madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第27节
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wonderful part of the story。 The Indians kill and eat them for their fat；
although they believe they have to do with evil spirits。 But scientific
men who have studied these birds will tell you that they are more
wonderful than if all the Indians' fancies about them were true。 They are
great birds； more than three feet across the wings； somewhat like owls；
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somewhat like cuckoos； somewhat like goatsuckers； but； on the whole；
unlike anything in the world but themselves； and instead of feeding on
moths or mice； they feed upon hard dry fruits； which they pick off the
trees after the set of sun。 And wise men will tell you； that in making such
a bird as that； and giving it that peculiar way of life； and settling it in that
cavern； and a few more caverns in that part of the world； and therefore in
making the caverns ready for them to live in； Madam How must have
taken ages and ages； more than you can imagine or count。
But that is among the harder lessons which come in the latter part of
Madam How's book。 Children need not learn them yet； and they can
never learn them； unless they master her alphabet； and her short and easy
lessons for beginners； some of which I am trying to teach you now。
But I have just recollected that we are a couple of very stupid fellows。
We have been talking all this time about chalk and limestone； and have
forgotten to settle what they are； and how they were made。 We must
think of that next time。 It will not do for us （at least if we mean to be
scientific men） to use terms without defining them； in plain English； to
talk aboutwe don't know what。
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CHAPTER VIII
…MADAM HOW'S TWO GRANDSONS
You want to know； then； what chalk is？ I suppose you mean what
chalk is made of？
Yes。 That is it。
That we can only help by calling in the help of a very great giant
whose name is Analysis。
A giant？
Yes。 And before we call for him I will tell you a very curious story
about him and his younger brother； which is every word of it true。
Once upon a time； certainly as long ago as the first man； or perhaps the
first rational being of any kind； was created； Madam How had two
grandsons。 The elder is called Analysis； and the younger Synthesis。 As
for who their father and mother were； there have been so many disputes on
that question that I think children may leave it alone for the present。 For
my part； I believe that they are both； like St。 Patrick； 〃gentlemen； and
come of decent people；〃 and I have a great respect and affection for them
both； as long as each keeps in his own place and minds his own business。
Now you must understand that； as soon as these two baby giants were
born； Lady Why； who sets everything to do that work for which it is
exactly fitted； set both of them their work。 Analysis was to take to pieces
everything he found； and find out how it was made。 Synthesis was to put
the pieces together again； and make something fresh out of them。 In a
word； Analysis was to teach men Science； and Synthesis to teach them Art。
But because Analysis was the elder； Madam How commanded
Synthesis never to put the pieces together till Analysis had taken them
completely apart。 And； my child； if Synthesis had obeyed that rule of his
good old grandmother's； the world would have been far happier； wealthier；
wiser； and better than it is now。
But Synthesis would not。 He grew up a very noble boy。 He could
carve； he could paint； he could build； he could make music； and write
poems： but he was full of conceit and haste。 Whenever his elder
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brother tried to do a little patient work in taking things to pieces； Synthesis
snatched the work out of his hands before it was a quarter done； and began
putting it together again to suit his own fancy； and； of course； put it
together wrong。 Then he went on to bully his elder brother； and locked
him up in prison； and starved him； till for many hundred years poor
Analysis never grew at all； but remained dwarfed； and stupid； and all but
blind for want of light； while Synthesis； and all the hasty conceited people
who followed him； grew stout and strong and tyrannous； and overspread
the whole world； and ruled it at their will。 But the fault of all the work of
Synthesis was just this： that it would not work。 His watches would not
keep time； his soldiers would not fight； his ships would not sail； his houses
would not keep the rain out。 So every time he failed in his work he had
to go to poor Analysis in his dungeon； and bully him into taking a thing or
two to pieces； and giving him a few sound facts out of them； just to go on
with till he came to grief again； boasting in the meantime that he and not
Analysis had found out the facts。 And at last he grew so conceited that
he fancied he knew all that Madam How could teach him； or Lady Why
either； and that he understood all things in heaven and earth； while it was
not the real heaven and earth that he was thinking of； but a sham heaven
and a sham earth； which he had built up out of his guesses and his own
fancies。
And the more Synthesis waxed in pride； and the more he trampled
upon his poor brother； the more reckless he grew； and the more willing to
deceive himself。 If his real flowers would not grow； he cut out paper
flowers； and painted them and said that they would do just as well as
natural ones。 If his dolls would not work； he put strings and wires behind
them to make them nod their heads and open their eyes； and then
persuaded other people； and perhaps half…persuaded himself； that they
were alive。 If the hand of his weather…glass went down； he nailed it up to
insure a fine day； and tortured； burnt； or murdered every one who said it
did not keep up of itself。 And many other foolish and wicked things he
did； which little boys need not hear of yet。
But at last his punishment came； according to the laws of his
grandmother； Madam How； which are like the laws of the Medes and
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Persians； and alter not； as you and all mankind will sooner or later find； for
he grew so rich and powerful that he grew careless and lazy； and thought
about nothing but eating and drinking； till people began to despise him
more and more。 And one day he left the dungeon of Analysis so ill
guarded； that Analysis got out and ran away。 Great was the hue and cry
after him； and terribly would he have been punished had he been caught。
But； lo and behold； folks had grown so disgusted with Synthesis that they
began to take the part of Analysis。 Poor men hid him in their cottages；
and scholars in their studies。 And when war arose about him；and
terrible wars did arise；good kings； wise statesmen； gallant soldiers； spent
their treasure and their lives in fighting for him。 All honest folk
welcomed him； because he was honest； and all wise folk used him； for；
instead of being a conceited tyrant like Synthesis； he showed himself the
most faithful； diligent； humble of servants； ready to do every man's work；
and answer every man's questions。 And among them all he got so well
fed that he grew very shortly into the giant that he ought to have been all
along； and was； and will be for many a year to come； perfectly able to take
care of himself。
As for poor Synthesis；
