alexandria and her schools-第8章
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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 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。
Berenice the queen； on Ptolemy's departure to the wars； vows her beautiful tresses to her favourite goddess； as the price of her husband's safe return； and duly pays her vow。 The hair is hung up in the temple： in a day or two after it has vanished。 Dire is the wrath of Ptolemy； the co
