alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第7章
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before modern discoveries。 But its value as a scientific attempt lies in
this： that the method being a correct one； correct results were obtained；
though starting from a false assumption； and Hipparchus and his
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successors were enabled by it to calculate and predict the changes of the
heavens； in spite of their clumsy instruments； with almost as much
accuracy as we do now。
For the purpose of working out this theory he required a science of
trigonometry； plane and spherical： and this he accordingly seems to have
invented。 To him also we owe the discovery of that vast gradual change
in the position of the fixed stars； in fact； of the whole celestial system； now
known by the name of the precession of the equinoxes； the first great
catalogue of fixed stars； to the number of 1080； attempts to ascertain
whether the length of years and days were constant； with which； with his
characteristic love of truth； he seems to have been hardly satisfied。 He
too invented the planisphere； or mode of representing the starry heavens
upon a plane； and is the father of true geography； having formed the happy
notion of mapping out the earth； as well as the heavens； by degrees of
latitude and longitude。
Strange it is； and somewhat sad； that we should know nothing of this
great man； should be hardly able to distinguish him from others of the
same name； but through the works of a commentator； who wrote and
observed in Alexandria 300 years after； during the age of the Antonines。 I
mean； of course； the famous Ptolemy； whose name so long bore the
honour of that system which really belonged to Hipparchus。
This single fact speaks volumes for the real weakness of the great
artificial school of literature and science founded by the kings of Egypt。
From the father of Astronomy； as Delambre calls him； to Ptolemy； the first
man who seems really to have appreciated him； we have not a discovery；
hardly an observation or a name； to fill the gap。 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
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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
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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
