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had never contained lecture…room or philosopher's chair； and had never
heard the names of Aristotle and Plato。 Metaphysic enough； indeed； to
be learnt there； could we but enter into the heart of even the most brutish
negro slave who ever was brought down the Nile out of the desert by
Nubian merchants； to build piers and docks in whose commerce he did not
share； temples whose worship he did not comprehend； libraries and
theatres whose learning and civilisation were to him as much a sealed
book as they were to his countryman； and fellow…slave； and only friend；
the ape。 There was metaphysic enough in him truly； and things eternal
and immutable； though his dark…skinned descendants were three hundred
years in discovering the fact； and in proving it satisfactorily to all mankind
for ever。 You must pardon me if I seem obscure； I cannot help looking at
the question with a somewhat Alexandrian eye； and talking of the poor
negro dock…worker as certain Alexandrian philosophers would have talked；
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of whom I shall have to speak hereafter。
I should have been glad； therefore； had time permitted me； instead of
confining myself strictly to what are now called 〃the physic and
metaphysic schools〃 of Alexandria； to have tried as well as I could to
make you understand how the whole vast phenomenon grew up； and
supported a peculiar life of its own； for fifteen hundred years and more；
and was felt to be the third； perhaps the second city of the known world；
and one so important to the great world…tyrant； the Caesar of Rome； that
no Roman of distinction was ever sent there as prefect； but the
Alexandrian national vanity and pride of race was allowed to the last to
pet itself by having its tyrant chosen from its own people。
But； though this cannot be； we may find human elements enough in
the schools of Alexandria； strictly so called； to interest us for a few
evenings； for these schools were schools of men； what was discovered and
taught was discovered and taught by men； and not by thinking…machines；
and whether they would have been inclined to confess it or not； their own
personal characters； likes and dislikes； hopes and fears； strength and
weakness； beliefs and disbeliefs； determined their metaphysics and their
physics for them； quite enough to enable us to feel for them as men of like
passions with ourselves； and for that reason only； men whose thoughts and
speculations are worthy of a moment's attention from us。 For what is really
interesting to man； save men； and God； the Father of men？
In the year 331 B。C。 one of the greatest intellects whose influence the
world has ever felt； saw； with his eagle glance； the unrivalled advantage of
the spot which is now Alexandria； and conceived the mighty project of
making it the point of union of two； or rather of three worlds。 In a new
city； named after himself； Europe； Asia； and Africa were to meet and to
hold communion。 A glance at the map will show you what an ＇Greek
text： omphalosgees＇； a centre of the world； this Alexandria is； and
perhaps arouse in your minds； as it has often done in mine； the suspicion
that it has not yet fulfilled its whole destiny； but may become at any time a
prize for contending nations； or the centre of some world…wide empire to
come。 Communicating with Europe and the Levant by the
Mediterranean； with India by the Red Sea； certain of boundless supplies of
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food from the desert…guarded valley of the Nile； to which it formed the
only key； thus keeping all Egypt； as it were； for its own private farm； it
was weak only on one side； that of Judea。 That small strip of fertile
mountain land； containing innumerable military positions from which an
enemy might annoy Egypt； being； in fact； one natural chain of fortresses；
was the key to Phoenicia and Syria。 It was an eagle's eyrie by the side of
a pen of fowls。 It must not be left defenceless for a single year。 Tyre
and Gaza had been taken； so no danger was to be apprehended from the
seaboard： but to subdue the Judean mountaineers； a race whose past
sufferings had hardened them in a dogged fanaticism of courage and
endurance； would be a long and sanguinary task。 It was better to make
terms with them； to employ them as friendly warders of their own
mountain walls。 Their very fanaticism and isolation made them sure
allies。 There was no fear of their fraternising with the Eastern invaders。
If the country was left in their hands； they would hold it against all comers。
Terms were made with them； and for several centuries they fulfilled their
trust。
This I apprehend to be the explanation of that conciliatory policy of
Alexander's toward the Jews； which was pursued steadily by the Ptolemies；
by Pompey； and by the Romans； as long as these same Jews continued to
be endurable upon the face of the land。 At least； we shall find the history
of Alexandria and that of Judea inextricably united for more than three
hundred years。
So arose； at the command of the great conqueror； a mighty city； around
those two harbours； of which the western one only is now in use。 The
Pharos was then an island。 It was connected with the mainland by a great
mole； furnished with forts and drawbridges。 On the ruins of that mole
now stands the greater part of the modern city； the vast site of the ancient
one is a wilderness。
But Alexander was not destined to carry out his own magnificent
project。 That was left for the general whom he most esteemed； and to
whose personal prowess he had once owed his life； a man than whom
history knows few greater； Ptolemy； the son of Lagus。 He was an
adventurer； the son of an adventurer； his mother a cast…off concubine of
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Philip of Macedon。 There were those who said that he was in reality a
son of Philip himself。 However； he rose at court； became a private friend
of young Alexander； and at last his Somatophylax； some sort of Colonel of
the Life Guards。 And from thence he rose rapidly； till after his great
master's death he found himself despot of Egypt。
His face； as it appears on his coins； is of the loftiest and most Jove…
like type of Greek beauty。 There is a possibility about it； as about most
old Greek faces； of boundless cunning； a lofty irony too； and a
contemptuousness； especially about the mouth； which puts one in mind of
Goethe's expression； the face； altogether； of one who knew men too well
to respect them。 At least； he was a man of clear enough vision。 He saw
what was needed in those strange times； and he went straight to the thing
which he saw。 It was his wisdom which perceived that the huge
amorphous empire of Alexander could not be kept together； and advised
its partition among the generals； taking care to obtain himself the lion's
share； not in size； indeed； but in capability。 He saw； too （what every man
does not see）； that the only way to keep what he had got was to make it
better； and not worse； than he found it。 His first Egyptian act was to put
to death Cleomenes； Alexander's lieutenant； who had amassed vast
treasures by extortion； and who was； moreover； （for Ptolemy was a
prudent man） a dangerous partisan of his great enemy； Perdiccas。 We do
not read that he refunded the treasures： but the Egyptians surnamed him
Soter； the Saviour； and on the whole he deserved the title。 Instead of the
wretched misrule and slavery of the conquering Persian dynasty