historical lecturers and essays-第14节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Will they revive？ Under the genial influences of free institutions
will the good seed which is in them take root downwards； and bear
fruit upwards？ and make them all what that fair France has been； in
spite of all her faults； so often in past yearsa joy and an
inspiration to all the nations round？ Shall it be thus？ God grant
it may； but He； and He alone； can tell。 We only stand by； watching；
if we be wise； with pity and with fear； the working out of a
tremendous new social problem； which must affect the future of the
whole civilised world。
For if the agonising old nations fail to regenerate themselves； what
can befall？ What； when even Imperialism has been tried and failed；
as fail it must？ What but that lower depth within the lowest deep？
That last dread mood
Of sated lust； and dull decrepitude。
No law； no art； no faith； no hope； no God。
When round the freezing founts of life in peevish ring；
Crouched on the bare…worn sod；
Babbling about the unreturning spring；
And whining for dead creeds； which cannot save；
The toothless nations shiver to their grave。
And we； who think we stand； let us take heed lest we fall。 Let us
accept； in modesty and in awe； the responsibility of our freedom；
and remember that that freedom can be preserved only in one old…
fashioned way。 Let us remember that the one condition of a true
democracy is the same as the one condition of a true aristocracy；
namely； virtue。 Let us teach our children； as grand old Lilly
taught our forefathers 300 years ago〃It is virtue； gentlemen； yea；
virtue that maketh gentlemen； that maketh the poor rich； the subject
a king； the lowborn noble； the deformed beautiful。 These things
neither the whirling wheel of fortune can overturn； nor the
deceitful cavillings of worldlings separate； neither sickness abate；
nor age abolish。〃
Yes。 Let us teach our children thus on both sides of the Atlantic。
For if theywhich God forbidshould grow corrupt and weak by their
own sins； there is no hardier race now left on earth to conquer our
descendants and bring them back to reason； as those old Jews were
brought by bitter shame and woe。 And all that is before them and
the whole civilised world； would be long centuries of anarchy such
as the world has not seen for agesa true Ragnarok； a twilight of
the very gods； an age such as the wise woman foretold in the old
Voluspe。
When brethren shall be
Each other's bane；
And sisters' sons rend
The ties of kin。
Hard will be that age；
An age of bad women；
An axe…age； a sword…age；
Shields oft cleft in twain；
A storm…age； a wolf…age；
Ere earth meet its doom。
So sang； 2000 years ago； perhaps； the great unnamed prophetess； of
our own race； of what might be； if we should fail mankind and our
own calling and election。
God grant that day may never come。 But God grant； also； that if
that day does come； then may come true also what that wise Vala
sang； of the day when gods； and men； and earth should be burnt up
with fire。
When slaked Surtur's flame is；
Still the man and the maiden；
Hight Valour and Life；
Shall keep themselves hid
In the wood of remembrance。
The dew of the dawning
For food it shall serve them：
From them spring new peoples。
New peoples。 For after all is said； the ideal form of human society
is democracy。
A nationand； were it even possible； a whole worldof free men；
lifting free foreheads to God and Nature； calling no man masterfor
one is their master； even God； knowing and obeying their duties
towards the Maker of the Universe； and therefore to each other； and
that not from fear； nor calculation of profit or loss； but because
they loved and liked it； and had seen the beauty of righteousness
and trust and peace； because the law of God was in their hearts； and
needing at last； it may be； neither king nor priest； for each man
and each woman； in their place； were kings and priests to God。 Such
a nationsuch a societywhat nobler conception of mortal existence
can we form？ Would not that be； indeed； the kingdom of God come on
earth？
And tell me not that that is impossibletoo fair a dream to be ever
realised。 All that makes it impossible is the selfishness；
passions； weaknesses； of those who would be blest were they masters
of themselves； and therefore of circumstances； who are miserable
because； not being masters of themselves； they try to master
circumstance； to pull down iron walls with weak and clumsy hands；
and forget that he who would be free from tyrants must first be free
from his worst tyrant； self。
But tell me not that the dream is impossible。 It is so beautiful
that it must be true。 If not now； nor centuries hence； yet still
hereafter。 God would never； as I hold； have inspired man with that
rich imagination had He not meant to translate； some day； that
imagination into fact。
The very greatness of the idea； beyond what a single mind or
generation can grasp； will ensure failure on failurefollies；
fanaticisms； disappointments； even crimes； bloodshed； hasty furies；
as of children baulked of their holiday。
But it will be at last fulfilled； filled full； and perfected； not
perhaps here； or among our peoples； or any people which now exist on
earth： but in some future civilisationit may be in far lands
beyond the seawhen all that you and we have made and done shall be
as the forest…grown mounds of the old nameless civilisers of the
Mississippi valley。
RONDELET； ｛7｝ THE HUGUENOT NATURALIST ｛8｝
〃Apollo； god of medicine； exiled from the rest of the earth； was
straying once across the Narbonnaise in Gaul； seeking to fix his
abode there。 Driven from Asia； from Africa； and from the rest of
Europe； he wandered through all the towns of the province in search
of a place propitious for him and for his disciples。 At last he
perceived a new city； constructed from the ruins of Maguelonne； of
Lattes； and of Substantion。 He contemplated long its site； its
aspect； its neighbourhood； and resolved to establish on this hill of
Montpellier a temple for himself and his priests。 All smiled on his
desires。 By the genius of the soil； by the character of the
inhabitants； no town is more fit for the culture of letters； and
above all of medicine。 What site is more delicious and more lovely？
A heaven pure and smiling； a city built with magnificence； men born
for all the labours of the intellect。 All around vast horizons and
enchanting sitesmeadows； vines； olives； green champaigns；
mountains and hills； rivers； brooks； lagoons； and the sea。
Everywhere a luxuriant vegetationeverywhere the richest production
of the land and the water。 Hail to thee sweet and dear city！ Hail；
happy abode of Apollo； who spreadest afar the light of the glory of
thy name！〃
〃This fine tirade；〃 says Dr。 Maurice Raynaudfrom whose charming
book on the 〃Doctors of the Time of Moliere〃 I quote〃is not； as
one might think； the translation of a piece of poetry。 It is simply
part of a public oration by Francois Fanchon； one of the most
illustrious chancellors of the faculty of medicine of Montpellier in
the seventeenth century。〃 〃From time immemorial；〃 he says； 〃'the
faculty' of Montpellier had made itself remarkable by a singular
mixture of the sacred and the profane。 The theses which were
sustained there began by an invocation to God； the Blessed Virgin；
and St。 Luke； and ended by these words： 'This thesis will be
sustained in the sacred Temple of Apollo。'〃
But however extravagant Chancellor Fanchon's praises of his native
city may seem； they are really not exaggerated。 The Narbonnaise； or
Languedoc； is perhaps the most charming district of charming France。
In the far north…east gleam the white Alps； in the far south…west
the white Pyrenees； and from the purple glens and yellow downs of
the Cevennes on the north…west； the Herault slopes gently down
towards the 〃Etangs；〃 or great salt…water lagoons； and the vast
alluvial flats of the Camargue； the field of Caius Marius； where
still run herds of half…wild horses； descended from some ancient
Roman stock； while beyond all glitters the blue Mediterranean。 The
great almond orchards； each one sheet of rose…colour in spring； the
