第2章

WasAlexandriathen，frombeginningtoend，merelyanaturalandphysicalphenomenon？ Itmayhavebeen。AndyetwecannotdenythatAlexandriawasalsoametaphysicalphenomenon，vastanddeepenough；seeingthatitheldforsomeeighteenhundredyearsapopulationofseveralhundredthousandsouls；eachofwhom，atleastaccordingtotheAlexandrianphilosophy，stoodinaveryintimaterelationtothosemetaphysicthingswhichareimperishableandimmovableandeternal，andindeed，containedthemmoreorless，eachman，woman，andchildoftheminthemselves；havingwills，reasons，consciences，affections，relationstoeachother；beingparents，children，helpmates，boundtogetherbylawsconcerningrightandwrong，andnumberlessotherunseenandspiritualrelations。 Surelysuchabodywasnotmerelynatural，anymorethananyothernation，society，orscientificschool，madeupofmenandofthespirits，thoughts，affectionsofmen。It，likethem，wassurelyspiritual；andcouldbeonlylivingandhealthy，inasfarasitwasinharmonywithcertainspiritual，unseen，andeverlastinglawsofGod； perhaps，ascertainAlexandrianphilosopherswouldhaveheld，inasfarasitwasapatternofthatidealconstitutionandpolityafterwhichmanwascreated，thecityofGodwhichiseternalintheHeavens。Ifso，maywenotsuspectofthisAlexandriathatitwasitsownfaultifitbecameamerelyphysicalphenomenon；andthatitstoopedtobecomeapartofnature，andtookitsplaceamongthethingswhichareborntodie，onlybybreakingthelawwhichGodhadappointedforit；sofulfilling，initsowncase，St。Paul\'sgreatwords，thatdeathenteredintotheworldbysin，andthatsinisthetransgressionofthelaw？ Bethatasitmay，theremusthavebeenmetaphysicenoughtobelearntinthat，oranycityofthreehundredthousandinhabitants，eventhoughithadnevercontainedlecture-roomorphilosopher\'schair，andhadneverheardthenamesofAristotleandPlato。Metaphysicenough，indeed，tobelearntthere，couldwebutenterintotheheartofeventhemostbrutishnegroslavewhoeverwasbroughtdowntheNileoutofthedesertbyNubianmerchants，tobuildpiersanddocksinwhosecommercehedidnotshare，templeswhoseworshiphedidnotcomprehend，librariesandtheatreswhoselearningandcivilisationweretohimasmuchasealedbookastheyweretohiscountryman，andfellow-slave，andonlyfriend，theape。Therewasmetaphysicenoughinhimtruly，andthingseternalandimmutable，thoughhisdark-skinneddescendantswerethreehundredyearsindiscoveringthefact，andinprovingitsatisfactorilytoallmankindforever。YoumustpardonmeifIseemobscure；IcannothelplookingatthequestionwithasomewhatAlexandrianeye，andtalkingofthepoornegrodock-workerascertainAlexandrianphilosopherswouldhavetalked，ofwhomIshallhavetospeakhereafter。 Ishouldhavebeenglad，therefore，hadtimepermittedme，insteadofconfiningmyselfstrictlytowhatarenowcalled\"thephysicandmetaphysicschools\"ofAlexandria，tohavetriedaswellasIcouldtomakeyouunderstandhowthewholevastphenomenongrewup，andsupportedapeculiarlifeofitsown，forfifteenhundredyearsandmore，andwasfelttobethethird，perhapsthesecondcityoftheknownworld，andonesoimportanttothegreatworld-tyrant，theCaesarofRome，thatnoRomanofdistinctionwaseversentthereasprefect，buttheAlexandriannationalvanityandprideofracewasallowedtothelasttopetitselfbyhavingitstyrantchosenfromitsownpeople。 