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！
e by Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans。 They fought for a country too narrow to contain the army by which the question was to be tried。 The contest was here to be decided between despotism and liberty； whether there is a principle in man； by which a handful of individuals； pervaded with lofty sentiments； and a conviction of what is of most worth in our nature； can defy the brute force； and put to flight the attack； of bones； joints and sinews； though congregated in multitudes； numberless as the waves of the sea； or the sands on its shore。 The flood finally rolled back： and in process of time Alexander； with these Greeks whom the ignorance of the East affected to despise； founded another universal monarchy on the ruins of Persia。 This is certainly no vulgar history。
Christianity is another of those memorable chapters in the annals of mankind； to which there is probably no second。 The son of a carpenter in a little； rocky country； among a nation despised and enslaved； undertook to reform the manners of the people of whom he was a citizen。 The reformation he preached was unpalatable to the leaders of the state； he was persecuted； and finally suffered the death reserved for the lowest malefactors； being nailed to a cross。 He was cut off in the very beginning of his career； before he had time to form a sect。 His immediate representatives and successors were tax…gatherers and fishermen。 What could be more incredible； till proved by the event； than that a religion thus begun； should have embraced in a manner the whole civilised world； and that of its kingdom there should be no visible end？ This is a novelty in the history of the world； equally if we consider it as brought about by the immediate interposition of the author of all things； or regard it； as some pretend to do； as happening in the course of mere human events。
Rome； 〃the eternal city；〃 is likewise a subject that stands out from the vulgar history of the human race。 Three times； in three successive forms； has she been the mistress of the world。 First； by the purity； the simplicity； the single…heartedness； the fervour and perseverance of her original character she qualified herself to subdue all the nations of mankind。 Next； having conquered the earth by her virtue and by the spirit of liberty； she was able to maintain her ascendancy for centuries under the emperors； notwithstanding all her astonishing profligacy and anarchy。 And； lastly； after her secular ascendancy had been destroyed by the inroads of the northern barbarians； she rose like the phoenix from her ashes； and； though powerless in material force； held mankind in subjection by the chains of the mind； and the consummateness of her policy。 Never was any thing so admirably contrived as the Catholic religion； to subdue the souls of men by the power of its worship over the senses； and； by its contrivances in auricular confession； purgatory； masses for the dead； and its claim magisterially to determine controversies； to hold the subjects it had gained in everlasting submission。
The great principle of originality is in the soul of man。 And here again we may recur to Greece； the parent of all that is excellent in art。 Painting； statuary； architecture； poetry； in their most exquisite and ravishing forms； originated in this little province。 Is not the Iliad a thing new； and that will for ever remain new？ Whether it was written by one man； as I believe； or； as the levellers of human glory would have us think； by many； there it stands： all the ages of the world present us nothing that can come in competition with it。
Shakespear is another example of unrivalled originality。 His fame is like the giant…rivers of the world： the further it flows； the wider it spreads out its stream； and the more marvellous is the power with which it sweeps along。
But； in reality； all poetry and all art； that have a genuine claim to originality； are new； the smallest； as well as the greatest。
It is the mistake of dull minds only； to suppose that every thing has been said； that human wit is exhausted； and that we； who have unfortunately fallen upon the dregs of time； have no alternative left； but either to be silent； or to say over and over again； what has been well said already。
There remain yet immense tracts of invention； the mines of which have been untouched。 We perceive nothing of the strata of earth； and the hidden fountains of water； that we travel over； unconscious of the treasures that are immediately within our reach； till some person； endowed with the gift of a superior sagacity； comes into the country； who appears to see through the opake and solid mass； as we see through the translucent air； and tells us of things yet undiscovered； and enriches us with treasures； of which we had been hitherto entirely ignorant。 The nature of the human mind； and the capabilities of our species are in like manner a magazine of undiscovered things； till some mighty genius comes to break the surface； and shew us the wonderful treasures that lay beneath uncalled for and idle。
Human character is like the contents of an ample cabinet； brought together by the untired zeal of some curious collector； who tickets his rarities with numbers； and has a catalogue in many volumes； in which are recorded the description and qualities of the things presented to our view。 Among the most splendid examples of character which the genius of man has brought to light； are Don Quixote and his trusty squire； sir Roger de Coverley； Parson Adams； Walter Shandy and his brother Toby。 Who shall set bounds to the everlasting variety of nature； as she has recorded her creations in the heart of man？ Most of these instances are recent； and sufficiently shew that the enterprising adventurer； who would aspire to emulate the illustrious men from whose writings these examples are drawn； has no cause to despair。
Vulgar observers pass carelessly by a thousand figures in the crowded masquerade of human society； which； when inscribed on the tablet by the pencil of a master； would prove not less wondrous in the power of affording pleasure； nor less rich as themes for inexhaustible reflection； than the most admirable of these。 The things are there； and all that is wanting is an eye to perceive； and a pen to record them。
As to a great degree we may subscribe to the saying of the wise man； that 〃there is nothing new under the sun；〃 so in a certain sense it may also be affirmed that nothing is old。 Both of these maxims may be equally true。 The prima materia； the atoms of which the universe is composed； is of a date beyond all record； and the figures which have yet been introduced into the most fantastic chronology； may perhaps be incompetent to represent the period of its birth。 But the ways in which they may be compounded are exhaustless。 It is like what the writers on the Doctrine of Chances tell us of the throwing of dice。 How many men now exist on the face of the earth？ Yet； if all these were brought together； and if； in addition to this； we could call up all the men that ever lived； it may be doubted； whether any two would be found so much alike； that a clear…sighted and acute observer might not surely distinguish the one from the other。 Leibnitz informs us； that no two leaves of a tree exist in the most spacious garden； that； upon examination； could be pronounced perfectly similar＇19＇。
＇19＇ See above； Essay 2。
The true question is not； whether any thing can be found that is new； but whether the particulars in which any thing is new may not be so minute and trifling； as scarcely to enter for any thing； into that grand and comprehensive view of the whole； in which matters of obvious insignificance are of no account。
But； if art and the invention of the human mind are exhaustless； science is even more notoriously so。 We stand but on the threshold of the knowledge of nature； and of the various ways in which physical power may be brought to operate for the accommodation of man。 This is a business that seems to be perpetually in progress； and； like the fall of bodies by the power of gravitation； appears to gain in momentum； in proportion as it advances to a greater distance from the point at which the impulse was given。 The discoveries which at no remote period have been made； would； if prophesied of； have been laughed to scorn by the ignorant sluggishness of former generations； and we are equally ready to regard with incredulity the discoveries yet unmade； which will be familiar to our posterity。 Indeed every man of a capacious and liberal mind is willing to admit； that the progress of human understanding in science； which is now going on； is altogether without any limits that by the most penetrating genius can be assigned。 It is like a mighty river； that flows on for ever and for ever； as far as the words； 〃for ever；〃 can have a meaning to the comprehension of mortals。 The question that remains is； our practicable improvement in literature and morals； and here those persons who entertain a mean opinion of human nature； are constantly ready to tell us that it will be found to amount to nothing。 However we may be continually improving in mechanical knowledge and ingenuity； we are assured by this party； that we shall never