alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第12章
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betrayed her country to the Roman； and thenceforth the Alexandrians
became slaves in all but name。
And now that Alexandria has become a tributary province； is it to
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share the usual lot of enslaved countries and lose all originality and vigour
of thought？ Not so。 From this point； strangely enough； it begins to
have a philosophy of its own。 Hitherto it has been importing Greek
thought into Egypt and Syria； even to the furthest boundaries of Persia；
and the whole East has become Greek： but it has received little in return。
The Indian Gymnosophists； or Brahmins； had little or no effect on Greek
philosophy； except in the case of Pyrrho： the Persian Dualism still less。
The Egyptian symbolic nature…worship had been too gross to be regarded
by the cultivated Alexandrian as anything but a barbaric superstition。
One eastern nation had intermingled closely with the Macedonian race；
and from it Alexandrian thought received a new impulse。
I mentioned in my first lecture the conciliatory policy which the
Ptolemies had pursued toward the Jews。 Soter had not only allowed but
encouraged them to settle in Alexandria and Egypt； granting them the
same political privileges with the Macedonians and other Greeks。 Soon
they built themselves a temple there； in obedience to some supposed
prophecy in their sacred writings； which seems most probably to have
been a wilful interpolation。 Whatsoever value we may attach to the
various myths concerning the translation of their Scriptures into Greek；
there can be no doubt that they were translated in the reign of Soter； and
that the exceedingly valuable Septuagint version is the work of that period。
Moreover； their numbers in Alexandria were very great。 When Amrou
took Constantinople in A。D。 640； there were 40；000 Jews in it； and their
numbers during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods； before their temporary
expulsion by Cyril about 412； were probably greater； and Egypt altogether
is said to have contained 200；000 Jews。 They had schools there； which
were so esteemed by their whole nation throughout the East； that the
Alexandrian Rabbis； the Light of Israel； as they were called； may be fairly
considered as the centre of Jewish thought and learning for several
centuries。
We are accustomed； and not without reason； to think with some
contempt of these old Rabbis。 Rabbinism； Cabbalism； are become by…
words in the mouths of men。 It may be instructive for usit is certainly
necessary for us； if we wish to understand Alexandriato examine a little
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how they became so fallen。
Their philosophy took its stand； as you all know； on certain ancient
books of their people； histories； laws； poems； philosophical treatises；
which all have one element peculiar to themselves； namely； the assertion
of a living personal Ruler and Teacher； not merely of the Jewish race； but
of all the nations of the earth。 After the return of their race from Babylon；
their own records give abundant evidence that this strange people became
the most exclusive and sectarian which the world ever saw。 Into the causes
of that exclusiveness I will not now enter； suffice it to say； that it was
pardonable enough in a people asserting Monotheism in the midst of
idolatrous nations； and who knew； from experience even more bitter than
that which taught Plato and Socrates； how directly all those popular
idolatries led to every form of baseness and immorality。 But we may trace
in them； from the date of their return from Babylon； especially from their
settlement in Alexandria； a singular change of opinion。 In proportion as
they began to deny that their unseen personal Ruler had anything to do
with the Gentilesthe nations of the earth； as they called themin
proportion as they considered themselves as His only subjectsor rather；
Him and His guidance as their own private propertyexactly in that
proportion they began to lose all living or practical belief that He did
guide them。 He became a being of the past； one who had taught and
governed their forefathers in old times： not one who was teaching and
governing them now。 I beg you to pay attention to this curious result；
because you will see； I think； the very same thing occurring in two other
Alexandrian schools； of which I shall speak hereafter。
The result to these Rabbis was； that the inspired books which spoke of
this Divine guidance and government became objects of superstitious
reverence； just in proportion as they lost all understanding of their real
value and meaning。 Nevertheless； this too produced good results； for the
greatest possible care was taken to fix the Canon of these books； to settle；
as far as possible； the exact time at which the Divine guidance was
supposed to have ceased； after which it was impious to claim a Divine
teaching； when their sages were left to themselves； as they fancied； with a
complete body of knowledge； on which they were henceforth only to
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comment。 Thus； whether or not they were right in supposing that the
Divine Teacher had ceased to teach and inspire them； they did infinite
service by marking out for us certain writers whom He had certainly
taught and inspired。 No doubt they were right in their sense of the awful
change which had passed over their nation。 There was an infinite
difference between them and the old Hebrew writers。 They had lost
something which those old prophets possessed。 I invite you to ponder；
each for himself； on the causes of this strange loss； bearing in mind that
they lost their forefathers' heirloom； exactly in proportion as they began to
believe it to be their exclusive possession； and to deny other human beings
any right to or share in it。 It may have been that the light given to their
forefathers had； as they thought； really departed。 It may have been； also；
that the light was there all around them still； as bright as ever； but that they
would not open their eyes and behold it； or rather； could not open them；
because selfishness and pride had sealed them。 It may have been； that
inspiration was still very near them too； if their spirits had been willing to
receive it。 But of the fact of the change there was no doubt。 For the old
Hebrew seers were men dealing with the loftiest and deepest laws： the
Rabbis were shallow pedants。 The old Hebrew seers were righteous and
virtuous men： the Rabbis became； in due time； some of the worst and
wickedest men who ever trod this earth。
Thus they too had their share in that downward career of pedantry
which we have seen characterise the whole past Alexandrine age。 They；
like Zenodotus and Aristarchus； were commentators； grammarians；
sectarian disputers： they were not thinkers or actors。 Their inspired
books were to them no more the words of living human beings who had
sought for the Absolute Wisdom； and found it after many sins and doubts
and sorrows。 The human writers became in their eyes the puppets and
mouthpieces of some magical influence； not the disciples of a living and
loving person。 The book itself was； in their belief； not in any true sense
inspired； but magically dictatedby what power they cared not to define。
His character was unimportant to them； provided He had inspired no
nation but their own。 But； thought they； if the words were dictated； each
of them must have some mysterious value。 And if each word had a
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mysterious value； why not each letter？ And how could they set limits to
that mysterious value？ Might not these words； even rearrangements of
the letters of them； be useful in protecting them against the sorceries of the
heathen； in driving away those evil spirits； or evoking those good spirits；
who； though seldom mentioned in their early records； had after their return
from Babylon begun to form an important part of their unseen world？
For as they had lost faith in the One Preserver of their race； they had filled
up the void by a ponderous demonology of innumerable preservers。 This
process of thought was not confined to Alexandria。 Dr。 Layard； in his
last book on Nineveh； gives some curious instances of its prevalence
among them at an earlier period； well worth your careful study。 But it
was at Alexandria that the Jewish Cabbalism formed itself into a system。
It was there that the Jews learnt to become the jugglers and magic…
mongers of the whole Roman world； till Claudius had to expel them from
Rome； as pests to rational and moral society。
And yet； among these hapless pedants there lingered nobler thoughts
and hopes。 They could not read the glorious heirlooms of their race
without finding in them records of antique greatness and virtue； of old
deliverances worked for their forefathers； and what seemed promises； too；
that tha
