madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第32章
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every drain and grip which runs into the brook。 What is here？
Seedling alders； and some withies among them。
Very well。 You know how we pull these alders up； and cut them
down； and yet they continually come again。 Now； if we and all human
beings were to leave this pasture for a few hundred years； would not those
alders increase into a wood？ Would they not kill the grass； and spread
right and left； seeding themselves more and more as the grass died； and
left the ground bare； till they met the oaks and beeches coming down the
hill？ And then would begin a great fight； for years and years； between
oak and beech against alder and willow。
But how can trees fight？ Could they move or beat each other with
their boughs？
Not quite that； though they do beat each other with their boughs；
fiercely enough； in a gale of wind； and then the trees who have strong and
stiff boughs wound those who have brittle and limp boughs； and so hurt
them； and if the storms come often enough； kill them。 But among these
trees in a sheltered valley the larger and stronger would kill the weaker
and smaller by simply overshadowing their tops； and starving their roots；
starving them； indeed； so much when they grow very thick； that the poor
little acorns； and beech mast； and alder seeds would not be able to sprout
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at all。 So they would fight； killing each other's children； till the war
endedI think I can guess how。
How？
The beeches are as dainty as they are beautiful； and they do not like to
get their feet wet。 So they would venture down the hill only as far as the
dry ground lasts； and those who tried to grow any lower would die。 But
the oaks are hardy； and do not care much where they grow。 So they
would fight their way down into the wet ground among the alders and
willows； till they came to where their enemies were so thick and tall； that
the acorns as they fell could not sprout in the darkness。 And so you
would have at last； along the hill…side； a forest of beech and oak； lower
down a forest of oak and alder； and along the stream…side alders and
willows only。 And that would be a very fair example of the great law of
the struggle for existence； which causes the competition of species。
What is that？
Madam How is very stern； though she is always perfectly just； and
therefore she makes every living thing fight for its life； and earn its bread；
from its birth till its death； and rewards it exactly according to its deserts；
and neither more nor less。
And the competition of species means； that each thing； and kind of
things； has to compete against the things round it； and to see which is the
stronger； and the stronger live； and breed； and spread； and the weaker die
out。
But that is very hard。
I know it； my child； I know it。 But so it is。 And Madam How； no
doubt； would be often very clumsy and very cruel； without meaning it；
because she never sees beyond her own nose； or thinks at all about the
consequences of what she is doing。 But Lady Why； who does think about
consequences； is her mistress； and orders her about for ever。 And Lady
Why is； I believe； as loving as she is wise； and therefore we must trust that
she guides this great war between living things； and takes care that Madam
How kills nothing which ought not to die； and takes nothing away without
putting something more beautiful and something more useful in its place；
and that even if England were； which God forbid； overrun once more with
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
forests and bramble…brakes； that too would be of use somehow；
somewhere； somewhen； in the long ages which are to come hereafter。
And you must remember； too； that since men came into the world with
rational heads on their shoulders； Lady Why has been handing over more
and more of Madam How's work to them； and some of her own work too：
and bids them to put beautiful and useful things in the place of ugly and
useless ones； so that now it is men's own fault if they do not use their wits；
and do by all the world what they have done by these pastureschange it
from a barren moor into a rich hay…field； by copying the laws of Madam
How； and making grass compete against heath。 But you look thoughtful：
what is it you want to know？
Why； you say all living things must fight and scramble for what they
can get from each other： and must not I too？ For I am a living thing。
Ah； that is the old question； which our Lord answered long ago； and
said； 〃Be not anxious what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink； or
wherewithal you shall be clothed。 For after all these things do the
heathen seek； and your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of
these things。 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness；
and all these things shall be added to you。〃 A few； very few； people have
taken that advice。 But they have been just the salt of the earth； which has
kept mankind from decaying。
But what has that to do with it？
See。 You are a living thing； you say。 Are you a plant？
No。
Are you an animal？
I do not know。 Yes。 I suppose I am。 I eat； and drink； and sleep；
just as dogs and cats do。
Yes。 There is no denying that。 No one knew that better than St。
Paul when he told men that they had a flesh； that is； a body； and an
animal's nature in them。 But St。 Paul told themof course he was not the
first to say so； for all the wise heathens have known thatthat there was
something more in us； which he called a spirit。 Some call it now the
moral sentiment； some one thing； some another； but we will keep to the
old word： we shall not find a better。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Yes； I know that I have a spirit； a soul。
Better to say that you are a spirit。 But what does St。 Paul say？ That
our spirit is to conquer our flesh； and keep it down。 That the man in us；
in short； which is made in the likeness of God； is to conquer the animal in
us； which is made in the likeness of the dog and the cat； and sometimes （I
fear） in the likeness of the ape or the pig。 You would not wish to be like
a cat； much less like an ape or a pig？
Of course not。
Then do not copy them； by competing and struggling for existence
against other people。
What do you mean？
Did you never watch the pigs feeding？
Yes； and how they grudge and quarrel； and shove each other's noses
out of the trough； and even bite each other because they are so jealous
which shall get most。
That is it。 And how the biggest pig drives the others away； and would
starve them while he got fat； if the man did not drive him off in his turn。
Oh； yes； I know。
Then no wiser than those pigs are worldly men who compete； and
grudge； and struggle with each other； which shall get most money； most
fame； most power over their fellow…men。 They will tell you； my child；
that that is the true philosophy； and the true wisdom； that competition is
the natural law of society； and the source of wealth and prosperity。 Do
not you listen to them。 That is the wisdom of this world； which the flesh
teaches the animals； and those who follow it； like the animals； will perish。
Such men are not even as wise as Sweep the retriever。
Not as wise as Sweep？
Not they。 Sweep will not take away Victor's bone； though he is ten
times as big as Victor； and could kill him in a moment； and when he
catches a rabbit； does he eat it himself？
Of course not； he brings it and lays it down at our feet。
Because he likes better to do his duty； and be praised for it； than to eat
the rabbit； dearly as he longs to eat it。
But he is only an animal。 Who taught him to be generous； and dutiful；
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
and faithful？
Who； indeed！ Not we； you know that； for he has grown up with us
since a puppy。 How he learnt it； and his parents before him； is a mystery；
of which we can only say； God has taught them； we know not how。 But
see what has happenedthat just because dogs have learnt not to be selfish
and to competethat is； have become civilised and tametherefore we let
them live with us； and love them。 Because they try to be good in their
simple way； therefore they too have all things added to them； and live far
happier； and more comfortable lives than the selfish wolf and fox。
But why have not all animals found out that？
I cannot tell： there may be wise animals and foolish animals； as there
are wise and foolish men。 Indeed there are。 I see a very wise animal
there； who never competes； for she has learned something of the golden
lessonthat it is more blessed to give than to receive； and she acts on what
she has learnt； all day long。
Which do you mean？ Why； that is a bee。
Yes； it is a bee： and I wish I were as worthy in my place as that bee is
in hers。 I wish I could act up as well as she does to the true wisdom；
which is self…sacrifice。 For whom is that bee working？ For herself？ If
that was all； she only needs to suck the honey as she goes。 But she is
storing up the wax under her stomach； and bee…bread in her thighsfor
whom？ Not for herself only； or even for her own children： but for the
children of another bee； her queen。 For them she labours all day long；
builds for them； feeds them； nurses
