valor_ （so we may define it）； sufficed for these old valiant Northmen。 Consecration of Valor is not a bad thing！ We will take it for good； so far as it goes。 Neither is there no use in _knowing_ something about this old Paganism of our Fathers。 Unconsciously； and combined with higher things； it is in us yet； that old Faith withal！ To know it consciously； brings us into closer and clearer relation with the Past；with our own possessions in the Past。 For the whole Past； as I keep repeating； is the possession of the Present； the Past had always something _true_； and is a precious possession。 In a different time； in a different place； it is always some other _side_ of our common Human Nature that has been developing itself。 The actual True is the sum of all these； not any one of them by itself constitutes what of Human Nature is hitherto developed。 Better to know them all than misknow them。 〃To which of these Three Religions do you specially adhere？〃 inquires Meister of his Teacher。 〃To all the Three！〃 answers the other： 〃To all the Three； for they by their union first constitute the True Religion。〃
＇May 8； 1840。＇ LECTURE II。 THE HERO AS PROPHET。 MAHOMET： ISLAM。
From the first rude times of Paganism among the Scandinavians in the North； we advance to a very different epoch of religion； among a very different people： Mahometanism among the Arabs。 A great change； what a change and progress is indicated here； in the universal condition and thoughts of men！
The Hero is not now regarded as a God among his fellowmen； but as one God…inspired； as a Prophet。 It is the second phasis of Hero…worship： the first or oldest； we may say； has passed away without return； in the history of the world there will not again be any man； never so great； whom his fellowmen will take for a god。 Nay we might rationally ask； Did any set of human beings ever really think the man they _saw_ there standing beside them a god； the maker of this world？ Perhaps not： it was usually some man they remembered； or _had_ seen。 But neither can this any more be。 The Great Man is not recognized henceforth as a god any more。
It was a rude gross error； that of counting the Great Man a god。 Yet let us say that it is at all times difficult to know _what_ he is； or how to account of him and receive him！ The most significant feature in the history of an epoch is the manner it has of welcoming a Great Man。 Ever； to the true instincts of men； there is something godlike in him。 Whether they shall take him to be a god； to be a prophet； or what they shall take him to be？ that is ever a grand question； by their way of answering that； we shall see； as through a little window； into the very heart of these men's spiritual condition。 For at bottom the Great Man； as he comes from the hand of Nature； is ever the same kind of thing： Odin； Luther； Johnson； Burns； I hope to make it appear that these are all originally of one stuff； that only by the world's reception of them； and the shapes they assume； are they so immeasurably diverse。 The worship of Odin astonishes us；to fall prostrate before the Great Man； into _deliquium_ of love and wonder over him； and feel in their hearts that he was a denizen of the skies； a god！ This was imperfect enough： but to welcome； for example； a Burns as we did； was that what we can call perfect？ The most precious gift that Heaven can give to the Earth； a man of 〃genius〃 as we call it； the Soul of a Man actually sent down from the skies with a God's…message to us；this we waste away as an idle artificial firework； sent to amuse us a little； and sink it into ashes； wreck and ineffectuality： _such_ reception of a Great Man I do not call very perfect either！ Looking into the heart of the thing； one may perhaps call that of Burns a still uglier phenomenon； betokening still sadder imperfections in mankind's ways； than the Scandinavian method itself！ To fall into mere unreasoning _deliquium_ of love and admiration； was not good； but such unreasoning； nay irrational supercilious no…love at all is perhaps still worse！It is a thing forever changing； this of Hero…worship： different in each age； difficult to do well in any age。 Indeed； the heart of the whole business of the age； one may say； is to do it well。
We have chosen Mahomet not as the most eminent Prophet； but as the one we are freest to speak of。 He is by no means the truest of Prophets； but I do esteem him a true one。 Farther； as there is no danger of our becoming； any of us； Mahometans； I mean to say all the good of him I justly can。 It is the way to get at his secret： let us try to understand what _he_ meant with the world； what the world meant and means with him； will then be a more answerable question。 Our current hypothesis about Mahomet； that he was a scheming Impostor； a Falsehood incarnate； that his religion is a mere mass of quackery and fatuity； begins really to be now untenable to any one。 The lies； which well…meaning zeal has heaped round this man； are disgraceful to ourselves only。 When Pococke inquired of Grotius； Where the proof was of that story of the pigeon； trained to pick peas from Mahomet's ear； and pass for an angel dictating to him？ Grotius answered that there was no proof！ It is really time to dismiss all that。 The word this man spoke has been the life…guidance now of a hundred and eighty millions of men these twelve hundred years。 These hundred and eighty millions were made by God as well as we。 A greater number of God's creatures believe in Mahomet's word at this hour； than in any other word whatever。 Are we to suppose that it was a miserable piece of spiritual legerdemain； this which so many creatures of the Almighty have lived by and died by？ I； for my part； cannot form any such supposition。 I will believe most things sooner than that。 One would be entirely at a loss what to think of this world at all； if quackery so grew and were sanctioned here。
Alas； such theories are very lamentable。 If we would attain to knowledge of anything in God's true Creation； let us disbelieve them wholly！ They are the product of an Age of Scepticism： they indicate the saddest spiritual paralysis； and mere death…life of the souls of men： more godless theory； I think； was never promulgated in this Earth。 A false man found a religion？ Why； a false man cannot build a brick house！ If he do not know and follow truly the properties of mortar； burnt clay and what else be works in； it is no house that he makes； but a rubbish…heap。 It will not stand for twelve centuries； to lodge a hundred and eighty millions； it will fall straightway。 A man must conform himself to Nature's laws； _be_ verily in communion with Nature and the truth of things； or Nature will answer him； No； not at all！ Speciosities are speciousah me！a Cagliostro； many Cagliostros； prominent world…leaders； do prosper by their quackery； for a day。 It is like a forged bank…note； they get it passed out of _their_ worthless hands： others； not they； have to smart for it。 Nature bursts up in fire…flames； French Revolutions and such like； proclaiming with terrible veracity that forged notes are forged。
But of a Great Man especially； of him I will venture to assert that it is incredible he should have been other than true。 It seems to me the primary foundation of him； and of all that can lie in him； this。 No Mirabeau； Napoleon； Burns； Cromwell； no man adequate to do anything； but is first of all in right earnest about it； what I call a sincere man。 I should say _sincerity_； a deep； great； genuine sincerity； is the first characteristic of all men in any way heroic。 Not the sincerity that calls itself sincere； ah no； that is a very poor matter indeed；a shallow braggart conscious sincerity； oftenest self…conceit mainly。 The Great Man's sincerity is of the kind he cannot speak of； is not conscious of： nay； I suppose； he is conscious rather of insincerity； for what man can walk accurately by the law of truth for one day？ No； the Great Man does not boast himself sincere； far from that； perhaps does not ask himself if he is so： I would say rather； his sincerity does not depend on himself； he cannot help being sincere！ The great Fact of Existence is great to him。 Fly as he will； he cannot get out of the awful presence of this Reality。 His mind is so made； he is great by that； first of all。 Fearful and wonderful； real as Life； real as Death； is this Universe to him。 Though all men should forget its truth； and walk in a vain sh
