beacon lights of history-iii-2-第75章
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to observe faithfully; and all other penances which have been or
shall be laid upon me。〃
It would appear from this confession that he did not declare his
doctrines false; only that they were in opposition to the
Scriptures; and it is also said that as he arose from his knees he
whispered to a friend; 〃It does move; nevertheless。〃 As some
excuse for him; he acted with the certainty that he would be
tortured if he did not recant; and at the worst he had only
affirmed that his scientific theory was in opposition to the
Scriptures。 He had not denied his master; like Peter; he had not
recanted the faith like Cranmer; he had simply yielded for fear of
bodily torments; and therefore was not sincere in the abjuration
which he made to save his life。 Nevertheless; his recantation was
a fall; and in the eyes of the scientific world perhaps greater
than that of Bacon。 Galileo was false to philosophy and himself。
Why did he suffer himself to be conquered by priests he despised?
Why did so bold and witty and proud a man betray his cause? Why
did he not accept the penalty of intellectual freedom; and die; if
die he must? What was life to him; diseased; infirm; and old?
What had he more to gain? Was it not a good time to die and
consummate his protests? Only one hundred and fifty years before;
one of his countrymen had accepted torture and death rather than
recant his religions opinions。 Why could not Galileo have been as
great in martyrdom as Savonarola? He was a renowned philosopher
and brilliant as a man of genius;but he was a man of the world;
he loved ease and length of days。 He could ridicule and deride
opponents; he could not suffer pain。 He had a great intellect; but
not a great soul。 There were flaws in his morality; he was
anything but a saint or hero。 He was great in mind; and yet he was
far from being great in character。 We pity him; while we exalt
him。 Nor is the world harsh to him; it forgives him for his
services。 The worst that can be said; is that he was not willing
to suffer and die for his opinions: and how many philosophers are
there who are willing to be martyrs?
Nevertheless; in the eyes of philosophers he has disgraced himself。
Let him then return to Florence; to his own Arceti。 He is a
silenced man。 But he is silenced; not because he believed with
Copernicus; but because he ridiculed his enemies and confronted the
Church; and in the eyes of blinded partisans had attacked divine
authority。 Why did Copernicus escape persecution? The Church must
have known that there was something in his discoveries; and in
those of Galileo; worthy of attention。 About this time Pascal
wrote: 〃It is vain that you have procured the condemnation of
Galileo。 That will never prove the earth to be at rest。 If
unerring observation proves that it turns round; not all mankind
together can keep it from turning; or themselves from turning with
it。〃
But let that persecution pass。 It is no worse than other
persecutions; either in Catholic or Protestant ranks。 It was no
worse than burning witches。 Not only is intolerance in human
nature; but there is a repugnance among the learned to receive new
opinions when these interfere with their ascendancy。 The
opposition to Galileo's discoveries was no greater than that of the
Protestant Church; half a century ago; to some of the inductions of
geology。 How bitter the hatred; even in our times; to such men as
Huxley and Darwin! True; they have not proved their theories as
Galileo did; but they gave as great a shock as he to the minds of
theologians。 All science is progressive; yet there are thousands
who oppose its progress。 And if learning and science should
establish a different meaning to certain texts from which
theological deductions are drawn; and these premises be undermined;
there would be the same bitterness among the defenders of the
present system of dogmatic theology。 Yet theology will live; and
never lose its dignity and importance; only; some of its present
assumptions may be discarded。 God will never be dethroned from the
world he governs; but some of his ways may appear to be different
from what was once supposed。 And all science is not only
progressive; but it appears to be bold and scornful and proud;at
least its advocates are and ever have been contemptuous of all
other departments of knowledge but its own。 So narrow and limited
is the human mind in the midst of its triumphs。 So full of
prejudices are even the learned and the great。
Let us turn then to give another glance at the fallen philosopher
in his final retreat at Arceti。 He lives under restrictions。 But
they allow him leisure and choice wines; of which he is fond; and
gardens and friends; and many come to do him reverence。 He amuses
his old age with the studies of his youth and manhood; and writes
dialogues on Motion; and even discovers the phenomena of the moon's
libration; and by means of the pendulum he gives additional
importance to astronomical science。 But he is not allowed to leave
his retirement; not even to visit his friends in Florence。 The
wrath of the Inquisition still pursues him; even in his villa at
Arceti in the suburbs of Florence。 Then renewed afflictions come。
He loses his daughter; who was devoted to him; and her death nearly
plunges him into despair。 The bulwarks of his heart break down; a
flood of grief overwhelms his stricken soul。 His appetite leaves
him; his health forsakes him; his infirmities increase upon him。
His right eye loses its power;that eye that had seen more of the
heavens than the eyes of all who had gone before him。 He becomes
blind and deaf; and cannot sleep; afflicted with rheumatic pains
and maladies forlorn。 No more for him is rest; or peace; or bliss;
still less the glories of his brighter days;the sight of
glittering fields; the gems of heaven; without which
〃Neither breath of Morn; when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
On this delightful land; nor herb; fruit; flower
Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;
Nor grateful evening mild; 。 。 。 is sweet。〃
No more shall he gaze on features that he loves; or stars; or
trees; or hills。 No more to him
〃Returns
Day; or the sweet approach of even or morn;
Or sight of vernal bloom; or summer's rose;
Or flocks; or herds; or human face divine;
But clouds; instead; and ever…during dark
Surround〃 'him'。
It was in those dreary desolate days at Arceti;
〃Unseen
In manly beauty Milton stood before him;
Gazing in reverent awe;Milton; his guest;
Just then come forth; all life and enterprise;
While he in his old age; 。 。 。
。 。 。 exploring with his staff;
His eyes upturned as to the golden sun;
His eyeballs idly rolling。〃
This may have been the punishment of his recantation;not
Inquisitorial torture; but the consciousness that he had lost his
honor。 Poor Galileo! thine illustrious visitor; when his
affliction came; could cast his sightless eyeballs inward; and see
and tell 〃things attempted yet in prose or rhyme;〃not
〃Rocks; caves; lakes; bogs; fens; and shades of death;
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
Where all life dies; death lives; and Nature breeds
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
Gorgons; and Hydras; and Chimeras dire;〃
but of 〃eternal Providence;〃 and 〃Eden with surpassing glory
crowned;〃 and 〃our first parents;〃 and of 〃salvation;〃 〃goodness
infinite;〃 of 〃wisdom;〃 which when known we need no higher though
all the stars we know by name;
〃All secrets of the deep; all Nature's works;
Or works of God in heaven; or air; or sea。〃
And yet; thou stricken observer of the heavenly bodies! hadst thou
but