historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)-第27节
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some higher and truer science might be discovered； by which diseases
might be actually cured； and health； long life； happiness； all but
immortality； be conferred on man； an intense belief that he； Paracelsus；
was called and chosen by God to find out that great mystery； and be a
benefactor to all future ages。 That fixed idea might degeneratedid； alas！
degenerateinto wild self…conceit； rash contempt of the ancients； violent
abuse of his opponents。 But there was more than this in Paracelsus。 He
had one idea to which； if he had kept true； his life would have been a
happier onethe firm belief that all pure science was a revelation from
God； that it was not to be obtained at second or third hand； by blindly
adhering to the words of Galen or Hippocrates or Aristotle； and putting
them （as the scholastic philosophers round him did） in the place of God：
but by going straight to nature at first hand； and listening to what Bacon
calls 〃the voice of God revealed in facts。〃 True and noble is the passage
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with which he begins his 〃Labyrinthus Medicorum；〃 one of his attacks on
the false science of his day；
〃The first and highest book of all healing；〃 he says； 〃is called wisdom；
and without that book no man will carry out anything good or useful 。 。 。
And that book is God Himself。 For in Him alone who hath created all
things； the knowledge and principle of all things dwells 。 。 。 without Him
all is folly。 As the sun shines on us from above； so He must pour into us
from above all arts whatsoever。 Therefore the root of all learning and
cognition is； that we should seek first the kingdom of Godthe kingdom
of God in which all sciences are founded 。 。 。 If any man think that nature
is not founded on the kingdom of God； he knows nothing about it。 All
gifts；〃 he repeats again and again； confused and clumsily （as is his wont）；
but with a true earnestness； 〃are from God。〃
The true man of science； with Paracelsus； is he who seeks first the
kingdom of God in facts； investigating nature reverently； patiently； in faith
believing that God； who understands His own work best； will make him
understand it likewise。 The false man of science is he who seeks the
kingdom of this world； who cares nothing about the real interpretation of
facts： but is content with such an interpretation as will earn him the
good things of this worldthe red hat and gown； the ambling mule； the
silk clothes； the partridges； capons； and pheasants； the gold florins
chinking in his palm。 At such pretenders Paracelsus sneered； at last only
too fiercely； not only as men whose knowledge consisted chiefly in
wearing white gloves； but as rogues； liars； villains； and every epithet
which his very racy vocabulary； quickened （it is to be feared） by wine and
laudanum； could suggest。 With these he contrasts the true men of science。
It is difficult for us now to understand how a man setting out in life with
such pure and noble views should descend at last （if indeed he did descend）
to be a quack and a conjurorand die under the imputation that
Bombastes kept a devil's bird Hid in the pommel of his sword；
and have； indeed； his very name； Bombast； used to this day as a
synonym of loud； violent； and empty talk。 To understand it at all； we
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must go back and think a little over these same occult sciences which were
believed in by thousands during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries。
The reverence for classic antiquity； you must understand； which sprang
up at the renaissance in the fifteenth century； was as indiscriminating as it
was earnest。 Men caught the trash as well as the jewels。 They put the
dreams of the Neoplatonists； Iamblicus； Porphyry； or Plotinus； or Proclus；
on the same level as the sound dialectic philosophy of Plato himself。
And these Neoplatonists were all； more or less； believers in magic
Theurgy； as it was calledin the power of charms and spells； in the occult
virtues of herbs and gems； in the power of adepts to evoke and mand
spirits； in the significance of dreams； in the influence of the stars upon
men's characters and destinies。 If the great and wise philosopher
Iamblicus believed such things； why might not the men of the sixteenth
century？
And so grew up again in Europe a passion for what were called the
Occult sciences。 It had always been haunting the European imagination。
Mediaeval monks had long ago transformed the poet Virgil into a great
necromancer。 And there were immense excuses for such a belief。 There
was a mass of collateral evidence that the occult sciences were true； which
it was impossible then to resist。 Races far more ancient； learned； civilised；
than any Frenchman； German； Englishman； or even Italian； in the fifteenth
century had believed in these things。 The Moors； the best physicians of
the Middle Ages； had their heads full； as the 〃Arabian Nights〃 prove； of
enchanters； genii； peris； and what not？ The Jewish rabbis had their
Cabala； which sprang up in Alexandria； a system of philosophy founded
on the mystic meaning of the words and the actual letters of the text of
Scripture； which some said was given by the angel Ragiel to Adam in
Paradise； by which Adam talked with angels； the sun and moon；
summoned spirits； interpreted dreams； healed and destroyed； and by that
book of Ragiel； as it was called； Solomon became the great magician and
master of all the spirits and their hoarded treasures。
So strong； indeed； was the belief in the mysteries of the Cabala； that
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Reuchlin； the restorer of Hebrew learning in Germany； and Pico di
Mirandola； the greatest of Italian savants； accepted them； and not only
Pope Leo X。 himself； but even statesmen and warriors received with
delight Reuchlin's cabalistic treatise； 〃De Verbo Mirifico；〃 on the mystic
word 〃Schemhamphorash〃that hidden name of God； which whosoever
can pronounce aright is； for the moment； lord of nature and of all
daemons。
Amulets； too； and talismans； the faith in them was exceeding ancient。
Solomon had his seal； by which he manded all daemons； and there is a
whole literature of curious nonsense； which you may read if you will；
about the Abraxas and other talismans of the Gnostics in Syria； and
another； of the secret virtues which were supposed to reside in gems：
especially in the old Roman and Greek gems； carved into intaglios with
figures of heathen gods and goddesses。 Lapidaria； or lists of these gems
and their magical virtues； were not unmon in the Middle Ages。 You
may read a great deal that is interesting about them at the end of Mr。
King's book on gems。
Astrology too； though Pico di Mirandola might set himself against the
rest of the world； few were found daring enough to deny so ancient a
science。 Luther and Melancthon merely followed the regular tradition of
public opinion when they admitted its truth。 It sprang probably from the
worship of the Seven Planets by the old Chaldees。 It was brought back
from Babylon by the Jews after the Captivity； and spread over all Europe
perhaps all Asia likewise。
The rich and mighty of the earth must needs have their nativities cast；
and consult the stars； and Cornelius Agrippa gave mortal offence to the
Queen…Dowager of France （mother of Francis I。） because； when
