按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Roman Empire； remember； was never stronger than when the old Patrician
blood had mingled itself with that of every nation round the
Mediterranean。
But it does not last。 Selfishness； luxury； ferocity； spread from above；
as well as from below。 The just aristocracy of virtue and wisdom
46
… Page 47…
Historical Lectures and Essays
bees an unjust one of mere power and privilege； that again； one of
mere wealth corrupting and corrupt； and is destroyed； not by the people
from below； but by the monarch from above。 The hereditary bondsmen
may know
Who would be free； Himself must strike the blow。
But they dare not； know not how。 The king must do it for them。
He must bee the State。 〃Better one tyrant；〃 as Voltaire said； 〃than
many。〃 Better stand in fear of one lion far away； than of many wolves；
each in the nearest wood。 And so arise those truly monstrous Eastern
despotisms； of which modern Persia is； thank God； the only remaining
specimen； for Turkey and Egypt are too amenable of late years to the
influence of the free nations to be counted as despotisms pure and simple
despotisms in which men； instead of worshipping a God…man； worship the
hideous counterfeit； a Man…goda poor human being endowed by public
opinion with the powers of deity； while he is the slave of all the
weaknesses of humanity。 But such； as an historic fact； has been the last
stage of every civilisation even that of Rome； which ripened itself upon
this earth the last in ancient times； and； I had almost said； until this very
day； except among the men who speak Teutonic tongues； and who have
preserved through all temptations； and reasserted through all dangers； the
free ideas which have been our sacred heritage ever since Tacitus beheld
us； with respect and awe； among our German forests； and saw in us the
future masters of the Roman Empire。
Yes； it is very sad； the past history of mankind。 But shall we despise
those who went before us； and on whose accumulated labours we now
stand？
Shall we not reverence our spiritual ancestors？ Shall we not show
our reverence by copying them； at least whenever； as in those old Persians；
we see in them manliness and truthfulness； hatred of idolatries； and
devotion to the God of light and life and good？ And shall we not feel
pity； instead of contempt； for their ruder forms of government； their
ignorances； excesses； failuresso excusable in men who； with little or no
47
… Page 48…
Historical Lectures and Essays
previous teaching； were trying to solve for themselves for the first time the
deepest social and political problems of humanity。
Yes； those old despotisms we trust are dead； and never to revive。 But
their corpses are the corpses； not of our enemies； but of our friends and
predecessors； slain in the world…old fight of Ormuzd against Ahriman
light against darkness； order against disorder。 Confusedly they fought； and
sometimes ill： but their corpses piled the breach and filled the trench
for us； and over their corpses we step on to what should be to us an easy
victorywhat may be to us； yet； a shameful ruin。
For if we be； as we are wont to boast； the salt of the earth and the light
of the world； what if the salt should lose its savour？ What if the light
which is in us should bee darkness？ For myself； when I look upon
the responsibilities of the free nations of modern times； so far from
boasting of that liberty in which I delightand to keep which I freely； too；
could dieI rather say； in fear and trembling； God help us on whom He
has laid so heavy a burden as to make us free； responsible； each individual
of us； not only to ourselves； but to Him and all mankind。 For if we fall
we shall fall I know not whither； and I dare not think。
How those old despotisms； the mighty empires of old time； fell； we
know； and we can easily explain。 Corrupt； luxurious； effeminate； eaten
out by universal selfishness and mutual fear； they had at last no organic
coherence。 The moral anarchy within showed through； at last burst
through； the painted skin of prescriptive order which held them together。
Some braver and abler； and usually more virtuous people； often some little；
hardy； homely mountain tribe； saw that the fruit was ripe for gathering；
and； caring naught for superior numbersand saying with German Alaric
when the Romans boasted of their numbers； 〃The thicker the hay the
easier it is mowed〃struck one brave blow at the huge inflated wind…bag
as Cyrus and his handful of Persians struck at the Medes； as Alexander
and his handful of Greeks struck afterwards at the Persiansand behold； it
collapsed upon the spot。 And then the victors took the place of the
conquered； and became in their turn an aristocracy； and then a despotism；
48
… Page 49…
Historical Lectures and Essays
and in their turn rotted down and perished。 And so the vicious circle
repeated itself； age after age； from Egypt and Assyria to Mexico and Peru。
And therefore； we； free peoples as we are； have need to watch； and
sternly watch； ourselves。 Equality of some kind or other is； as I said； our
natural and seemingly inevitable goal。 But which equality？ For there
are twoa true one and a false； a noble and a base； a healthful and a
ruinous。 There is the truly divine equality； and there is the brute equality
of sheep and oxen； and of flies and worms。 There is the equality which is
founded on mutual envy。 The equality which respects others； and the
equality which asserts itself。 The equality which longs to raise all alike；
and the equality which desires to pull down all alike。 The equality which
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； an