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！
But because Analysis was the elder； Madam How commanded
Synthesis never to put the pieces together till Analysis had taken them
completely apart。 And； my child； if Synthesis had obeyed that rule of his
good old grandmother's； the world would have been far happier； wealthier；
wiser； and better than it is now。
But Synthesis would not。 He grew up a very noble boy。 He could
carve； he could paint； he could build； he could make music； and write
poems： but he was full of conceit and haste。 Whenever his elder
89
… Page 90…
MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
brother tried to do a little patient work in taking things to pieces； Synthesis
snatched the work out of his hands before it was a quarter done； and began
putting it together again to suit his own fancy； and； of course； put it
together wrong。 Then he went on to bully his elder brother； and locked
him up in prison； and starved him； till for many hundred years poor
Analysis never grew at all； but remained dwarfed； and stupid； and all but
blind for want of light； while Synthesis； and all the hasty conceited people
who followed him； grew stout and strong and tyrannous； and overspread
the whole world； and ruled it at their will。 But the fault of all the work of
Synthesis was just this： that it would not work。 His watches would not
keep time； his soldiers would not fight； his ships would not sail； his houses
would not keep the rain out。 So every time he failed in his work he had
to go to poor Analysis in his dungeon； and bully him into taking a thing or
two to pieces； and giving him a few sound facts out of them； just to go on
with till he came to grief again； boasting in the meantime that he and not
Analysis had found out the facts。 And at last he grew so conceited that
he fancied he knew all that Madam How could teach him； or Lady Why
either； and that he understood all things in heaven and earth； while it was
not the real heaven and earth that he was thinking of； but a sham heaven
and a sham earth； which he had built up out of his guesses and his own
fancies。
And the more Synthesis waxed in pride； and the more he trampled
upon his poor brother； the more reckless he grew； and the more willing to
deceive himself。 If his real flowers would not grow； he cut out paper
flowers； and painted them and said that they would do just as well as
natural ones。 If his dolls would not work； he put strings and wires behind
them to make them nod their heads and open their eyes； and then
persuaded other people； and perhaps half…persuaded himself； that they
were alive。 If the hand of his weather…glass went down； he nailed it up to
insure a fine day； and tortured； burnt； or murdered every one who said it
did not keep up of itself。 And many other foolish and wicked things he
did； which little boys need not hear of yet。
But at last his punishment came； according to the laws of his
grandmother； Madam How； which are like the laws of the Medes and
90
… Page 91…
MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Persians； and alter not； as you and all mankind will sooner or later find； for
he grew so rich and powerful that he grew careless and lazy； and thought
about nothing but eating and drinking； till people began to despise him
more and more。 And one day he left the dungeon of Analysis so ill
guarded； that Analysis got out and ran away。 Great was the hue and cry
after him； and terribly would he have been punished had he been caught。
But； lo and behold； folks had grown so disgusted with Synthesis that they
began to take the part of Analysis。 Poor men hid him in their cottages；
and scholars in their studies。 And when war arose about him；and
terrible wars did arise；good kings； wise statesmen； gallant soldiers； spent
their treasure and their lives in fighting for him。 All honest folk
welcomed him； because he was honest； and all wise folk used him； for；
instead of being a conceited tyrant like Synthesis； he showed himself the
most faithful； diligent； humble of servants； ready to do every man's work；
and answer every man's questions。 And among them all he got so well
fed that he grew very shortly into the giant that he ought to have been all
along； and was； and will be for many a year to come； perfectly able to take
care of himself。
As for poor Synthesis； he really has fallen so low in these days； that
one cannot but pity him。 He now goes about humbly after his brother；
feeding on any scraps that are thrown to him； and is snubbed and rapped
over the knuckles； and told one minute to hold his tongue and mind his
own business； and the next that he has no business at all to mind； till he
has got into such a poor way that some folks fancy he will die； and are
actually digging his grave already； and composing his epitaph。 But they
are trying to wear the bear's skin before the bear is killed； for Synthesis is
not dead； nor anything like it； and he will rise up again some day； to make
good friends with his brother Analysis； and by his help do nobler and more
beautiful work than he has ever yet done in the world。
So now Analysis has got the upper hand； so much so that he is in
danger of being spoilt by too much prosperity； as his brother was before
him； in which case he too will have his fall； and a great deal of good it will
do him。 And that is the end of my story； and a true story it is。
Now you must remember； whenever you have to do with him； that
91
… Page 92…
MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Analysis； like fire； is a very good servant； but a very bad master。 For；
having got his freedom only of late years or so； he is； like young men
when they come suddenly to be their own masters； apt to be conceited； and
to fancy that he knows everything； when really he knows nothing； and can
never know anything； but only knows about things； which is a very
different matter。 Indeed； nowadays he pretends that he can teach his old
grandmother； Madam How； not only how to suck eggs； but to make