historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)
world； would be long centuries of anarchy such as the world has not seen
for agesa true Ragnarok； a twilight of the very gods； an age such as the
wise woman foretold in the old Voluspe。
When brethren shall be Each other’s bane； And sisters’ sons rend The
ties of kin。 Hard will be that age； An age of bad women； An axe…age； a
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sword…age； Shields oft cleft in twain； A storm…age； a wolf…age； Ere earth
meet its doom。
So sang； 2000 years ago； perhaps； the great unnamed prophetess； of
our own race； of what might be； if we should fail mankind and our own
calling and election。
God grant that day may never e。 But God grant； also； that if that
day does e； then may e true also what that wise Vala sang； of the
day when gods； and men； and earth should be burnt up with fire。
When slaked Surtur’s flame is； Still the man and the maiden； Hight
Valour and Life； Shall keep themselves hid In the wood of remembrance。
The dew of the dawning For food it shall serve them： From them spring
new peoples。
New peoples。 For after all is said； the ideal form of human society
is democracy。
A nationand； were it even possible； a whole worldof free men；
lifting free foreheads to God and Nature； calling no man masterfor one is
their master； even God； knowing and obeying their duties towards the
Maker of the Universe； and therefore to each other； and that not from fear；
nor calculation of profit or loss； but because they loved and liked it； and
had seen the beauty of righteousness and trust and peace； because the law
of God was in their hearts； and needing at last； it may be； neither king nor
priest； for each man and each woman； in their place； were kings and
priests to God。 Such a nationsuch a societywhat nobler conception of
mortal existence can we form？ Would not that be； indeed； the kingdom
of God e on earth？
And tell me not that that is impossibletoo fair a dream to be ever
realised。 All that makes it impossible is the selfishness； passions；
weaknesses； of those who would be blest were they masters of themselves；
and therefore of circumstances； who are miserable because； not being
masters of themselves； they try to master circumstance； to pull down iron
walls with weak and clumsy hands； and forget that he who would be free
from tyrants must first be free from his worst tyrant； self。
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But tell me not that the dream is impossible。 It is so beautiful that it
must be true。 If not now； nor centuries hence； yet still hereafter。 God
would never； as I hold； have inspired man with that rich imagination had
He not meant to translate； some day； that imagination into fact。
The very greatness of the idea； beyond what a single mind or
generation can grasp； will ensure failure on failurefollies； fanaticisms；
disappointments； even crimes； bloodshed； hasty furies； as of children
baulked of their holiday。
But it will be at last fulfilled； filled full； and perfected； not perhaps
here； or among our peoples； or any people which now exist on earth：
but in some future civilisationit may be in far lands beyond the sea
when all that you and we have made and done shall be as the forest…grown
mounds of the old nameless civilisers of the Mississippi valley。
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RONDELET； ｛7｝ THE
HUGUENOT NATURALIST ｛8｝
〃Apollo； god of medicine； exiled from the rest of the earth； was
straying once across the Narbonnaise in Gaul； seeking to fix his abode
there。 Driven from Asia； from Africa； and from the rest of Europe； he
wandered through all the towns of the province in search of a place
propitious for him and for his disciples。 At last he perceived a new city；
constructed from the ruins of Maguelonne； of Lattes； and of Substantion。
He contemplated long its site； its aspect； its neighbourhood； and resolved
to establish on this hill of Montpellier a temple for himself and his priests。
All smiled on his desires。 By the genius of the soil； by the character of
the inhabitants； no town is more fit for the culture of letters； and above all
of medicine。 What site is more delicious and more lovely？ A heaven
pure and smiling； a city built with magnificence； men born for all the
labours of the intellect。 All around vast horizons and enchanting sites
meadows； vines； olives； green champaigns； mountains and hills； rivers；
brooks； lagoons； and the sea。 Everywhere a luxuriant vegetation
everywhere the richest production of the land and the water。 Hail to thee
sweet and dear city！ Hail； happy abode of Apollo； who spreadest afar the
light of the glory of thy name！〃
〃This fine tirade；〃 says Dr。 Maurice Raynaudfrom whose charming
book on the 〃Doctors of the Time of Moliere〃 I quote〃is not； as one
might think； the translation of a piece of poetry。 It is simply part of a
public oration by Francois Fanchon； one of the most illustrious chancellors
of the faculty of medicine of Montpellier in the seventeenth century。〃
〃From time immemorial；〃 he says； 〃’the faculty’ of Montpellier had made
itself remarkable by a singular mixture of the sacred and the profane。
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The theses which were sustained there began by an invocation to God； the
Blessed Virgin； and St。 Luke； and ended by these words： ’This thesis
will be sustained in the sacred Temple of Apollo。’〃
But however extravagant Chancellor Fanchon’s praises of his native
city may seem； they are really not exaggerated。 The Narbonnaise； or
Languedoc； is perhaps the most charming district of charming France。 In
the far north…east gleam the white Alps； in the far south…west the white
Pyrenees； and from the purple glens and yellow downs of the Cevennes on
the north…west； the Herault slopes gently down towards the 〃Etangs；〃 or
great salt…water lagoons； and the vast alluvial flats of the Camargue； the
field of Caius Marius； where still run herds of half…wild horses； descended
from some ancient Roman stock； while beyond all glitters the blue
Mediterranean。 The great almond orchards； each one sheet of rose…
colour in spring； the mulberry orchards； the oliveyards； the vineyards；
cover every foot of available upland soil： save where the rugged and
arid downs are sweet with a thousand odoriferous plants； from which the
bees extract the famous white honey of Narbonne。 The native flowers
and shrubs； of a beauty and richness rather Eastern than European； have
made the 〃Flora Montpeliensis；〃 and with it the names of Rondelet and his
disciples； famous among botanists； and the strange fish and shells upon its
shores afforded Rondelet materials for his immortal work upon the
〃Animals of the Sea。〃 The innumerable wild fowl of the Benches du
Rhone； the innumerable songsters and other birds of passage； many of
them unknown in these islands； and even in the north of France itself；
which haunt every copse of willow and aspen along the brook…sides； the
gaudy and curious insects which thrive beneath that clear； fierce； and yet
bracing sunlight； all these have made the district of Montpellier a home
prepared by Nature for those who study and revere her。
Neither was Chancellor Fanchon misled by patriotism； when he said
the pleasant people who inhabit that district are fit for all the labours of the
intellect。 They are a very mixed race； and； like most mixed r