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ALEXANDRIA AND HER SCHOOLS
ALEXANDRIA AND
HER SCHOOLS
By Charles Kingsley
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ALEXANDRIA AND HER SCHOOLS
PREFACE
I should not have presumed to choose for any lectures of mine such a
subject as that which I have tried to treat in this book。 The subject was
chosen by the Institution where the lectures were delivered。 Still less
should I have presumed to print them of my own accord； knowing how
fragmentary and crude they are。 They were printed at the special request
of my audience。 Least of all； perhaps； ought I to have presumed to
publish them； as I have done； at Cambridge； where any inaccuracy or
sciolism （and that such defects exist in these pages； I cannot but fear）
would be instantly detected； and severely censured： but nevertheless； it
seemed to me that Cambridge was the fittest place in which they could see
the light； because to Cambridge I mainly owe what little right method or
sound thought may be found in them； or indeed； in anything which I have
ever written。 In the heyday of youthful greediness and ambition； when
the mind； dazzled by the vastness and variety of the universe； must needs
know everything； or rather know about everything； at once and on the spot；
too many are apt； as I have been in past years； to complain of Cambridge
studies as too dry and narrow： but as time teaches the student； year by
year； what is really required for an understanding of the objects with
which he meets； he begins to find that his University； in as far as he has
really received her teaching into himself； has given him； in her criticism；
her mathematics； above all； in Plato； something which all the popular
knowledge； the lectures and institutions of the day； and even good books
themselves； cannot give； a boon more precious than learning； namely； the
art of learning。 That instead of casting into his lazy lap treasures which
he would not have known how to use； she has taught him to mine for them
himself； and has by her wise refusal to gratify his intellectual greediness；
excited his hunger； only that he may be the stronger to hunt and till for his
own subsistence； and thus； the deeper he drinks； in after years； at fountains
wisely forbidden to him while he was a Cambridge student； and sees his
old companions growing up into sound…headed and sound…hearted
practical men； liberal and expansive； and yet with a firm standing… ground
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for thought and action； he learns to complain less and less of Cambridge
studies； and more and more of that conceit and haste of his own； which
kept him from reaping the full advantage of her training。
These Lectures； as I have said； are altogether crude and fragmentary
how； indeed； could they be otherwise； dealing with so vast a subject； and
so long a period of time？ They are meant neither as Essays nor as
Orations； but simply as a collection of hints to those who may wish to
work out the subject for themselves； and； I trust； as giving some glimpses
of a central idea； in the light of which the spiritual history of Alexandria；
and perhaps of other countries also； may be seen to have in itself a
coherence and organic method。
I was of course compelled； by the circumstances under which these
Lectures were delivered； to keep clear of all points which are commonly
called 〃controversial。〃 I cannot but feel that this was a gain； rather than a
loss； because it forced me； if I wished to give any interpretation at all of
Alexandrian thought； any Theodicy at all of her fate； to refer to laws which
I cannot but believe to be deeper； wider； more truly eternal than the points
which cause most of our modern controversies； either theological or
political； laws which will； I cannot but believe also； reassert themselves；
and have to be reasserted by all wise teachers； very soon indeed； and it
may be under most novel embodiments； but without any change in their
eternal spirit。
For I may say； I hope； now （what if said ten years ago would have only
excited laughter）； that I cannot but subscribe to the opinion of the many
wise men who believe that Europe； and England as an integral part thereof；
is on the eve of a revolution； spiritual and political； as vast and awful as
that which took place at the Reformation； and that； beneficial as that
revolution will doubtless be to the destinies of mankind in general； it
depends upon the wisdom and courage of each nation individually；
whether that great deluge shall issue； as the Reformation did； in a fresh
outgrowth of European nobleness and strength or usher in； after pitiable
confusions and sorrows； a second Byzantine age of stereotyped
effeminacy and imbecility。 For I have as little sympathy with those who
prate so loudly of the progress of the species； and the advent of I know…
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not…what Cockaigne of universal peace and plenty； as I have with those
who believe on the strength of 〃unfulfilled prophecy；〃 the downfall of
Christianity； and the end of the human race to be at hand。 Nevertheless；
one may well believe that prophecy will be fulfilled in this great crisis； as
it is in every great crisis； although one be unable to conceive by what
method of symbolism the drying up of the Euphrates can be twisted to
signify the fall of Constantinople： and one can well believe that a day of
judgment is at hand； in which for every nation and institution； the wheat
will be sifted out and gathered into God's garner； for the use of future
generations； and the chaff burnt up with that fire unquenchable which will
try every man's work； without being of opinion that after a few more years
are over； the great majority of the human race will be consigned
hopelessly to never…ending torments。
If prophecy be indeed a divine message to man； if it be anything but a
cabbala； useless either to the simple…minded or to the logical； intended
only for the plaything of a few devout fancies； it must declare the
unchangeable laws by which the unchangeable God is governing； and has
always governed； the human race； and therefore only by understanding
what has happened； can we understand what will happen； only by
understanding history； can we understand prophecy； and that not merely
by picking outtoo often arbitrarily and unfairlya few names and dates
from the records of all the ages； but by trying to discover its organic laws；
and the causes which produce in nations； creeds； and systems； health and
disease； growth； change； decay and death。 If； in one small corner of this
vast field； I shall have thrown a single ray of light upon these subjectsif I
shall have done anything in these pages towards illustrating the pathology
of a single people； I shall believe that I have done better service to the
Catholic Faith and the Scriptures； than if I did really 〃know the times and
the seasons； which the Father has kept in His own hand。〃 For by the
former act I may have helped to make some one man more prudent and
brave to see and to do what God requires of him； by the latter I could only
add to that paralysis of superstitious fear； which is already but too
common among us； and but too likely to hinder us from doing our duty
manfully against our real foes； whether it be pestilence at home or tyranny
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abroad。
These last words lead me to another subject； on which I am bound to
say a few words。 I have； at the end of these Lectures； made some
allusion to t