But，thoughthiscannotbe，wemayfindhumanelementsenoughintheschoolsofAlexandria，strictlysocalled，tointerestusforafewevenings；fortheseschoolswereschoolsofmen；whatwasdiscoveredandtaughtwasdiscoveredandtaughtbymen，andnotbythinking-machines； andwhethertheywouldhavebeeninclinedtoconfessitornot，theirownpersonalcharacters，likesanddislikes，hopesandfears，strengthandweakness，beliefsanddisbeliefs，determinedtheirmetaphysicsandtheirphysicsforthem，quiteenoughtoenableustofeelforthemasmenoflikepassionswithourselves；andforthatreasononly，menwhosethoughtsandspeculationsareworthyofamoment\'sattentionfromus。 Forwhatisreallyinterestingtoman，savemen，andGod，theFatherofmen？ Intheyear331B。C。oneofthegreatestintellectswhoseinfluencetheworldhaseverfelt，saw，withhiseagleglance，theunrivalledadvantageofthespotwhichisnowAlexandria；andconceivedthemightyprojectofmakingitthepointofunionoftwo，orratherofthreeworlds。Inanewcity，namedafterhimself，Europe，Asia，andAfricaweretomeetandtoholdcommunion。Aglanceatthemapwillshowyouwhatan[Greektext:omphalosgees]，acentreoftheworld，thisAlexandriais，andperhapsarouseinyourminds，asithasoftendoneinmine，thesuspicionthatithasnotyetfulfilleditswholedestiny，butmaybecomeatanytimeaprizeforcontendingnations，orthecentreofsomeworld-wideempiretocome。CommunicatingwithEuropeandtheLevantbytheMediterranean，withIndiabytheRedSea，certainofboundlesssuppliesoffoodfromthedesert-guardedvalleyoftheNile，towhichitformedtheonlykey，thuskeepingallEgypt，asitwere，foritsownprivatefarm，itwasweakonlyononeside，thatofJudea。Thatsmallstripoffertilemountainland containinginnumerablemilitarypositionsfromwhichanenemymightannoyEgypt，being，infact，onenaturalchainoffortresses，wasthekeytoPhoeniciaandSyria。Itwasaneagle\'seyriebythesideofapenoffowls。Itmustnotbeleftdefencelessforasingleyear。TyreandGazahadbeentaken；sonodangerwastobeapprehendedfromtheseaboard:buttosubduetheJudeanmountaineers，aracewhosepastsufferingshadhardenedtheminadoggedfanaticismofcourageandendurance，wouldbealongandsanguinarytask。Itwasbettertomaketermswiththem；toemploythemasfriendlywardersoftheirownmountainwalls。Theirveryfanaticismandisolationmadethemsureallies。TherewasnofearoftheirfraternisingwiththeEasterninvaders。Ifthecountrywasleftintheirhands，theywouldholditagainstallcomers。Termsweremadewiththem；andforseveralcenturiestheyfulfilledtheirtrust。 ThisIapprehendtobetheexplanationofthatconciliatorypolicyofAlexander\'stowardtheJews，whichwaspursuedsteadilybythePtolemies，byPompey，andbytheRomans，aslongasthesesameJewscontinuedtobeendurableuponthefaceoftheland。Atleast，weshallfindthehistoryofAlexandriaandthatofJudeainextricablyunitedformorethanthreehundredyears。 Soarose，atthecommandofthegreatconqueror，amightycity，aroundthosetwoharbours，ofwhichthewesternoneonlyisnowinuse。ThePharoswasthenanisland。Itwasconnectedwiththemainlandbyagreatmole，furnishedwithfortsanddrawbridges。Ontheruinsofthatmolenowstandsthegreaterpartofthemoderncity；thevastsiteoftheancientoneisawilderness。 ButAlexanderwasnotdestinedtocarryouthisownmagnificentproject。 