2. One of the most important elements of their progress lay in their great men. It is indispensable that a man, to become great, or famous, by exercising a wide influence, should represent in a large, well defined and successful way, the general tendency and aspiration5 of his times. He must unite a[114] clear perception of these tendencies in his mind, with the power to give them adequate expression in his words or deeds. He must be so far ahead of his times as to be able to clearly work out what is lying unexpressed in the general mind, but not so far ahead that it cannot come into sympathy and co-operation with him; else he will not be recognized as great. Great men are a summary of their times, or of the people they dwell among; they gather its tendencies to a point and express the undefined desire of that period. Their value for later times is that they represent the spirit of their race at that time in a form to make a striking impression, and those who have the good fortune to represent the qualities of the best races, or of nations at the most important stage of their history, become the general exemplars of mankind; teaching in a forcible and striking way the lessons which have been wrought6 out in the experience of a whole people for ages.
3. The poets are the first of these great men of whom history gives us any account, except, perhaps, the heroes whose deeds they sung, which are more or less uncertain, because they clothed the common tradition of their times in an imaginative and fictitious7 dress. The poets Homer and Hesiod had great influence on early Greece. They summed up its theology and the history of its admired heroes, and gave expression to the early thought and literary turn of that people.
Their legislators came next. They gave expression to the genius of their people in institutions and laws. Lycurgus arranged the Spartan8 state into a military school. His laws remained in force more than five hundred years. Solon was the legislator of Athens and his laws were much admired for their wisdom and justice. The Greeks could think more wisely than they could act. Lycurgus organized the warlike spirit in Greece as well as Sparta. The small Grecian states, determined9 to keep Sparta and each one of the other states from destroying their individual liberties, were trained by the necessity of combating the vigorous military organization of Sparta to great ability in war.
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Under Pericles, a republican statesman of Athens, nearly a century later than Solon, the full glory of the Grecian genius shone forth11. He encouraged his countrymen to give the support to art and literature that produced the famous master pieces which have made Greece illustrious and influential12 to this day.
4. Socrates appeared soon after. He was the apostle of thought. His influence in leading men to use direct and effective modes of examination and reasoning was incalculable, and has perhaps had more effect on the world than the victorious13 career of Alexander or of the Romans. He was followed by Plato, a disciple14 of his, who pushed out to further results the same principles. He is called the prince of philosophers, and has exerted a world-wide influence. He had not the simplicity15 and plain directness of Socrates, though his mind was more polished, and he was more learned. Some scholars, however, consider his masterpieces to indicate as powerful a mind as the world has produced. He spent twelve years in travel, and used all the means of education, and study then to be found. His works are still the delight of the most accomplished16 scholars.
5. Aristotle began his career in the last years of Plato. He was the tutor of Alexander the Great. He followed a different line of study, wrote on logic17, or the art of reasoning, on the natural sciences, and introduced method in the exercise of the mind and in study. Herodotus, Xenophon, Thucydides, and many other great writers, artists and sculptors18, lived about the same period; and thus Grecians did for the mind what the Romans did for law and government—laid down the fundamental principles which formed the basis of real progress.
The free government of Athens encouraged oratory20 and the art of persuasion21. Demosthenes was the most celebrated22 orator19 among the Greeks, and if his state had only been more powerful he would have conquered Philip of Macedon. He was indeed one of the greatest orators23 of all times. Cicero,[116] among the Romans, was a writer and orator of almost equal merit. They both lived just at the downfall of the liberties of their states, and they spoke24 with more effect to the times after them than to their contemporaries. If they did not succeed in preserving the liberties of Greece and Rome, they made a great impression, the name of Liberty was consecrated25 by their noble words, and those who destroyed it made infamous26 by their burning invectives. When a more favorable time came for restoring it, they lived again in influence, and triumphed by the memory and record of their great patriotism27 and powerful eloquence28.
