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Metaphysics； named his treatise so only on account of its following in
philosophic sequence his book on Physics。
But； according to these definitions； the whole history of Alexandria
might be to us； from one point of view； a physical school； for Alexandria；
its society and its philosophy； were born； and grew； and fed； and reached
their vigour； and had their old age； their death； even as a plant or an animal
has； and after they were dead and dissolved； the atoms of them formed
food for new creations； entered into new organisations； just as the atoms of
a dead plant or animal might do。 Was Alexandria then； from beginning to
end； merely a natural and physical phenomenon？
It may have been。 And yet we cannot deny that Alexandria was also
a metaphysical phenomenon； vast and deep enough； seeing that it held for
some eighteen hundred years a population of several hundred thousand
souls； each of whom； at least according to the Alexandrian philosophy；
stood in a very intimate relation to those metaphysic things which are
imperishable and immovable and eternal； and indeed； contained them
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more or less； each man； woman； and child of them in themselves； having
wills； reasons； consciences； affections； relations to each other； being
parents； children； helpmates； bound together by laws concerning right and
wrong； and numberless other unseen and spiritual relations。
Surely such a body was not merely natural； any more than any other
nation； society； or scientific school； made up of men and of the spirits；
thoughts； affections of men。 It； like them； was surely spiritual； and could
be only living and healthy； in as far as it was in harmony with certain
spiritual； unseen； and everlasting laws of God； perhaps； as certain
Alexandrian philosophers would have held； in as far as it was a pattern of
that ideal constitution and polity after which man was created； the city of
God which is eternal in the Heavens。 If so； may we not suspect of this
Alexandria that it was its own fault if it became a merely physical
phenomenon； and that it stooped to become a part of nature； and took its
place among the things which are born to die； only by breaking the law
which God had appointed for it； so fulfilling； in its own case； St。 Paul's
great words； that death entered into the world by sin； and that sin is the
transgression of the law？
Be that as it may； there must have been metaphysic enough to be learnt
in that； or any city of three hundred thousand inhabitants； even though it
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 fanati