kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第24节
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！
morning； while he was engaged in his devotions； a beautiful woman；
wearing a yellow robe； came into his chamber and stood before him。 He；
greatly surprised； asked her what she wanted； and why she had entered
unannounced。 She answered： 〃I am not a woman： I am the goddess whom
you have so long and so faithfully worshiped； and I have now come to
prove to you that your devotion has not been in vain。。。 Are you acquainted
with the language of Ants？〃 The worshiper replied： 〃I am only a low…born
and ignorant person； not a scholar； and even of the language of superior
men I know nothing。〃 At these words the goddess smiled； and drew from
her bosom a little box； shaped like an incense box。 She opened the box；
dipped a finger into it； and took therefrom some kind of ointment with
which she anointed the ears of the man。 〃Now；〃 she said to him； 〃try to
find some Ants； and when you find any； stoop down； and listen carefully to
their talk。 You will be able to understand it； and you will hear of
something to your advantage。。。 Only remember that you must not frighten
or vex the Ants。〃 Then the goddess vanished away。
The man immediately went out to look for some Ants。 He had
scarcely crossed the threshold of his door when he perceived two Ants
upon a stone supporting one of the house…pillars。 He stooped over them；
and listened； and he was astonished to find that he could hear them talking；
and could understand what they said。 〃Let us try to find a warmer place；〃
proposed one of the Ants。 〃Why a warmer place？〃 asked the other； 〃what
is the matter with this place？〃 〃It is too damp and cold below；〃 said the
first Ant； 〃there is a big treasure buried here； and the sunshine cannot
warm the ground about it。〃 Then the two Ants went away together； and the
listener ran for a spade。
By digging in the neighborhood of the pillar； he soon found a number
of large jars full of gold coin。 The discovery of this treasure made him a
very rich man。
Afterwards he often tried to listen to the conversation of Ants。 But he
was never again able to hear them speak。 The ointment of the goddess had
95
… Page 96…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
opened his ears to their mysterious language for only a single day。
*
Now I； like that Chinese devotee； must confess myself a very ignorant
person； and naturally unable to hear the conversation of Ants。 But the
Fairy of Science sometimes touches my ears and eyes with her wand； and
then； for a little time； I am able to hear things inaudible； and to perceive
things imperceptible。
II
For the same reason that it is considered wicked； in sundry circles； to
speak of a non…Christian people having produced a civilization ethically
superior to our own； certain persons will not be pleased by what I am
going to say about ants。 But there are men； incomparably wiser than I can
ever hope to be； who think about insects and civilizations independently of
the blessings of Christianity； and I find encouragement in the new
Cambridge Natural History； which contains the following remarks by
Professor David Sharp； concerning ants：
〃Observation has revealed the most remarkable phenomena in the lives
of these insects。 Indeed we can scarcely avoid the conclusion that they
have acquired； in many respects； the art of living together in societies
more perfectly than our own species has； and that they have anticipated us
in the acquisition of some of the industries and arts that greatly facilitate
social life。〃
I suppose that a few well…informed persons will dispute this plain
statement by a trained specialist。 The contemporary man of science is not
apt to become sentimental about ants or bees； but he will not hesitate to
acknowledge that； in regard to social evolution； these insects appear to
have advanced 〃beyond man。〃 Mr。 Herbert Spencer； whom nobody will
charge with romantic tendencies； goes considerably further than Professor
96
… Page 97…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
Sharp； showing us that ants are； in a very real sense； ethically as well as
economically in advance of humanity； their lives being entirely devoted
to altruistic ends。 Indeed； Professor Sharp somewhat needlessly qualifies
his praise of the ant with this cautious observation：
〃The competence of the ant is not like that of man。 It is devoted to the
welfare of the species rather than to that of the individual； which is； as it
were； sacrificed or specialized for the benefit of the community。〃
The obvious implication； that any social state； in which the
improvement of the individual is sacrificed to the common welfare； leaves
much to be desired； is probably correct； from the actual human
standpoint。 For man is yet imperfectly evolved； and human society has
much to gain from his further individualization。 But in regard to social
insects the implied criticism is open to question。 〃The improvement of the
individual；〃 says Herbert Spencer； 〃consists in the better fitting of him for
social cooperation； and this； being conducive to social prosperity； is
conducive to the maintenance of the race。〃 In other words； the value of the
individual can be only in relation to the society； and this granted； whether
the sacrifice of the individual for the sake of that society be good or evil
must depend upon what the society might gain or lose through a further
individualization of its members。。。 But as we shall presently see； the
conditions of ant…society that most deserve our attention are the ethical
conditions； and these are beyond human criticism； since they realize that
ideal of moral evolution described by Mr。 Spencer as 〃a state in which
egoism and altruism are so conciliated that the one merges into the other。〃
That is to say； a state in which the only possible pleasure is the pleasure of
unselfish action。 Or； again to quote Mr。 Spencer； the activities of the
insect…society are 〃activities which postpone individual well…being so
completely to the well…being of the community that individual life appears
to be attended to only just so far as is necessary to make possible due
attention to social life；。。。 the individual taking only just such food and just
such rest as are needful to maintain its vigor。〃
97
… Page 98…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
III
I hope my reader is aware that ants practise horticulture and
agriculture； that they are skillful in the cultivation of mushrooms； that they
have domesticated （according to present knowledge） five hundred and
eighty…four different kinds of animals； that they make tunnels through
solid rock； that they know how to provide against atmospheric changes
which might endanger the health of their children； and that； for insects；
their longevity is exceptional； members of the more highly evolved
species living for a considerable number of years。
But it is not especially of these matters that I wish to speak。 What I
want to talk about is the awful propriety； the terrible morality； of the ant
＇1＇。 Our most appalling ideals of conduct fall short of the ethics of the
ant； as progress is reckoned in time； by nothing less than millions of
years！。。。 When I say 〃the ant；〃 I mean the highest type of ant； not； of
course； the entire ant…family。 About two thousand species of ants are
already known； and these exhibit； in their social organizations； widely
varying degrees of evolution。 Certain social phenomena of the greatest
biological importance； and of no less importance in their strange relation
to the subject of ethics； can