6. Great conquerors29 and warriors30, in all times, have also been representative men, giving expression and gratification to the warlike spirit of their people, and producing great changes that have been favorable to the real advancement of mankind. The energies they stirred up, and the mingling31 of nations they produced generally promoted civilization. Alexander the Great displayed the wonderful genius and fertility in resources that was peculiarly Greek. His nation was almost consoled for the loss of their liberties by the conquests to which he led them. He opened to their study unknown regions, and gave their mental genius a broader play and a fuller occupation. They, to such an extent as change was possible with old civilizations, Hellenized the East and prepared the way for the reception of Christianity. Alexander, in three great battles, conquered the great Persian Empire with a small army. He never suffered defeat, and died at thirty-three years of age. Had he lived, he might have done what Hannibal could not do—have crushed the rising power of the Roman republic. It would have been a misfortune, for the Romans did incalculable service to humanity. Greek learning exerted its influence on the East for two hundred and fifty years before its final conquest by the Romans. Alexander did great service to mankind by his military success. Hannibal is an instance of a great man not as fully34 representative of his own people, perhaps, and whose misfortune it was to have to struggle[117] against a people whose united genius was greater, more inventive, and more patient than his own. The Roman Pompey represented the aristocratic element of his people, and though a great general, hardly deserved to succeed. Julius C?sar possessed35 the merciful character and intelligence of the Greek and the prodigious36 energy and resolution of the Roman. His conquest of Gaul and Britain introduced civilization into the lands that were, five hundred years later, to begin a new career for mankind. His thorough subjection of the Gauls preserved the ancient civilization from the inroads of the vigorous Germans until all was ready for the new order of things. More than any other great man, he may be said to have been representative of the best spirit of his time. Perceiving that the Roman republic was dead, and could not possibly be restored, from the strength of the vices37 ruling in the state, he repressed its anarchy38 and set aside its forms, wisely and prudently39, with as little bloodshed or cruelty us possible. He thoroughly40 represented the practical sense and immense vigor10 of the true Roman. He has been severely41 reproached for destroying the republic, but the republic virtually fell with the Gracchi, seventy-five years before, and he established the only government that could possibly preserve the Roman state from disorganization.
7. The office of all these, and multitudes of other great men, less representative of the greater qualities of their fellows, or representative of less striking features of their times, has been to sum up the character of their people, and present their special features, condensed, for the observation of mankind, and by their position as leaders, to give their times an opportunity for powerful development, as well as to show what mankind are capable of. In this last view they stimulate42 individuals to aspiration and effort. Millions of men, probably, have had the qualities of Alexander and C?sar, millions more those of Demosthenes and Cicero, of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, and so of all the different classes of great men, but have wanted the opportunities and peculiar32 stimulants[118] to develop them. Whoever can appreciate them, can, with a favorable balance of faculties43 to give equally sound judgment44, together with equally favorable circumstances, imitate them. Modern times have shown multitudes of men who, their character and talents taken as a whole, have shown themselves far greater than any of the ancients. Culture and the mingling of races will, perhaps, finally make all men greater than the greatest of the ancients.
8. Brutus, one of the murderers of C?sar, wished to restore the glories of the ancient Roman republic, and thought C?sar stood in the way. He removed him by violence, and found the difficulties greater than ever. A hundred years of conquest had sapped the virtues45 of the Roman people, and Brutus killed himself in despair, saying: “O Virtue46! thou art but a name!” To C?sar succeeded Augustus, by a necessity of things. Without C?sar’s clemency47, he deluged48 Rome with the blood of its citizens. Afterward49, however, his rule was less sanguinary, and for thirty years he ruled with mildness, though with despotism. The limited amount of virtue in pagan civilizations wore out; and notwithstanding the intelligence of Greece and the good sense of Rome, the ancient world was obliged to close its career as it began, by absolute monarchy50. It remained for the modern world to find, among its more abundant resources, the means of forever preserving itself from decline. Education and purity, science and religion, freedom and fraternity among all races and nations; a knowledge and wisdom not conceived by the ancients, a replacing of war and violence, which are essentially51 demoralizing, by peaceful means, which shall benefit all and injure none; perfectly52 free intercourse53 under the guidance of absolute justice and benevolence54; such is the way by which the modern world will work out the problem impossible for the old world to solve. America has gone far toward the goal. In time, all nations will be persuaded to join her in attaining55 it.