Thatwasleftforthegeneralwhomhemostesteemed，andtowhosepersonalprowesshehadonceowedhislife；amanthanwhomhistoryknowsfewgreater，Ptolemy，thesonofLagus。Hewasanadventurer，thesonofanadventurer，hismotheracast-offconcubineofPhilipofMacedon。TherewerethosewhosaidthathewasinrealityasonofPhiliphimself。However，heroseatcourt，becameaprivatefriendofyoungAlexander，andatlasthisSomatophylax，somesortofColoneloftheLifeGuards。Andfromthenceheroserapidly，tillafterhisgreatmaster\'sdeathhefoundhimselfdespotofEgypt。 Hisface，asitappearsonhiscoins，isoftheloftiestandmostJove- liketypeofGreekbeauty。Thereisapossibilityaboutit，asaboutmostoldGreekfaces，ofboundlesscunning；aloftyironytoo，andacontemptuousness，especiallyaboutthemouth，whichputsoneinmindofGoethe\'sexpression；theface，altogether，ofonewhoknewmentoowelltorespectthem。Atleast，hewasamanofclearenoughvision。Hesawwhatwasneededinthosestrangetimes，andhewentstraighttothethingwhichhesaw。ItwashiswisdomwhichperceivedthatthehugeamorphousempireofAlexandercouldnotbekepttogether，andadviseditspartitionamongthegenerals，takingcaretoobtainhimselfthelion\'sshare；notinsize，indeed，butincapability。Hesaw，too(whateverymandoesnotsee)，thattheonlywaytokeepwhathehadgotwastomakeitbetter，andnotworse，thanhefoundit。HisfirstEgyptianactwastoputtodeathCleomenes，Alexander\'slieutenant，whohadamassedvasttreasuresbyextortion；andwhowas，moreover，(forPtolemywasaprudentman)adangerouspartisanofhisgreatenemy，Perdiccas。 Wedonotreadthatherefundedthetreasures:buttheEgyptianssurnamedhimSoter，theSaviour；andonthewholehedeservedthetitle。 InsteadofthewretchedmisruleandslaveryoftheconqueringPersiandynasty，theyhadatleastlawandorder，revivingcommerce，andasystemofadministration，wearetold(Iconfesstospeakingherequiteatsecond-hand)，especiallyadaptedtothepeculiarcaste-society，andthereligiousprejudicesofEgypt。ButPtolemy\'spoliticalgeniuswentbeyondsuchmerelymaterialandWarburtoniancarefortheconservationofbodyandgoodsofhissubjects。Heeffectedwithcompletesuccessafeatwhichhasbeenattempted，beforeandsince，byverymanyprincesandpotentates，buthasalways，exceptinPtolemy\'scase，provedsomewhatofafailure，namely，themakinganewdeity。Mythologyingeneralwasinarustystate。TheoldEgyptiangodshadgrowninhisdominionsveryunfashionable，underthesummaryiconoclasmtowhichtheyhadbeensubjectedbytheMonotheistPersians——thePuritansoftheoldworld，astheyhavebeenwellcalled。Indeed，allthedolls，andthetreasureofthedolls\'templestoo，hadbeencarriedoffbyCambysestoBabylon。AndasfortheGreekgods，philosophershadsublimedthemawaysadlyduringthelastcentury:nottomentionthatAlexander\'sMacedonians，duringtheirwanderingsovertheworld，hadprobablybecomeratherremissintheirreligiousexercises，andhadpossiblygivenupmentioningtheUnseenworld，exceptforthosehortatorypurposesforwhichitusedtobeemployedbyNelson\'sveterans。But，asPtolemyfelt，people(womenespecially)musthavesomethingwhereintobelieve。 The\"ReligiousSentiment\"inmanmustbesatisfied。But，howtodoit？ Howtofindadeitywhowouldmeettheaspirationsofconquerorsaswellasconquered——ofhismostirreligiousMacedonians，aswellasofhismostreligiousEgyptians？Itwasagreatproblem:butPtolemysolvedit。