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    Jijnb S» 1852.] THE kE'ABER. 345 - ' - '...

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    PASSAGES FROM A BOY'S EPIC. I. Some thir...

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    Comte's Positive Philosophy.. • ¦ ' By G...

    in reality ( put what interpretation on it we will ) , is Heat , conceived as existing ; apart from the heated body ? Light , independent of the luminous object ? Electricity separated from the electrical body ? evidently nothing hut pure Entities , jujst as much as Thought is , when considered as possessing an existence independent of the thinking hodyj or Digestion when isolated froin th , ^ dig ^ siing bo % ! The only difference distinguishing them froni these ancient scholastic Entities is this , that these essentially abstract existences have been ^ p laced by imaginary fluids ^ whose corporeity is very equivocal * , since , by their essential definition , we deprive them of all qualities capable of characterizing any kind of matter whatever . Indeed , we do not even leave room for our regarding them as the ideal limit of a gas indefinitely rarefied >

    The fundamental character of metaphysical conceptions is to look on phenomena as independent of the objeajs which manifest them , and to attribute to the properties of each substance an existence distinct from its own * What matters it , then , whether we make spirits or fluids of these personified abstractions ? Their origin is always identical . It constantly springs ' from that inquisitiveness-jnt ' o- the hidden nature of things , which marks , in every race , the infancy of the human mind , and which first inspired the conception of gods , who then passed into spirits , and have finally been transformed into imaginary fluids .

    Agreeably to the law of development , Physics had to pass through tlis transitional stage of metaphysics . Astronomy did the same . There the metap hysical suppositions of Descartes , which were as ably supported as similar suppositions in Physics have been , gave way when the true nature of positive Astronomy was established by the discoveries of Newton . In like manner these metaphysical notions have been driven from the more advanced parts of Physics . No man of any note has , since the days of Galileo , propounded a hypothesis to explain the fall of bodies . But the less advanced parts of Physics , as Light and Electricity , still suffer from this metaphysical influence . They do so from the same causes which affected the others , and will , like theni , be graduftlly emancipated .

    Comte next occupies himself with the division of Physics into : its principal branches . This division is , of course , based on the degree of generality of corresponding phenomena , on the extent of their complication , their relative states of speculative perfection , and also their' mutual dependence . Accordingly , the science of the phenomena of weight ( BaroJo ^ jr as he calls it , ) ranks as the first branch by universal consent ; and on the other hand , the science of Electrical jjhenomena r & riks last * The former is most allied to Astronomy ; the latter forms a natural transition to Chemistry . They are at the two extremes of Physics , not only as respects generality and the other qualities just mentioned , but also in regard to their present states of positivity . Between these two extreme terms we have , first , Thermology , next Acoustics , and then Optics .

    Having thus indicated the main points in his general considerations on Physics , I have passed over that portion of the ground which , from its abstract nature , will have had less interest to minds not specially versed in these subjects , than those which are to follow . Next week we will enter upon Chemistry . *

    Comte's Positive Philosophy.. • ¦ ' By G...

    Mr W ?* tP omto Subscription Fund I have to acknowledge tho receipt of 20 * . from »¦ w . j . Birch , and 6 « . from Mr . J . A . X ^ ngford .

    Jijnb S» 1852.] The Ke'aber. 345 - ' - '...

    Jijnb S » 1852 . ] THE kE'ABER . 345 - ' - '¦ . ¦ . ' _____ : ... , ; ' . . ¦„ ,,.. ¦ ....., ' " ¦ ¦ . ' - .. ¦ . •'¦ ¦ .-.- ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . , ¦ ¦ . i . . . . . .... . . . . . .: ¦ . . ' . ¦• . ' . ¦ ¦ .: . .

    Passages From A Boy's Epic. I. Some Thir...