9. Before we proceed with the chronology of the Christian33 Era we must briefly56 notice the one perfect man, Jesus Christ.[119] To pronounce on the miraculous57 and divine claims made for his character and deeds would carry us outside of our theme. We can only deal with him as with other historical men, in his historical character and relations. These are extremely remarkable58.
That individual sprang, like Socrates, from the poorer classes, and, like him without the advantages of education, produced a system which proved a marvel59 of perfection, adapted to all times, but most perfectly to the most perfect state of mankind, and consequently growing up with the progress of nations to an ever-increasing influence. Its moral precepts60, even in our day, are as far ahead of our civilization as that is behind a perfect condition. This man made an extraordinary impression. In three hundred years, by merely publishing his ideas in a quiet way, which was the only mode the hostility61 of the Roman rulers would permit, his followers62 overthrew63 the prevailing64 religious systems which had been established as many thousand years, and spread his influence world-wide.
His birth became the commencement of the Era of Humanity. Like Socrates, he went about among the people with a few chosen friends, setting forth his ideas, chiefly in conversation. He did not write; the simple record of his life and a few of his discourses65 being recorded by his disciples66. Again, like Socrates, his life was ended by violence. All the records of that life show that he was as perfect as we can conceive. In no respect does he seem to have wanted any feature of a noble manhood, in any degree, nor to have shared the prejudices or defects of his age. He lived as we may conceive man to live when his mental and moral habits are accurately67 adjusted and harmonized with his relations and his duties, which he has learned perfectly to appreciate. His public career lasted but three years and a half, and shines in history a beam of light. He inspired his appreciative68 followers with rapturous admiration69, a passionate70 attachment71 to his person, and pleasure in obedience72 to his teachings, stronger than death; and in those whose plans and prejudices he crossed, and whose ambitions[120] he rebuked73, a deadly hatred74 which could only be satisfied with his blood.
10. Immediately after his death his followers commenced to publish and enforce his teachings with great success, and on the outbreak of persecution75, without making opposition76, they scattered77 in all directions, proclaiming them with undiminished zeal78. Very soon their converts numbered tens of thousands, in all parts of the Roman Empire. Persecution increased their fervor79 and their numbers, without leading them to revolt or resistance, until, in the course of time, an emperor found it politic80 to profess81 Christianity. This high patronage82, and the active part the emperors took in the affairs of the church from that time, had the effect to corrupt83 its simplicity of manners, as the adhesion of Greek philosophers, who imported into its doctrines84 their crude theories, adulterated its teachings, and much that was quite foreign to its essential character continued associated with its promulgation85 and institutions for fifteen hundred years, and, indeed, remnants of the same foreign element yet linger in it.
Notwithstanding the embarrassing load which the fantastic distortion of its original simplicity and directness laid upon it, it continued to exert great influence, and seems destined86 to return, in time, to its original form and purity, and to employ its primitive87 power to crown the work of civilization.
11. Such is the historical report of the man who introduced into the process of human progress an element of unexampled power. An impartial88 estimate of the influence of Jesus Christ on history must allow that he is the most important character that has ever appeared among men. The unhappy association of his ideas with the vagaries89 of an imperfect philosophy and the unwholesome ambitions of power, greatly curtailed90 their usefulness; but the simple majesty91 of his character and his discourses could not always be obscured, and the luster92 of both has never shone more clearly nor exerted more influence than they do in this age.
The course of the history of Christianity will be seen to be[121] intimately connected with every stage of advancement from the time the Roman Empire began to wear out; it was the nucleus93 which survived its fall, around which the surging waves of invasion raged in vain, and which immediately began the work of reconstruction94.
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1
embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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fictitious
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| adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的 | |
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spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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sculptors
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| 雕刻家，雕塑家( sculptor的名词复数 )； [天]玉夫座 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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48
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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overthrew
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| overthrow的过去式 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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80
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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81
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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82
patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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83
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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84
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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85
promulgation
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| n.颁布 | |
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86
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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87
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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88
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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89
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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90
curtailed
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| v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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92
luster
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| n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉 | |
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93
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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94
reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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