HeseemstohavetakenthesamemethodwhichBrindleytheengineerusedinhisperplexities，forhewenttobed。Andtherehehadadream: HowtheforeigngodSerapis，ofPontus(somewherenearthispresenthaplessSinope)，appearedtohim，andexpressedhiswishtocometoAlexandria，andtheretryhisinfluenceontheReligiousSentiment。SoSerapiswassentfor，andcame——atleasttheidolofhim，and—— accommodatingpersonage!——heactuallyfitted。Afterhehadbeenthereawhile，hewasfoundtobequiteanoldacquaintance——tobe，infact，theGreekJove，andtwoorthreeotherGreekgods，andalsotwoorthreeEgyptiangodsbeside——indeed，tobenootherthanthebullApis，afterhisdeathanddeification。Icantellyounomore。Inevercouldfindthatanythingmorewasknown。YoumayseehimamongGreekandRomanstatuesasayoungman，withasortofhighbasket-shapedPersianturbanonhishead。But，atleast，hewasfoundsopleasantandaccommodatingaconscience-keeper，thathespread，withIsis，hisnewly-foundmother，orwife，overthewholeEast，andeventoRome。TheConsulsthere——50 yearsB。C——foundthepairnottoorespectable，andpulleddowntheirtemples。But，sopopularwerethey，inspiteoftheirbadfame，thatsevenyearsafter，theTriumvirshadtobuildthetemplesupagainelsewhere；andfromthattimeforth，IsisandSerapis，inspite，poorthings，ofmuchpersecution，werethefashionabledeitiesoftheRomanworld。SurelythisPtolemywasamanofgenius! ButPtolemyhadevenmoreimportantworktodothanmakinggods。Hehadtomakemen；forhehadfewornonereadymadeamonghisoldveteransfromIssusandArbela。Hehadnohereditaryaristocracy:andhewantednone。Noaristocracyofwealth；thatmightgrowofitself，onlytoofastforhisdespoticpower。Butasadespot，hemusthaveaknotofmenroundhimwhowoulddohiswork。Andherecameouthisdeepinsightintofact。Ithadnotescapedthatman，whatwasthesecretofGreeksupremacy。Howhadhecomethere？Howhadhisgreatmasterconqueredhalftheworld？Howhadthelittlesemi-barbarousmountaintribeupthereinPella，risenunderPhiliptobethemaster-raceoftheglobe？ How，indeed，hadXenophonandhisTenThousand，howhadthehandfulsofSalamisandMarathon，heldouttriumphantlycenturyaftercentury，againstthevastweightofthebarbarian？Thesimpleanswerwas: BecausetheGreekhasmind，thebarbarianmerebruteforce。Becausemindisthelordofmatter；becausetheGreekbeingthecultivatedman，istheonlytrueman；therestare[Greektext:barbaroi]，merethings，clods，toolsforthewiseGreeks\'use，inspiteofalltheirmaterialphantom-strengthofelephants，andtreasures，andtributariesbythemillion。MindwasthesecretofGreekpower；andforthatPtolemywouldwork。Hewouldhaveanaristocracyofintellect；hewouldgatherroundhimthewisemenoftheworld(gladenoughmostofthemtoleavethatmiserableGreece，whereeveryman\'slifewasinhishandfromhourtohour)，andhewoulddeveloptoitshighesttheconceptionofPhilip，whenhemadeAristotlethetutorofhissonAlexander。Theconsequencesofthatattemptwerewritteninlettersofblood，overhalftheworld； Ptolemywouldattemptitoncemore，withgentlerresults。Forthoughhefoughtlong，andoften，andwell，asDespotofEgypt，nolessthanasgeneralofAlexander，hewasnotatheartamanofblood，andmadepeacetheendofallhiswars。 Sohebegins。Aristotleisgone:butinAristotle\'splacePhiletasthesweetsingerofCos，andZenodotusthegrammarianofEphesus，shalleducatehisfavouriteson，andhewillhavealiterarycourt，andaliteraryage。