crome yellow(克罗姆·耶娄)-第40章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was only reason and decency； he lacked the power； being a sage； to move
men to action。 Europe followed Luther and embarked on a century and a
half of war and bloody persecution。 It's a melancholy story。〃 Mr。
Scogan lighted a match。 In the intense light the flame was all but
invisible。 The smell of burning tobacco began to mingle with the sweetly
acrid smell of the lavender。
〃If you want to get men to act reasonably； you must set about
persuading them in a maniacal manner。 The very sane precepts of the
founders of religions are only made infectious by means of enthusiasms
which to a sane man must appear deplorable。 It is humiliating to find
how impotent unadulterated sanity is。 Sanity； for example； informs us that
the only way in which we can preserve civilisation is by behaving decently
and intelligently。 Sanity appeals and argues； our rulers persevere in their
customary porkishness； while we acquiesce and obey。 The only hope is a
maniacal crusade； I am ready； when it comes； to beat a tambourine with
the loudest； but at the same time I shall feel a little ashamed of myself。
However〃Mr。 Scogan shrugged his shoulders and； pipe in hand； made a
gesture of resignation〃It's futile to complain that things are as they are。
The fact remains that sanity unassisted is useless。 What we want； then； is
a sane and reasonable exploitation of the forces of insanity。 We sane men
will have the power yet。〃 Mr。 Scogan's eyes shone with a more than
ordinary brightness； and； taking his pipe out of his mouth； he gave vent to
his loud； dry； and somehow rather fiendish laugh。
〃But I don't want power；〃 said Denis。 He was sitting in limp
discomfort at one end of the bench； shading his eyes from the intolerable
124
… Page 125…
CROME YELLOW
light。 Mr。 Scogan； bolt upright at the other end； laughed again。
〃Everybody wants power；〃 he said。 〃Power in some form or other。
The sort of power you hanker for is literary power。 Some people want
power to persecute other human beings； you expend your lust for power in
persecuting words； twisting them； moulding them； torturing them to obey
you。 But I divagate。〃
〃Do you？〃 asked Denis faintly。
〃Yes；〃 Mr。 Scogan continued； unheeding； 〃the time will come。 We
men of intelligence will learn to harness the insanities to the service of
reason。 We can't leave the world any longer to the direction of chance。
We can't allow dangerous maniacs like Luther； mad about dogma； like
Napoleon； mad about himself； to go on casually appearing and turning
everything upside down。 In the past it didn't so much matter； but our
modern machine is too delicate。 A few more knocks like the Great War；
another Luther or two； and the whole concern will go to pieces。 In future；
the men of reason must see that the madness of the world's maniacs is
canalised into proper channels； is made to do useful work； like a mountain
torrent driving a dynamo。。。〃
〃Making electricity to light a Swiss hotel；〃 said Denis。 〃You ought to
complete the simile。〃
Mr。 Scogan waved away the interruption。 〃There's only one thing to
be done；〃 he said。 〃The men of intelligence must combine； must
conspire； and seize power from the imbeciles and maniacs who now direct
us。 They must found the Rational State。〃
The heat that was slowly paralysing all Denis's mental and bodily
faculties； seemed to bring to Mr。 Scogan additional vitality。 He talked
with an ever…increasing energy； his hands moved in sharp； quick； precise
gestures； his eyes shone。 Hard； dry； and continuous； his voice went on
sounding and sounding in Denis's ears with the insistence of a mechanical
noise。
〃In the Rational State；〃 he heard Mr。 Scogan saying； 〃human beings
will be separated out into distinct species； not according to the colour of
their eyes or the shape of their skulls； but according to the qualities of their
mind and temperament。 Examining psychologists； trained to what would
125
… Page 126…
CROME YELLOW
now seem an almost superhuman clairvoyance； will test each child that is
born and assign it to its proper species。 Duly labelled and docketed； the
child will be given the education suitable to members of its species； and
will be set； in adult life； to perform those functions which human beings of
his variety are capable of performing。〃
〃How many species will there be？〃 asked Denis。
〃A great many； no doubt；〃 Mr。 Scogan answered； 〃the classification
will be subtle and elaborate。 But it is not in the power of a prophet to go
into details； nor is it his business。 I will do more than indicate the three
main species into which the subjects of the Rational State will be divided。〃
He paused； cleared his throat； and coughed once or twice； evoking in
Denis's mind the vision of a table with a glass and water… bottle； and； lying
across one corner； a long white pointer for the lantern pictures。
〃The three main species；〃 Mr。 Scogan went on； 〃will be these： the
Directing Intelligences； the Men of Faith； and the Herd。 Among the
Intelligences will be found all those capable of thought； those who know
how to attain a certain degree of freedomand； alas； how limited； even
among the most intelligent； that freedom is！from the mental bondage of
their time。 A select body of Intelligences； drawn from among those who
have turned their attention to the problems of practical life； will be the
governors of the Rational State。 They will employ as their instruments of
power the second great species of humanitythe men of Faith； the
Madmen； as I have been calling them； who believe in things unreasonably；
with passion； and are ready to die for their beliefs and their desires。
These wild men； with their fearful potentialities for good or for mischief；
will no longer be allowed to react casually to a casual environment。 There
will be no more Caesar Borgias； no more Luthers and Mohammeds； no
more Joanna Southcotts； no more Comstocks。 The old…fashioned Man of
Faith and Desire； that haphazard creature of brute circumstance； who
might drive men to tears and repentance； or who might equally well set
them on to cutting one another's throats； will be replaced by a new sort of
madman； still externally the same； still bubbling with a seemingly
spontaneous enthusiasm； but； ah； how very different from the madman of
the past！ For the new Man of Faith will be expending his passion； his
126
… Page 127…
CROME YELLOW
desire； and his enthusiasm in the propagation of some reasonable idea。
He will be； all unawares； the tool of some superior intelligence。〃
Mr。 Scogan chuckled maliciously； it was as though he were taking a
revenge； in the name of reaso
