alexandria and her schools-第7节
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Physical sages there were； but they were geometers and mathematicians； rather than astronomic observers and inquirers。 And in spite of all the huge appliances and advantages of that great Museum； its inhabitants were content； in physical science； as in all other branches of thought； to comment； to expound； to do everything but open their eyes and observe facts； and learn from them； as the predecessors whom they pretended to honour had done。 But so it is always。 A genius； an original man appears。 He puts himself boldly in contact with facts； asks them what they mean； and writes down their answer for the world's use。 And then his disciples must needs form a school； and a system； and fancy that they do honour to their master by refusing to follow in his steps； by making his book a fixed dogmatic canon； attaching to it some magical infallibility； declaring the very lie which he disproved by his whole existence； that discovery is henceforth impossible； and the sum of knowledge complete： instead of going on to discover as he discovered before them； and in following his method； show that they honour him； not in the letter； but in spirit and in truth。
For this； if you will consider； is the true meaning of that great command； 〃Honour thy father and mother； that thy days may be long in the land。〃 On reverence for the authority of bygone generations depends the permanence of every form of thought or belief； as much as of all social； national； and family life： but on reverence of the spirit； not merely of the letter； of the methods of our ancestors； not merely of their conclusions。 Ay； and we shall not be able to preserve their conclusions； not even to understand them； they will die away on our lips into skeleton notions； and soulless phrases； unless we see that the greatness of the mighty dead has always consisted in this； that they were seekers； improvers； inventors； endued with that divine power and right of discovery which has been bestowed on us； even as on them； unless we become such men as they were； and go on to cultivate and develop the precious heritage which they have bequeathed to us； instead of hiding their talent in a napkin and burying it in the earth； making their greatness an excuse for our own littleness； their industry for our laziness； their faith for our despair； and prating about the old paths； while we forget that paths were made that men might walk in them； and not stand still； and try in vain to stop the way。
It may be said； certainly； as an excuse for these Alexandrian Greeks； that they were a people in a state of old age and decay； and that they only exhibited the common and natural faults of old age。 For as with individuals； so with races； nations； societies； schools of thought youth is the time of free fancy and poetry； manhood of calm and strong induction； old age of deduction； when men settle down upon their lees； and content themselves with reaffirming and verifying the conclusions of their earlier years； and too often； alas！ with denying and anathematising all conclusions which have been arrived at since their own meridian。 It is sad： but it is patent and common。 It is sad to think that the day may come to each of us； when we shall have ceased to hope for discovery and for progress； when a thing will seem e priori false to us； simply because it is new； and we shall be saying querulously to the Divine Light which lightens every man who comes into the world： 〃Hitherto shalt thou come； and no further。 Thou hast taught men enough； yea rather； thou hast exhausted thine own infinitude； and hast no more to teach them。〃 Surely such a temper is to be fought against； prayed against； both in ourselves； and in the generation in which we live。 Surely there is no reason why such a temper should overtake old age。 There may be reason enough； 〃in the nature of things。〃 For that which is of nature is born only to decay and die。 But in man there is more than dying nature； there is spirit； and a capability of spiritual and everlasting life； which renews its youth like the eagle's； and goes on from strength to strength； and which； if it have its autumns and its winters； has no less its ever…recurring springs and summers； if it has its Sabbaths； finds in them only rest and refreshment for coming labour。 And why not in nations； societies； scientific schools？ These too are not merely natural： they are spiritual； and are only living and healthy in as far as they are in harmony with spiritual； unseen； and everlasting laws of God。 May not they； too； have a capability of everlasting life； as long as they obey those laws in faith； and patience； and humility？ We cannot deny the analogy between the individual man and these societies of men。 We cannot； at least； deny the analogy between them in growth； decay； and death。 May we not have hope that it holds good also for that which can never die； and that if they do die； as this old Greek society did； it is by no brute natural necessity； but by their own unfaithfulness to that which they knew； to that which they ought to have known？ It is always more hopeful； always； as I think； more philosophic； to throw the blame of failure on man； on our own selves； rather than on God； and the perfect law of His universe。 At least let us be sure for ourselves； that such an old age as befell this Greek society； as befalls many a man nowadays； need not be our lot。 Let us be sure that earth shows no fairer sight than the old man； whose worn…out brain and nerves make it painful； and perhaps impossible； to produce fresh thought himself： but who can yet welcome smilingly and joyfully the fresh thoughts of others； who keeps unwearied his faith in God's government of the universe； in God's continual education of the human race； who draws around him the young and the sanguine； not merely to check their rashness by his wise cautions； but to inspirit their sloth by the memories of his own past victories； who hands over； without envy or repining； the lamp of truth to younger runners than himself； and sits contented by； bidding the new generation God speed along the paths untrodden by him； but seen afar off by faith。 A few such old persons have I seen； both men and women； in whom the young heart beat pure and fresh； beneath the cautious and practised brain of age； and gray hairs which were indeed a crown of glory。 A few such have I seen； and from them I seemed to learn what was the likeness of our Father who is in heaven。 To such an old age may He bring you and me； and all for whom we are bound to pray。
LECTURE IITHE PTOLEMAIC ERA （Continued。）
I said in my first Lecture； that even if royal influence be profitable for the prosecution of physical science； it cannot be profitable for art。 It can only produce a literary age； as it did in the Ptolemaic era； a generation of innumerable court…poets； artificial epigrammatists； artificial idyllists； artificial dramatists and epicists； above all； a generation of critics。 Or rather shall we say； that the dynasty was not the cause of a literary age； but only its correlative？ That when the old Greeks lost the power of being free； of being anything but the slaves of oriental despots； as the Ptolemies in reality were； they lost also the power of producing true works of art； because they had lost that youthful vigour of mind from which both art and freedom sprang？ Let the case be as it will； Alexandrian literature need not detain us longthough； alas！ it has detained every boy who ever trembled over his Greek grammar； for many a weary year； and； I cannot help suspecting； has been the main cause that so many young men who have spent seven years in learning Greek； know nothing about it at the end of the seven。 For I must say； that as far as we can see； these Alexandrian pedants were thorough pedants； very polished and learned gentlemen； no doubt； and； like Callimachus； the pets of princes： but after all； men who thought that they could make up for not writing great works themselves； by showing； with careful analysis and commentation； how men used to write them of old； or rather how they fancied men used to write them； for； consider； if they had really known how the thing was done； they must needs have been able to do it themselves。 Thus Callimachus； the favourite of Ptolemy Philadelphus； and librarian of his Museum； is the most distinguished grammarian； critic； and poet of his day； and has for pupils Eratosthenes； Apollonius Rhodius； Aristophanes of Byzantium； and a goodly list more。 He is an encyclopaedia in himself。 There is nothing the man does not know； or probably； if we spoke more correctly； nothing he does not know about。 He writes on history； on the Museum； on barbarous names； on the wonders of the world； on public games； on colonisation； on winds； on birds； on the rivers of the world； and ominous subjecta sort of comprehensive history of Greek literature； with a careful classification of all authors； each under his own heading。 Greek literature was rather in the sere and yellow leaf； be sure； when men thought of writing that sort of thing about it。 But still； he is an encyclopaedic man； and； moreover； a poet。 He writes an epic； 〃Aitia；〃 in four books； on the causes of the myths； religious ceremonies； and so forthan ominous