DemetriusPhalereus，theAdmirableCrichtonofhistime，thelastofAtticorators，statesman，philosopher，poet，warrior，andeachoftheminthemostgraceful，insinuating，courtlyway，migratestoAlexandria，afterhavinghadthethreehundredandsixtystatues，whichtheAthenianshadtoohastilyerectedtohishonour，ashastilypulleddownagain。HerewasaprizeforPtolemy!Thecharmingmanbecamehisbosomfriendandfellow，evenrevisedthelawsofhiskingdom，andfiredhim，ifreportsaystrue，withamightythought——nolessaonethanthegreatpublicLibraryofAlexandria；thefirstsuchinstitution，itissaid，whichtheworldhadeverseen。 SoalibraryisbegunbySoter，andorganisedandcompletedbyPhiladelphus；orrathertwolibraries，forwhileonepartwaskeptattheSerapeium，thatvasttempleontheinlandrisingground，ofwhich，asfaraswecandiscover，Pompey\'sPillaraloneremains，onecolumnoutoffourhundred，therestwasintheBrucheionadjoiningthePalaceandtheMuseum。PhiladelphusbuysAristotle\'scollectiontoaddtothestock，andEuergetescheatstheAtheniansoutoftheoriginalMSS。ofAEschylus，Sophocles，andEuripides，andaddslargelytoitbymorehonestmethods。Eumenes，KingofPergamusinAsiaMinor，firedwithemulation，commencesasimilarcollection，andissosuccessful，thatthereigningPtolemyhastocutoffhisrival\'ssuppliesbyprohibitingtheexportationofpapyrus；andthePergamenianbooksarehenceforthtranscribedonparchment，parchemin，Pergamene，whichthushasitsnametothisday，fromPergamus。Thatcollection，too，founditswayatlasttoAlexandria。ForAntonyhavingbecomepossessorofitbyrightofthestronger，gaveittoCleopatra；anditremainedatAlexandriaforsevenhundredyears。Butwemustnotanticipateevents。 ThentheremustbebesidesaMouseion，aTempleoftheMuses，withalldueappliances，inavastbuildingadjoiningthepalaceitself，undertheverywingofroyalty；anditmusthaveporticos，whereinsagesmayconverse；lecture-rooms，wheretheymaydisplaythemselvesattheirwilltotheirraptscholars，eachlikeaturkey-cockbeforehisbrood；andalargedining-hall，wheretheymayenjoythemselvesinmoderation，asbefitssages，notwithoutpunsandrepartees，epigrams，anagrams，andAtticsalt，tobefatal，alas，topoorDiodorusthedialectician。ForStilpo，princeofsophists，havingsilencedhimbysomequibblingpuzzleoflogic，PtolemysurnamedhimChronostheSlow。PoorDiodoruswenthome，tookpenandink，wroteatreatiseontheawfulnothing，anddiedindespair，leavingfive\"dialecticaldaughters\"behindhim，tobethornsinthesidesofsomefivehaplessmenofMacedonia，as\"emancipatedwomen；\"aclassbuttoocommoninthelaterdaysofGreece，astheywillalwaysbe，perhaps，incivilisationswhicharedecayingandcrumblingtopieces，leavingtheirmemberstoseekinbewildermentwhattheyare，andwhatbondsconnectthemwiththeirfellow-beings。Buttoreturn:fundsshallbeprovidedfortheMuseumfromthetreasury；apriestofrank，appointedbyroyalty，shallbecurator；botanicalandzoologicalgardensshallbeattached；collectionsofwondersmade。InallthingsthepresidinggeniusofAristotleshallbeworshipped；forthese，likeAlexander，werehispupils。