alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第30节
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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
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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。
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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
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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 path for
that influx of scientific knowledge which has produced； in after centuries；
the most enormous effects on the welfare of Europe； and made life
possible for millions who would otherwise have been pent within the
narrow bounds of Europe； to devour each other in the struggle for room
and bread。
But those Arabic translations of Greek authors were a fatal gift for
Egypt； and scarcely less fatal gift for Bagdad。 In that Almagest of
Ptolemy； in that Organon of Aristotle； which the Crusaders are said to have
brought home； lay； rude and embryotic； the germs of that physical science；
that geographical knowledge which has opened to the European the
commerce and the colonisation of the globe。 Within three hundred years
after his works reached Europe； Ptolemy had taught the Portuguese to sail
round Africa； and from that day the stream of eastern wealth flowed no
longer through the Red Sea； or the Persian Gulf； on its way to the new
countries of the West； and not only Alexandria； but Damietta and Bagdad；
dwindled down to their present insignificance。 And yet the whirligig of
time brings about its revenges。 The stream of commerce is now rapidly
turning back to its old channel； and British science bids fair to make
Alexandria once more the inn of all the nations。
It is with a feeling of awe that one looks upon the huge possibilities of
her future。 Her own physical capacities； as the great mind of Napoleon
saw； are what they always have been； inexhaustible； and science has learnt
to set at naught the only defect of situation which has ever injured her
prosperity； namely； the short land passage from the Nile to the Red Sea。
The fate of Palestine is now more than ever bound up with her fate； and a
British or French colony might； holding the two countries； develop itself
into a nation as vast as sprang from Alexander's handful of Macedonians；
and become the meeting point for the nations of the West and those great
Anglo…Saxon peoples who seem destined to spring up in the Australian
ocean。 Wide as the dream may appear； steam has made it a far narrower
one than the old actual fact； that for centuries the Phoenician and the
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