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！
ther truths which lie beside it； and without which it is always incomplete； and sometimes altogether barren。
But such schools of science； founded on such a ground as this； on the mere instinct of curiosity； had little chance of originality or vitality。 All the great schools of the world； the elder Greek philosophy； the Alexandrian； the present Baconian school of physics； have had a deeper motive for their search； a far higher object which they hope to discover。 But indeed； the Mussulmans did not so much wish to discover truth； as to cultivate their own intellects。 For that purpose a sharp and subtle systematist； like Aristotle； was the very man whom they required； and from the destruction of Alexandria may date the rise of the Aristotelian philosophy。 Translations of his works were made into Arabic； first； it is said； from Persian and Syriac translations； the former of which had been made during the sixth and seventh centuries； by the wreck of the Neoplatonist party； during their visit to the philosophic Chozroos。 A century after； they filled Alexandria。 After them Almansoor； Hairoun Alraschid； and their successors； who patronised the Nestorian Christians； obtained from them translations of the philosophic； medical； and astronomical Greek works； while the last of the Omniades； Abdalrahman； had introduced the same literary taste into Spain； where； in the thirteenth century； Averroes and Maimonides rivalled the fame of Avicenna； who had flourished at Bagdad a century before。
But； as I have said already； these Arabs seem to have invented nothing； they only commented。 And yet not only commented； for they preserved for us those works of whose real value they were so little aware。 Averroes； in quality of commentator on Aristotle； became his rival in the minds of the mediaeval schoolmen； Avicenna； in quality of commentator on Hippocrates and Galen； was for centuries the text…book of all European physicians； while Albatani and Aboul Wefa； as astronomers； commented on Ptolemy； not however without making a few important additions to his knowledge； for Aboul Wefa discovered a third inequality of the moon's motion； in addition to the two mentioned by Ptolemy； which he did； according to Professor Whewell； in a truly philosophic manneran apparently solitary instance； and one which； in its own day； had no effect； for the fact was forgotten； and rediscovered centuries after by Tycho Brahe。 To Albatani； however； we owe two really valuable heirlooms。 The one is the use of the sine； or half…chord of the double arc； instead of the chord of the arc itself； which had been employed by the Greek astronomers； the other； of even more practical benefit； was the introduction of the present decimal arithmetic； instead of the troublesome sexagesimal arithmetic of the Greeks。 These ten digits； however； seem； says Professor Whewell； by the confession of the Arabians themselves； to be of Indian origin； and thus form no exception to the sterility of the Arabian genius in scientific inventions。 Nevertheless we are bound； in all fairness； to set against his condemnation of the Arabs Professor De Morgan's opinion of the Moslem； in his article on Euclid： 〃Some writers speak slightingly of this progress； the results of which they are too apt to compare with those of our own time。 They ought rather to place the Saracens by the side of their own Gothic ancestors； and making some allowance for the more advantageous circumstances under which the first started； they should view the second systematically dispersing the remains of Greek civilisation； while the first were concentrating the geometry of Alexandria； the arithmetic and algebra of India； and the astronomy of both； to form a nucleus for the present state of science。〃
To this article of Professor De Morgan's on Euclid； ｛2｝ and to Professor Whewell's excellent 〃History of the Inductive Sciences；〃 from which I； being neither Arabic scholar nor astronomer； have drawn most of my facts about physical science； I must refer those who wish to know more of the early rise of physics； and of their preservation by the Arabs； till a great and unexpected event brought them back again to the quarter of the globe where they had their birth； and where alone they could be regenerated into a new and practical life。
That great event was the Crusades。 We have heard little of Alexandria lately。 Its intellectual glory had departed westward and eastward； to Cordova and to Bagdad； its commercial greatness had left it for Cairo and Damietta。 But Egypt was still the centre of communication between the two great stations of the Moslem power； and indeed； as Mr。 Lane has shown in his most valuable translation of the 〃Arabian Nights；〃 possessed a peculiar life and character of its own。
It was the rash object of the Crusaders to extinguish that life。 Palestine was their first point of attack： but the later Crusaders seem to have found； like the rest of the world； that the destinies of Palestine could not be separated from those of Egypt； and to Damietta； accordingly； was directed that last disastrous attempt of St。 Louis； which all may read so graphically described in the pages of Joinville。
The Crusaders failed utterly of the object at which they aimed。 They succeeded in an object of which they never dreamed； for in those Crusades the Moslem and the Christian had met face to face； and found that both were men； that they had a common humanity； a common eternal standard of nobleness and virtue。 So the Christian knights went home humbler and wiser men； when they found in the Saracen emirs the same generosity； truth； mercy； chivalrous self…sacrifice； which they had fancied their own peculiar possession； and added to that； a civilisation and a learning which they could only admire and imitate。 And thus； from the era of the Crusades； a kindlier feeling sprang up between the Crescent and the Cross； till it was again broken by the fearful invasions of the Turks throughout Eastern Europe。 The learning of the Moslem； as well as their commerce； began to pour rapidly into Christendom； both from Spain； Egypt； and Syria； and thus the Crusaders were； indeed； rewarded according to their deeds。 They had fancied that they were bound to vindicate the possession of the earth for Him to whom they believed the earth belonged。 He showed themor rather He has shown us； their childrenthat He can vindicate His own dominion better far than man can do it for Him； and their cruel and unjust aim was utterly foiled。 That was not the way to make men know or obey Him。 They took the sword； and perished by the sword。 But the truly noble element in themthe element which our hearts and reasons recognise and love； in spite of all the loud words about the folly and fanaticism of the Crusades； whensoever we read 〃The Talisman〃 or 〃Ivanhoe〃the element of loyal faith and self…sacrificedid not go unrequited。 They learnt wider； juster views of man and virtue； which I cannot help believing must have had great effect in weakening in their minds their old； exclusive； and bigoted notions； and in paving the way for the great outburst of free thought； and the great assertion of the dignity of humanity； which the fifteenth century beheld。 They opened a