historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)-第15章
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says： Thou art as good as I； and it may be better too； in the sight of God。
And the equality which says： I am as good as thou； and will therefore
see if I cannot master thee。
Side by side； in the heart of every free man； and every free people； are
the two instincts struggling for the mastery； called by the same name； but
bearing the same relation to each other as Marsyas to Apollo； the Satyr to
the God。 Marsyas and Apollo； the base and the noble； are； as in the old
Greek legend； contending for the prize。 And the prize is no less a one than
all free people of this planet。
In proportion as that nobler idea conquers； and men unite in the
equality of mutual respect and mutual service； they move one step farther
towards realising on earth that Kingdom of God of which it is written：
〃The despots of the nations exercise dominion over them； and they that
exercise authority over them are called benefactors。 But he that will be
great among you let him be the servant of all。〃
And in proportion as that base idea conquers； and selfishness； not self…
sacrifice； is the ruling spirit of a State； men move on； one step forward；
towards realising that kingdom of the devil upon earth； 〃Every man for
himself and the devil take the hindmost。〃 Only； alas！ in that evil equality
of envy and hate； there is no hindmost； and the devil takes them all alike。
And so is a period of discontent； revolution； internecine anarchy；
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followed by a tyranny endured； as in old Rome； by men once free； because
tyranny will at least do for them what they were too lazy and greedy and
envious to do for themselves。
And all because they have forgot What 'tis to be a manto curb and
spurn。 The tyrant in us： the ignobler self Which boasts； not loathes； its
likeness to the brute； And owns no good save ease； no ill save pain； No
purpose； save its share in that wild war In which； through countless ages；
living things pete in internecine greed。 Ah； loving God； Are we as
creeping things； which have no lord？ That we are brutes； great God； we
know too well； Apes daintier…featured； silly birds； who flaunt Their plumes；
unheeding of the fowler's step； Spiders； who catch with paper； not with
webs； Tigers； who slay with cannon and sharp steel； Instead of teeth and
claws：… all these we are。 Are we no more than these； save in degree？ Mere
fools of nature； puppets of strong lusts； Taking the sword； to perish by the
sword Upon the universal battle…field； Even as the things upon the moor
outside？
The heath eats up green grass and delicate herbs； The pines eat up the
heath； the grub the pine； The finch the grub； the hawk the silly finch； And
man； the mightiest of all beasts of prey； Eats what he lists。 The strong eat
up the weak； The many eat the few； great nations； small； And he who
eth in the name of all Shall； greediest； triumph by the greed of all； And；
armed by his own victims； eat up all。 While ever out of the eternal heavens
Looks patient down the great magnanimous God； Who； Master of all
worlds； did sacrifice All to Himself？ Nay： but Himself to all； Who
taught mankind； on that first Christmas Day； What 'tis to be a manto give；
not take； To serve； not rule； to nourish； not devour； To lift； not crush； if
need； to die； not live。
〃He that eth in the name of all〃the popular military despot the
〃saviour of his country〃he is our internecine enemy on both sides of the
Atlantic； whenever he risesthe inaugurator of that Imperialism； that
Caesarism into which Rome sank； when not her liberties merely； but her
virtues； were decaying out of herthe sink into which all wicked States；
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whether republics or monarchies； are sure to fall； simply because men
must eat and drink for to… morrow they die。 The Military and
Bureaucratic Despotism which keeps the many quiet； as in old Rome； by
PANEM ET CIRCENSESbread and gamesor； if need be； Pilgrimages；
that the few may make money； eat； drink； and be merry； as long as it can
last。 That； let it ape as it mayas did the Caesars of old Rome at firstas
another Emperor did even in our own daysthe forms of dead freedom；
really upholds an artificial luxury by brute force； and consecrates the
basest of all aristocracies； the aristocracy of the money…bag； by the divine
sanction of the bayonet。
That at all risks； even at the price of precious blood； the free peoples of
the earth must ward off from them； for； makeshift and stop…gap as it is； it
does not even succeed in what it tries to do。 It does not last。 Have we not
seen that it does not； cannot last？ How can it last？ This falsehood； like
all falsehoods； must collapse at one touch of Ithuriel's spear of truth and
fact。 And …
〃Then saw I the end of these men。 Namely； how Thou dost set them
in slippery places； and casteth them down。 Suddenly do they perish； and
e to a fearful end。 Yea； like as a dream when one awaketh； so shalt
Thou make their image to vanish out of the city。〃
Have we not seen that too； though； thank God； neither in England nor
in the United States？
And then？ What then？ None knows； and none can know。
The future of France and Spain； the future of the Tropical Republics of
Spanish America； is utterly blank and dark； not to be prophesied； I hold；
by mortal man； simply because we have no like cases in the history of the
past whereby to judge the tendencies of the present。 Will they revive？
Under the genial influences of free institutions will the good seed which is
in them take root downwards； and bear fruit upwards？ and make them all
what that fair France has been； in spite of all her faults； so often in past
yearsa joy and an inspiration to all the nations round？ Shall it be thus？
God grant it may； but He； and He alone； can tell。 We only stand by；
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watching； if we be wise； with pity and with fear； the working out of a
tremendous new social problem； which must affect the future of the whole
civilised world。
For if the agonising old nations fail to regenerate themselves； what can
befall？ What； when even Imperialism has been tried and failed； as fail it
must？ What but that lower depth within the lowest deep？
That last dread mood Of sated lust； and dull decrepitude。 No law； no
art； no faith； no hope； no God。 When round the freezing founts of life in
peevish ring； Crouched on the bare…worn sod； Babbling about the
unreturning spring； And whining for dead creeds； which cannot save； The
toothless nations shiver to their grave。
And we； who think we stand； let us take heed lest we fall。 Let us
accept； in modesty and in awe； the responsibility of our freedom； and
remember that that freedom can be preserved only in one old… fashioned
way。 Let us remember that the one condition of a true democracy is the
same as the one condition of a true aristocracy； namely； virtue。 Let us
teach our children； as grand old Lilly taught our forefathers 300 years ago…
…〃It is virtue； gentlemen； yea； virtue that maketh gentlemen； that maketh
the poor rich； the subject a king； the lowborn noble； the deformed
beautiful。 These things neither the whirling wheel of fortune can
overturn； nor the deceitful cavillings of worldlings separate； neither
sickness abate； nor age abolish。〃
Yes。 Let us teach our children thus on both sides of the Atlantic。 For
if theywhich God forbidshould grow corrupt and weak by their own
sins； there is no hardier race now left on earth to conquer our descendants
and bring them back to reason； as those old Jews were brought by bitter
shame and woe。 And all that is before them and the whole civilised
world； would be long centuries of anarchy such as the world has not seen
for a
