historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)-第10章
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So with that other storyHow young Cyrus； giving out that his
grandfather had made him general of the Persians； summoned them all；
each man with a sickle in his hand； into a prairie full of thorns； and bade
them clear it in one day； and how when they； like loyal men； had finished；
he bade them bathe； and next day he took them into a great meadow and
feasted them with corn and wine； and all that his father's farm would yield；
and asked them which day they liked best； and； when they answered as
was to be expected； how he opened his parable and told them； 〃Choose；
then； to work for the Persians like slaves； or to be free with me。〃
Such a tale sounds to me true。 It has the very savour of the parables
of the Old Testament； as have； surely； the dreams of the old Sultan； with
which the tale begins。 Do they not put us in mind of the dreams of
Nebuchadnezzar； in the Book of Daniel？
Such stories are actually so beautiful that they are very likely to be true。
Understand me； I only say likely； the ditch…water view of history is not all
wrong。 Its advocates are right in saying great historic changes are not
produced simply by one great person； by one remarkable event。 They
have been preparing； perhaps for centuries。 They are the result of
numberless forces； acting according to laws； which might have been
foreseen； and will be foreseen； when the science of History is more
perfectly understood。
For instance； Cyrus could not have conquered the Median Empire at a
single blow； if first that empire had not been utterly rotten； and next； if he
and his handful of Persians had not been tempered and sharpened； by long
hardihood； to the finest cutting edge。
Yes； there were all the materials for the catastrophethe cannon； the
powder； the shot。 But to say that the Persians must have conquered the
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Medes； even if Cyrus had never lived； is to say； as too many philosophers
seem to me to say； that； given cannon； powder； and shot； it will fire itself
off some day if we only leave it alone long enough。
It may be so。 But our usual experience of Nature and Fact is； that
spontaneous bustion is a rare and exceptional phenomenon； that if a
cannon is to be fired； someone must arise and pull the trigger。 And I
believe that in Society and Politics； when a great event is ready to be done；
someone must e and do itdo it； perhaps； half unwittingly； by some
single rash actlike that first fatal shot fired by an electric spark。
But to return to Cyrus and his Persians。
I know not whether the 〃Cyropaedia〃 is much read in your schools and
universities。 But it is one of the books which I should like to see； either
in a translation or its own exquisite Greek； in the hands of every young
man。 It is not all fact。 It is but a historic romance。 But it is better than
history。 It is an ideal book； like Sidney's 〃Arcadia〃 or Spenser's 〃Fairy
Queen〃the ideal self… education of an ideal hero。 And the moral of the
bookponder it well； all young men who have the chance or the hope of
exercising authority among your follow…menthe noble and most
Christian moral of that heathen book is this： that the path to solid and
beneficent influence over our fellow…men lies； not through brute force； not
through cupidity； but through the highest morality； through justice；
truthfulness； humanity； self…denial； modesty； courtesy； and all which makes
man or woman lovely in the eyes of mortals or of God。
Yes； the 〃Cyropaedia〃 is a noble book； about a noble personage。 But
I cannot forget that there are nobler words by far concerning that same
noble personage； in the magnificent series of Hebrew Lyrics； which begins
〃fort ye； fort ye； my people； saith the Lord〃in which the
inspired poet； watching the rise of Cyrus and his Puritans； and the fall of
Babylon； and the idolatries of the East； and the ing deliverance of his
own countrymen； speaks of the Persian hero in words so grand that they
have been often enough applied； and with all fitness； to one greater than
Cyrus； and than all men：
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Who raised up the righteous man from the East； And called him to
attend his steps？ Who subdued nations at his presence； And gave him
dominion over kings？ And made them like the dust before his sword； And
the driven stubble before his bow？ He pursueth them； he passeth in safety；
By a way never trodden before by his feet。 Who hath performed and made
these things； Calling the generations from the beginning？ I； Jehovah； the
first and the last； I am the same。
Behold my servant； whom I will uphold； My chosen； in whom my soul
delighteth； I will make my spirit rest upon him； And he shall publish
judgment to the nations。 He shall not cry aloud； nor clamour； Nor cause
his voice to be heard in the streets。 The bruised reed he shall not break；
And the smoking flax he shall not quench。 He shall publish justice； and
establish it。 His force shall not be abated； nor broken； Until he has firmly
seated justice in the earth； And the distant nations shall wait for his Law。
Thus saith the God； even Jehovah； Who created the heavens； and stretched
them out； Who spread abroad the earth； and its produce： I； Jehovah； have
called thee for a righteous end； And I will take hold of thy hand； and
preserve thee； And I will give thee for a covenant to the people； And for a
light to the nations； To open the eyes of the blind； To bring the captives out
of prison； And from the dungeon those who dwell in darkness。 I am
Jehovahthat is my name； And my glory will I not give to another； Nor
my praise to the graven idols。
Who saith to CyrusThou art my shepherd； And he shall fulfil all my
pleasure： Who saith to JerusalemThou shalt be built； And to the Temple
Thou shalt be founded。 Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed； To Cyrus
whom I hold fast by his right hand； That I may subdue nations under him；
And loose the loins of kings； That I may open before him the two…leaved
doors； And the gates shall not be shut； I will go before thee And bring the
mountains low。 The gates of brass will I break in sunder； And the bars of
iron hew down。 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness； And the
hoards hid deep in secret places； That thou mayest know that I am Jehovah。
I have surnamed thee； though thou knowest not me。 I am Jehovah； and
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none else； Beside me there is no God。 I will gird thee； though thou hast not
known me； That they may know from the rising of the sun； And from the
west； that there is none beside me； I am Jehovah； and none else； Forming
light and creating darkness； Forming peace； and creating evil。 I； Jehovah；
make all these。
This is the Hebrew prophet's conception of the great Puritan of the
Old World who went forth with such a mission as this； to destroy the
idols of the East； while
The isles saw that； and feared； And the ends of the earth were afraid；
They drew near； they came together； Everyone helped his neighbour； And
said to his brother； Be of good courage。
The carver encouraged the smith； He that smoothed with the hammer
Him that smote on the anvil； Saying of the solder； It is good； And fixing
the idol with nails； lest it be moved；
But all in vain； for as the poet goes on：
Bel bowed down； and Nebo stooped； Their idols were upon the cattle；
A burden to the weary beast。 They stoop； they bow down together； They
could not deliver their own charge； Themselves are gone into captivity。
And what； to return； what was the end of the great Cyrus and of his
empire？
Alas； alas！ as with all human glory； the end was not as the beginning。
We are scarce bound to believe positively the story how Cyrus made
one war too many； and was cut off in the Scythian deserts； falling before
the arrows of mere savages； and how their queen； Tomyr