Hadhenotmappedoutallheavenandearth，thingsseenandunseen，withhisentelechies，andenergies，anddunameis，andputeverycreatedanduncreatedthinghenceforthintoitsproperplace，fromtheascidiansandpolypesoftheseatothevirtuesandthevices——yea，tothatGreatDeityandPrimeCause(whichindeedwasallthings)，NoesisNoeseon，\"theThoughtofThoughts，\"whomhediscoveredbyirrefragableprocessesoflogic，andinwhomthephilosophersbelieveprivately，leavingSerapistothewomenandthesailors？Alltheyhadtodowastofollowinhissteps；totakeeachofthemabranch，ofscienceorliterature，orasmanybranchesasonemanconvenientlycan；andworkingthemoutontheapprovedmethods，endinafewyears，asAlexanderdid，byweepingontheutmostshoreofcreationthattherearenomoreworldslefttoconquer。 Alas!theMusesareshyandwild；andthoughtheywillhaunt，likeskylarks，onthebleakestnorthernmoorascheerfullyasonthesunnyhillsofGreece，andrisethencesingingintotheheavenofheavens，yettheyarehardtotemptintoagildedcage，howeveramusinglymadeandplentifullystoredwithcomforts。Royalsocieties，associationsofsavants，andthelike，aregoodformanythings，butnotforthebreedingofartandgenius:fortheyarethingswhichcannotbebred。 Suchinstitutionsareexcellentforphysicalscience，when，asamongusnow，physicalscienceisgoingontherightmethod:butwhere，asinAlexandria，itwasgoingonanutterlywrongmethod，theystereotypetheerrorsoftheage，andinvestthemwiththeprestigeofauthority，andproducemereSorbonnes，andschoolsofpedants。Toliterature，too，theydosomegood，thatis，inaliteraryage——anageofreflectionratherthanofproduction，ofantiquarianresearch，criticism，imitation，whenbook-makinghasbecomeaneasyandrespectablepursuitforthemanywhocannotdig，andareashamedtobeg。Andyet，byaddingthatsameprestigeofauthority，nottomentionofgoodsocietyandCourtfavour，tothepopularmaniaforliterature，theyhelponthegrowingevil，andincreasethemultitudeofprophetswhoprophesyoutoftheirownheartandhaveseennothing。 Andthiswas，itmustbesaid，theoutcomeofallthePtolemaeanappliances。 InPhysicstheydidlittle。InArtnothing。InMetaphysicslessthannothing。 Wewillfirstexamine，asthemorepleasantspectacleofthetwo，thatbranchofthoughtinwhichsomeprogresswasreallymade，andinwhichthePtolemaicschoolshelpedforwardthedevelopmentofmenwhohavebecomeworld-famous，andwillremainso，Isuppose，untiltheendoftime。 Fournamesatonceattractus:Euclid，Aristarchus，Eratosthenes，Hipparchus。Archimedes，also，shouldbeincludedinthelist，forhewasapupiloftheAlexandrianschool，havingstudied(ifProclusistobetrusted)inEgypt，underConontheSamian，duringthereignsoftwoPtolemies，PhiladelphusandEuergetes。 OfEuclid，asthefounder(accordingtoProclus)oftheAlexandrianMathematicalschool，Imustofcoursespeakfirst。Thosewhowishtoattaintoajusterconceptionofthemanandhisworkthantheycandofromanyothersource，willdowelltoreadProfessorDeMorgan\'sadmirablearticleonhimin\"Smith\'sClassicalDictionary；\"whichincludes，also，avaluablelittlesketchoftheriseofGeometricscience，fromPythagorasandPlato，ofwhoseschoolEuclidwas，tothegreatmasterhimself。 IshallconfinemyselftooneobservationonEuclid\'sgenius，andontheimmenseinfluencewhichitexertedonaftergenerations。Itseemstome，speakingundercorrection，thatitexertedthis，because itwassocompleteatypeofthegeneraltendencyoftheGreekmind，deductive，ratherthaninductive；ofunrivalledsubtletyinobtainingresultsfromprinciples，andresultsagainfromthemadinfinitum:deficientinthatsturdymoralpatiencewhichisrequiredfortheexaminationoffacts，andwhichhasmadeBritainatoncealandofpracticalcraftsmen，andofearnestscientificdiscoverers。 