glaucus-or the wonders of the shore(格劳高斯)-第22部分
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glimpses of the water…world as our present appliances afford us are full
enough of pleasure； and we will not envy Glaucus： we will not even be
over…anxious for the success of his only modern imitator； the French
naturalist who is reported to have fitted himself with a waterproof dress
and breathing apparatus； in order to walk the bottom of the
Mediterranean； and see for himself how the world goes on at the fifty…
fathom line： we will be content with the wonders of the shore and of
the sea…floor； as far as the dredge will discover them to us。 We shall
even thus find enough to occupy （if we choose） our lifetime。 For we
must recollect that this hasty sketch has hardly touched on that vegetable
water…world； which is as wonderful and as various as the animal one。
A hint or two of the beauty of the sea… weeds has been given； but space has
allowed no more。 Yet we might have spent our time with almost as
much interest and profit； had we neglected utterly the animals which we
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have found； and devoted our attention exclusively to the flora of the
rocks。 Sea…weeds are no mere playthings for children； and to buy at a
shop some thirty pretty kinds； pasted on paper； with long names
（probably mis…spelt） written under each； is not by any means to possess a
collection of them。 Putting aside the number and the obscurity of their
species； the questions which arise in studying their growth； reproduction；
and organic chemistry are of the very deepest and most important in the
whole range of science； and it will need but a little study of such a book
as Harvey's 〃Algae；〃 to show the wise man that he who has
comprehended （which no man yet does） the mystery of a single spore or
tissue…cell； has reached depths in the great 〃Science of Life〃 at which an
Owen would still confess himself 〃blind by excess of light。〃 〃Knowest
thou how the bones grow in the womb？〃 asks the Jewish sage； sadly；
half self…reprovingly； as he discovers that man is not the measure of all
things； and that in much learning may be vanity and vexation of spirit；
and in much study a weariness of the flesh； and all our deeper physical
science only brings the same question more awfully near。 〃Vilior
alg*；〃 more worthless than the very sea…weed； says the old Roman：
and yet no torn scrap of that very sea…weed； which to…morrow may
manure the nearest garden； but says to us； 〃Proud man！ talking of spores
and vesicles； if thou darest for a moment to fancy that to have seen
spores and vesicles is to have seen me； or to know what I am； answer
this。 Knowest thou how the bones do grow in the womb？ Knowest
thou even how one of these tiny black dots； which thou callest spores；
grow on my fronds？〃 And to that question what answer shall we make？
We see tissues divide； cells develop； processes go on … but How and
Why？ These are but phenomena； but what are phenomena save effects？
Causes； it may be； of other effects； but still effects of other causes。 And
why does the cause cause that effect？ Why should it not cause
something else？ Why should it cause anything at all？ Because it
obeys a law。 But why does it obey the law？ and how does it obey the
law？ And； after all； what is a law？ A mere custom of Nature。 We
see the same phenomenon happen a great many times； and we infer from
thence that it has a custom of happening； and therefore we call it a law：
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but we have not seen the law； all we have seen is the phenomenon which
we suppose to indicate the law。 We have seen things fall： but we
never saw a little flying thing pulling them down； with 〃gravitation〃
labelled on its back； and the question； why things fall； and HOW； is just
where it was before Newton was born； and is likely to remain there。
All we can say is； that Nature has her customs； and that other customs
ensue； when those customs appear： but that as to what connects cause
and effect； as to what is the reason； the final cause； or even the
CAUSA CAUSANS； of any phenomenon； we know not more but less than
ever； for those laws or customs which seem to us simplest
（〃endosmose；〃 for instance； or 〃gravitation〃）； are just the most
inexplicable； logically unexpected； seemingly arbitrary； certainly
supernatural … miraculous； if you will； for no natural and physical cause
whatsoever can be assigned for them； while if anyone shall argue against
their being miraculous and supernatural on the ground of their being so
common； I can only answer； that of all absurd and illogical arguments；
this is the most so。 For what has the number of times which the
miracle occurs to do with the question； save to increase the wonder？
Which is more strange； that an inexplicable and unfathomable thing
should occur once and for all； or that it should occur a million times
every day all the world over？
Let those； however； who are too proud to wonder； do as seems good
to them。 Their want of wonder will not help them toward the required
explanation： and to them； as to us； as soon as we begin asking；
〃HOW？〃 and 〃WHY？〃 the mighty Mother will only reply with that
magnificent smile of hers； most genial； but most silent； which she has
worn since the foundation of all worlds； that silent smile which has
tempted many a man to suspect her of irony； even of deceit and hatred of
the human race； the silent smile which Solomon felt； and answered in
〃Ecclesiastes；〃 which Goethe felt； and did not answer in his 〃Faust；〃
which Pascal felt； and tried to answer in his 〃Thoughts；〃 and fled from
into self…torture and superstition； terrified beyond his powers of
endurance； as he found out the true meaning of St。 John's vision； and felt
himself really standing on that fragile and slippery 〃sea of glass；〃 and
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close beneath him the bottomless abyss of doubt； and the nether fires of
moral retribution。 He fled from Nature's silent smile； as that poor old
King Edward （mis…called the Confessor） fled from her hymns of praise；
in the old legend of Havering…atte…bower； when he cursed the
nightingales because their songs confused him in his prayers： but the
wise man need copy neither； and fear neither the silence nor the laughter
of the mighty mother Earth； if he will be but wise； and hear her tell him；
alike in both … 〃Why call me mother？ Why ask me for knowledge
which I cannot teach； peace which I cannot give or take away？ I am
only your foster…mother and your nurse … and I have not been an
unkindly one。 But you are God's children； and not mine。 Ask Him。
I can amuse you with my songs； but they are but a nurse's lullaby to the
weary flesh。 I can awe you with my silence； but my silence is only my
just humility； and your gain。 How dare I pretend to tell you secrets
which He who made me knows alone？ I am but inanimate matter； why
ask of me things which belong to living spirit？ In God I live and move；
and have my being； I know not how； any more than you know。 Who
will tell you what life is； save He who is the Lord of life？ And if He
will not tell you； be sure it is because you need not to know。 At least；
why seek God in nature； the living among the dead？ He is not here：
He is risen。〃
He is not here： He is risen。 Good reader； you will probably agree
that to know that saying； is to know the key…note of the world to come。
Believe me； to know it； and all it means； is to know the keynote of this
world also； from the fall of dynasties and the fate of nations； to the sea…
weed which rots upon the beach。
