alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第9节
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themselves with reaffirming and verifying the conclusions of their earlier
years； and too often； alas！ with denying and anathematising all conclusions
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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
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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。
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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
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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 forth…
…an ominous sign for the myths also； and the belief in them； also a Hecate；
Galataea； Glaucusfour epics； besides comedies； tragedies； iambics；
choriambics； elegies； hymns； epigrams seventy…threeand of these last
alone can we say that they are in any degree readable； and they are courtly；
far…fetched； neat； and that is all。 Six hymns remain； and a few fragments
of the elegies： but the most famous elegy； on Berenice's hair； is
preserved to us only in a Latin paraphrase of Catullus。 It is curious； as
the earliest instance we have of genuinely ungenuine Court poetry； and of
the complimentary lie which does not even pretend to be true； the flattery
which will not take the trouble to prevent your seeing that it is laughing in
your face。
Berenic