Volatile，restless，\"alwayschildrenlongingforsomethingnew，\"astheEgyptianpriestsaidofthem，theyweretooreadytobelievethattheyhadattainedlaws，andthen，tiredwiththeirtoy，throwawaythosehastilyassumedlaws，andwanderoffinsearchofothers。Gifted，beyondallthesonsofmen，withthemostexquisiteperceptionofform，bothphysicalandmetaphysical，theycouldbecomegeometersandlogiciansastheybecamesculptorsandartists；beyondthattheycouldhardlyrise。Thewereconsciousoftheirpowertobuild；anditmadethemashamedtodig。 Fourmenonlyamongthemseem，asfarasIcanjudge，tohavehadagreatinductivepower:SocratesandPlatoinMetaphysics；ArchimedesandHipparchusinPhysics。Butthesemenransofarcountertothenationalgenius，thattheirexampleswerenotfollowed。Asyouwillhearpresently，thediscoveriesofArchimedesandHipparchuswereallowedtoremainwheretheywereforcenturies。TheDialecticofPlatoandSocrateswasdegradedintoamereartformakinganythingappearalternatelytrueandfalse，andamongtheMegaricschool，forunderminingthegroundofallscience，andpavingthewayforscepticism，bydenyingthenaturalworldtobetheobjectofcertainknowledge。TheonlyelementofPlato\'sthoughttowhichtheyclungwas，asweshallfindfromtheNeoplatonists，hisphysicalspeculations；inwhich，desertinghisinductivemethod，hehasfallenbelowhimselfintothepopularcacoethes，andPythagoreandeductivedreamsaboutthemysteriouspowersofnumbers，andoftheregularsolids。 Suchapeople，whentheytooktostudyingphysicalscience，wouldbe，andinfactwere，incapableofChemistry，Geognosy，ComparativeAnatomy，oranyofthatnoblechoirofsistersciences，whicharenowbuildingupthematerialaswellastheintellectualgloryofBritain。 ToAstronomy，ontheotherhand，thepupilsofEuclidturnednaturally，astothesciencewhichrequiredthegreatestamountoftheirfavouritegeometry:buteventhattheywerecontenttoletpassfromitsinductivetoitsdeductivestage——notaswehavedonenow，aftertwocenturiesofinductivesearchforthetruelaws，andtheirfinaldiscoverybyKeplerandNewton:butassoonasHipparchushadpropoundedanytheorywhichwoulddoinsteadofthetruelaws，contenttheretostoptheirexperiments，andreturntotheirfavouriteworkofcommenting，deducing，spinningnotionoutofnotion，adinfinitum。 Still，theywerenotallofthistemper。Hadtheybeen，theywouldhavediscovered，notmerelyalittle，butabsolutelynothing。Forafterall，ifwewillconsider，inductionbeingtherightpathtoknowledge，everyman，whetherheknowsitornot，usesinduction，moreorless，bythemerefactofhishavingahumanreason，andknowinganythingatall；asM。Jourdaintalkedproseallhislifewithoutbeingawareofit。 Aristarchusisprincipallyfamousforhisattempttodiscoverthedistanceofthesunascomparedwiththatofthemoon。Hismethodwasingeniousenough，buttooroughforsuccess，asitdependedprincipallyonthebeliefthatthelineboundingthebrightpartofthemoonwasanexactstraightline。Theresultwasofcourseerroneous。Heconcludedthatthesunwas18timesasfarasthemoon，andnot，aswenowknow，400；buthisconclusion，likehisconceptionofthevastextentofthesphereofthefixedstars，wasfarenoughinadvanceofthepopulardoctrinetosubjecthim，accordingtoPlutarch，toachargeofimpiety。 