pagan and christian creeds-第16节
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of the wheat with pale visage appearing out of the ground。〃
＇1＇ Even the thrice…learned Dr。 Famell quotes apparently with approval the scornful words of Hippolytus； who （he says） 〃speaks of the Athenians imitating people at the Eleusinian mysteries and showing to the epoptae （initiates） that great and marvelous mystery of perfect revelationin solemn silencea CUT CORNSTALK （ ）。〃Cults of the Greek States； vol。 iii； p。 182。
If this spectacle amazes one to…day； what emotions must it not have aroused in the breasts of the earlier folk； whose outlook on the world was so much more direct than ours more 'animistic' if you like！ What wonderment； what gratitude； what deliverance from fear （of starvation）； what certainty that this being who had been ruthlessly cut down and sacrificed last year for human food had indeed arisen again as a savior of men； what readiness to make some human sacrifice in return； both as an acknowledgment of the debt； and as a gift of something which would no doubt be graciously accepted！（for was it not well known that where blood had been spilt on the ground the future crop was so much more generous？）what readiness to adopt some magic ritual likely to propitiate the unseen powereven though the outline and form of the latter were vague and uncertain in the extreme！ Dr。 Frazer； speaking of the Egyptian Osiris as one out of many corn…gods of the above character； says＇1＇： 〃The primitive conception of him as the corn…god comes clearly out in the festival of his death and resurrection； which was celebrated the month of Athyr。 That festival appears to have been essentially a festival of sowing； which properly fell at the time when the husbandman actually committed the seed to the earth。 On that occasion an effigy of the corn…god； moulded of earth and corn； was buried with funeral rites in the ground in order that； dying there； he might come to life again with the new crops。 The ceremony was in fact a charm to ensure the growth of the corn by sympathetic magic； and we may conjecture that as such it was practised in a simple form by every Egyptian farmer on his fields long before it was adopted and transfigured by the priests in the stately ritual of the temple。〃＇2＇
＇1＇ The Golden Bough； iv； p。 330。
＇2＇ See ch。 xv。
The magic in this case was of a gentle description； the clay image of Osiris sprouting all over with the young green blade was pathetically poetic； but； as has been suggested； bloodthirsty ceremonies were also common enough。 Human sacrifices； it is said； had at one time been offered at the grave of Osiris。 We bear that the Indians in Ecuador used to sacrifice men's hearts and pour out human blood on their fields when they sowed them； the Pawnee Indians used a human victim the same； allowing his blood to drop on the seed…corn。 It is said that in Mexico girls were sacrificed； and that the Mexicans would sometimes GRIND their （male） victim； like corn； between two stones。 （〃I'll grind his bones to make me bread。〃） Among the Khonds of East Indiawho were particularly given to this kind of ritualthe very TEARS of the sufferer were an incitement to more cruelties； for tears of course were magic for Rain。＇1＇
＇1＇ The Golden Bough； vol。 vii； 〃The Corn…Spirit；〃 pp。 236 sq。
And so on。 We have referred to the Bull many times； both in his astronomical aspect as pioneer of the Spring… Sun； and in his more direct role as plougher of the fields； and provider of food from his own body。 〃The tremendous mana of the wild bull；〃 says Gilbert Murray； 〃occupies almost half the stage of pre…Olympic ritual。〃＇1＇ Even to us there is something mesmeric and overwhelming in the sense of this animal's glory of strength and fury and sexual power。 No wonder the primitives worshiped him； or that they devised rituals which should convey his power and vitality by mere contact； or that in sacramental feasts they ate his flesh and drank his blood as a magic symbol and means of salvation。
＇1＇ Four Stages； p。 34。
VI。 MAGICIANS； KINGS AND GODS
It is perhaps necessary； at the commencement of this chapter； to say a； few more words about the nature and origin of the belief in Magic。 Magic represented on one side； and clearly enough； the beginnings of Religioni。e。 the instinctive sense of Man's inner continuity with the world around him； TAKING SHAPE： a fanciful shape it is true； but with very real reaction on his practical life and feelings。＇1＇ On the other side it represented the beginnings of Science。 It was his first attempt not merely to FEEL but to UNDERSTAND the mystery of things。
