alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第34章
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eastward； to Cordova and to Bagdad； its commercial greatness had left it
for Cairo and Damietta。 But Egypt was still the centre of communication
between the two great stations of the Moslem power； and indeed； as Mr。
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Lane has shown in his most valuable translation of the 〃Arabian Nights；〃
possessed a peculiar life and character of its own。
It was the rash object of the Crusaders to extinguish that life。 Palestine
was their first point of attack： but the later Crusaders seem to have found；
like the rest of the world； that the destinies of Palestine could not be
separated from those of Egypt； and to Damietta； accordingly； was directed
that last disastrous attempt of St。 Louis； which all may read so graphically
described in the pages of Joinville。
The Crusaders failed utterly of the object at which they aimed。 They
succeeded in an object of which they never dreamed； for in those Crusades
the Moslem and the Christian had met face to face； and found that both
were men； that they had a common humanity； a common eternal standard
of nobleness and virtue。 So the Christian knights went home humbler
and wiser men； when they found in the Saracen emirs the same generosity；
truth； mercy； chivalrous self…sacrifice； which they had fancied their own
peculiar possession； and added to that； a civilisation and a learning which
they could only admire and imitate。 And thus； from the era of the
Crusades； a kindlier feeling sprang up between the Crescent and the Cross；
till it was again broken by the fearful invasions of the Turks throughout
Eastern Europe。 The learning of the Moslem； as well as their commerce；
began to pour rapidly into Christendom； both from Spain； Egypt； and Syria；
and thus the Crusaders were； indeed； rewarded according to their deeds。
They had fancied that they were bound to vindicate the possession of the
earth for Him to whom they believed the earth belonged。 He showed
themor rather He has shown us； their childrenthat He can vindicate His
own dominion better far than man can do it for Him； and their cruel and
unjust aim was utterly foiled。 That was not the way to make men know
or obey Him。 They took the sword； and perished by the sword。 But the
truly noble element in themthe element which our hearts and reasons
recognise and love； in spite of all the loud words about the folly and
fanaticism of the Crusades； whensoever we read 〃The Talisman〃 or
〃Ivanhoe〃the element of loyal faith and self…sacrificedid not go
unrequited。 They learnt wider； juster views of man and virtue； which I
cannot help believing must have had great effect in weakening in their
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minds their old； exclusive； and bigoted notions； and in paving the way for
the great outburst of free thought； and the great assertion of the dignity of
humanity； which the fifteenth century beheld。 They opened a path for
that influx of scientific knowledge which has produced； in after centuries；
the most enormous effects on the welfare of Europe； and made life
possible for millions who would otherwise have been pent within the
narrow bounds of Europe； to devour each other in the struggle for room
and bread。
But those Arabic translations of Greek authors were a fatal gift for
Egypt； and scarcely less fatal gift for Bagdad。 In that Almagest of
Ptolemy； in that Organon of Aristotle； which the Crusaders are said to have
brought home； lay； rude and embryotic； the germs of that physical science；
that geographical knowledge which has opened to the European the
commerce and the colonisation of the globe。 Within three hundred years
after his works reached Europe； Ptolemy had taught the Portuguese to sail
round Africa； and from that day the stream of eastern wealth flowed no
longer through the Red Sea； or the Persian Gulf； on its way to the new
countries of the West； and not only Alexandria； but Damietta and Bagdad；
dwindled down to their present insignificance。 And yet the whirligig of
time brings about its revenges。 The stream of commerce is now rapidly
turning back to its old channel； and British science bids fair to make
Alexandria once more the inn of all the nations。
It is with a feeling of awe that one looks upon the huge possibilities of
her future。 Her own physical capacities； as the great mind of Napoleon
saw； are what they always have been； inexhaustible； and science has learnt
to set at naught the only defect of situation which has ever injured her
prosperity； namely； the short land passage from the Nile to the Red Sea。
The fate of Palestine is now more than ever bound up with her fate； and a
British or French colony might； holding the two countries； develop itself
into a nation as vast as sprang from Alexander's handful of Macedonians；
and become the meeting point for the nations of the West and those great
Anglo…Saxon peoples who seem destined to spring up in the Australian
ocean。 Wide as the dream may appear； steam has made it a far narrower
one than the old actual fact； that for centuries the Phoenician and the
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Arabian interchanged at Alexandria the produce of Britain for that of
Ceylon and Hindostan。 And as for intellectual development； though
Alexandria wants； as she has always wanted； that insular and exclusive
position which seems almost necessary to develop original thought and
original national life； yet she may still act as the point of fusion for distinct
schools and polities； and the young and buoyant vigour of the new…born
nations may at once teach； and learn from； the prudence； the experience；
the traditional wisdom of the ancient Europeans。
This vision； however possible； may be a far…off one： but the first step
towards it； at least； is being laid before our eyesand that is； a fresh
reconciliation between the Crescent and the Cross。 Apart from all
political considerations； which would be out of place here； I hail； as a
student of philosophy； the school which is now； both in Alexandria and in
Constantinople； teaching to Moslem and to Christians the same lesson
which the Crusaders learnt in Egypt five hundred years ago。 A few years'
more perseverance in the valiant and righteous course which Britain has
now chosen； will reward itself by opening a vast field for capital and
enterprise； for the introduction of civil and religious liberty among the
down…trodden peasantry of Egypt； as the Giaour becomes an object of
respect； and trust； and gratitude to the Moslem； and as the feeling that
Moslem and Giaour own a common humanity； a common eternal standard
of justice and mercy； a common sacred obligation to perform our promi