Eratosthenes，again，contributedhismitetothetreasureofhumanscience——hisonemite；andyetbythatheisbetterknownthanbyallthevolumeswhichheseemstohavepouredout，onEthics，Chronology，CriticismontheOldAtticComedy，andwhatnot，spunoutofhiswearybrainduringalonglifeofresearchandmeditation。Theyhaveallperished，——likeninety-ninehundredthsofthelaboursofthatgreatliteraryage；andperhapstheworldisnopoorerfortheloss。Butonething，whichheattemptedonasoundandpracticalphilosophicmethod，stands，andwillstandforever。Andafterall，isnotthatenoughtohavelivedfor？tohavefoundoutonetruething，and，therefore，oneimperishablething，inone\'slife？Ifeachoneofuscouldbutsaywhenhedied:\"ThisonethingIhavefoundout；thisonethingIhaveprovedtobepossible；thisoneeternalfactIhaverescuedfromHela，therealmoftheformlessandunknown，\"howrichonesuchgenerationmightmaketheworldforever! Butsuchisnottheappointedmethod。Thefindersarefewandfarbetween，becausethetrueseekersarefewandfarbetween；andawholegenerationhasoftennothingtoshowforitsexistencebutonesolitarygemwhichsomeoneman——oftenunnoticedinhistime——haspickedupforthem，andsogiventhem\"alocalhabitationandaname。\" EratostheneshadheardthatinSyene，inUpperEgypt，deepwellswereenlightenedtothebottomonthedayofthesummersolstice，andthatverticalobjectscastnoshadows。 Hehadbeforesuggested，asissupposed，toPtolemyEuergetes，tomakehimthetwogreatcopperarmillae，orcirclesfordeterminingtheequinox，whichstoodforcenturiesin\"thatwhichiscalledtheSquarePorch\"——probablysomewhereintheMuseum。Bythesehehadcalculatedtheobliquityoftheecliptic，closelyenoughtoserveforathousandyearsafter。Thatwasoneworkdone。ButwhathadtheSyeneshadowstodowiththat？Syenemustbeunderthatecliptic。Ontheedgeofit。 Inshort，justunderthetropic。Nowhehadascertainedexactlythelatitudeofoneplaceontheearth\'ssurface。Hehadhisknownpointfromwhencetostartonaworld-journey，andhewoulduseit；hewouldcalculatethecircumferenceoftheearth——andhedidit。ByobservationsmadeatAlexandria，heascertaineditslatitudecomparedwiththatofSyene；andsoascertainedwhatproportiontothewholecircumferencewasbornebythe5000stadiabetweenAlexandriaandSyene。 Hefellintoanerror，bysupposingAlexandriaandSyenetobeunderthesamemeridiansoflongitude:butthatdidnotpreventhisarrivingatafairroughresultof252，000stadia——31，500Romanmiles；considerablytoomuch；butstill，beforehim，Isuppose，noneknewwhetheritwas10，000，or10，000，000。Therightmethodhavingoncebeenfound，nothingremainedbuttoemployitmoreaccurately。 OneothergreatmeritofEratosthenesis，thathefirstraisedGeographytotherankofascience。HisGeographicawereanorganiccollection，thefirsttheworldhadeverseen，ofallthetravelsandbooksofearth-descriptionheapedtogetherintheGreatLibrary，ofwhichhewasformanyyearsthekeeper。Hebeganwithageognosticbook，touchedonthetracesofCataclysmsandChangevisibleontheearth\'ssurface； followedbytwobooks，oneamathematicalbook，theotheronpoliticalgeography，andcompletedbyamap——whichonewouldliketosee:but—— notatraceofallremains，saveafewquotedfragments- WearesuchstuffAsdreamsaremadeof。