＇1＇ For an excellent account of the relation of Magic to Religion see W。 McDougall； Social Psychology （1908）； pp。 317…320。
Inevitably these first efforts to understand were very puerile； very superficial。 As E。 B。 Tylor says＇1＇ of primitive folk in general； 〃they mistook an imaginary for a real connection。〃 And he instances the case of the inhabitants of the City of Ephesus； who laid down a rope； seven furlongs in length； from the City to the temple of Artemis； in order to place the former under the protection of the latter！ WE should lay down a telephone wire； and consider that we established a much more efficient connection； but in the beginning； and quite naturally； men； like children； rely on surface associations。 Among the Dyaks of Borneo＇2＇ when the men are away fighting； the WOMEN must use a sort of telepathic magic in order to safeguard themthat is； they must themselves rise early and keep awake all day （lest darkness and sleep should give advantage to the enemy）； they must not OIL their hair （lest their husbands should make any SLIPS）； they must eat sparingly and put aside rice at every meal （so that the men may not want for food）。 And so on。 Similar superstitions are common。 But they gradually lead to a little thought； and then to a little more； and so to the discovery of actual and provable influences。 Perhaps one day the cord connecting the temple with Ephesus was drawn TIGHT and it was found that messages could be； by tapping； transmitted along it。 That way lay the discovery of a fact。 In an age which worshiped fertility； whether in mankind or animals； TWINS were ever counted especially blest； and were credited with a magic power。 （The Constellation of the Twins was thought peculiarly lucky。） Perhaps after a time it was discovered that twins sometimes run in families； and in such cases really do bring fertility with them。 In cattle it is known nowadays that there are more twins of the female sex than of the male sex。＇3＇
＇1＇ Primitive Culture； vol。 i； p。 106。
＇2＇ See The Golden Bough； i； 127。
＇3＇ See Evolution of Sex； by Geddes and Thomson （1901）； p。 41； note。
Observations of this kind were naturally made by the ablest members of the tribewho were in all probability the medicine…men and wizardsand brought in consequence power into their hands。 The road to power in factand especially was this the case in societies which had not yet developed wealth and propertylay through Magic。 As far as magic represented early superstition land religion it laid hold of the HEARTS of mentheir hopes and fears； as far as it represented science and the beginnings of actual knowledge； it inspired their minds with a sense of power； and gave form to their lives and customs。 We have no reason to suppose that the early magicians and medicine…men were peculiarly wicked or bent on mere self…aggrandizementany more than we have to think the same of the average country vicar or country doctor of to…day。 They were merely men a trifle wiser or more instructed than their flocks。 But though probably in most cases their original intentions were decent enough； they were not proof against the temptations which the possession of power always brings； and as time went on they became liable to trade more and more upon this power for their own advancement。 In the matter of Religion the history of the Christian priesthood through the centuries shows sufficiently to what misuse such power can be put； and in the matter of Science it is a warning to us of the dangers attending the formation of a scientific priesthood； such as we see growing up around us to…day。 In both caseswhether Science or Religionvanity； personal ambition； lust of domination and a hundred other vices； unless corrected by a real devotion to the public good； may easily bring as many evils in their train as those they profess to cure。
The Medicine…man； or Wizard； or Magician； or Priest； slowly but necessarily gathered power into his hands； and there is much evidence to show that in the case of many tribes at any rate； it was HE who became ultimate chief and leader and laid the foundations of Kingship。 The Basileus was always a sacred personality； and often united in himself as head of the clan the offices of chief in warfare and leader in priestly riteslike Agamemnon in Homer； or Saul or David in the Bible。 As a magician he had influence over the fertility of the earth and； like the blameless king in the Odyssey； under his sway 〃the dark earth beareth in season Barley and wheat； and the trees are laden with fruitage； and alway Yean unfailing the flocks； and the sea gives fish in abundance。〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Odyssey xix； 109 sq。 Translation by H