    PASSAGES FROM A BOY'S EPIC . I . Some thirteen years ago , when yet a boy , I sang of Ariadne and her woes , I sang of Theseus , and the mighty deeds Of men that die and of the enduring gods . 'Twas a boy ' s epic and a boy ' s mistake , Yet the kind world that shapes itself to song , And scorns no verse that has a noble aim , May hear and pardon passages like these .

    Ariadne and Phaedra . There was a valley in the Cretan isle , Not far withdrawn from that great labyrinth , Which Daedalus , the lord of many arts , Built for the pleasure of the island king . Throughout the valley branches of tall trees Against the watchful sky and wandering clouds In wavering garlands hung , while nearer earth , Through emerald loopholes crept the shadowy gleams Of liquid lustre playing on the leaves .

    Amid this luxury of light and shade The moulding hand of nature had contrived A secret bower , where mapy branches met , And with transparent grass and coloured moss , Had cushioned the white roots of antique trees . A spot it was of cool and green delight , That ever fair yet now at fairest seomed , For in its Bylvan temple it enshrined Two lovely forms , like marble goddesses . They , arm in arm and hand in hand enwreathed , Sat silent , till at length low silver tones

    Sighed m the air and grew to earnest speech ; " O Phaedra ! O my sister ! I have heard , Nor heard in vain thy voice like murmuring brook Among thick summer leaves ; for I will weep , And sob out all my passion in thine arms . Men say that sorrow will look beautiful , If love but clothe her as wise sculptors clothe Pale marble images . Then let me speak . " II . < - Ariadne . " Yet gleamed the stars in all the changing skiea When first the gates I past , but now the sun Stood on the sea , treading with radiant feet The level billows , while his golden head Looked out of heaven ^ and to the shouting waves And to the wondering earth revealed the god . The winged clouds that on the morning wait , Paused in their flight , and died for very love Of him and of his beauty . Then I turned To gaze , and as I gazed I worshipped him . And now amid the odours of the morn , Its odours and its melodies I passed Through woodland ways , where stately trees put forth Their pensile boughs , while all their whispering leaves , By undulations of the sunlight toucht , Rippled and brightened on the morning breeze . Here as I gazed a gorgeous vision rose ! A band of warrior youths , gold-panoplied , Stood with uplifted eyes and sufig aloud , Praising Apollo . When their voices ceased , The silver-sounding trumpet , far and wide Ran down the breeze , till all the listening hills Gave clear response - , and in each deep recess The spirit of the valley caught the sounds , And With a merry mockery gave them back . Now nearer drew the youths with golden shields ; From midst of whom , and fairest of them all , Stept one , who thus in gentle phrase began ; ' Our homes , O lady , o ' er the sounding seas In Athens lie , but we for noble ends Have won these shores , and gladly anchoring here Now seek the palace of the Cretan king ; Vouchsafe fair guidance / ' Theseus , ' I replied , * The gods that in ambrosial houses dwell Have led thee hither . ' But what more I said , And how I gave the goblet , sword and clue To him , sole "champion named , I pass untold ; Untold I leave the many weary thoughts , The patience and impatience , hopes and fears Which haunted me until the evening fell . Then to the Athenian strangers wine was served , And song and feast went round in echoing halls . So peace was made with Athens , and long days Dwelt Theseus with the king , till he had seen Our Cretan cities , seen our temples ^ towns , Our fields and forests , and the lovely shapes Wrought by the wise magician Dajdalus , In wood and marble , gold and iron . ill . Ariadne continues * " Time fleeted and the vernal blossoms fell , In the long grass , and on the level lake , And to the days and to the hours , concealed Amid the thick leaves of departing spring , I told my fancies wild and passionate , From dawn until the taller shadows came ; And when the moon above the mountain top Hung like a silver shield , I lingered still , Still mid the solemn pause and dream of night , My spirit travelled , clothed with starry thought * , Through trackless paths in gleaming worlds remote . One day , while buried thus in foliage deep , I heard a sudden noise of rustling leaves , And as a child awakes so wakened I To joy and wonder , when the parting boughs A regal shape disclosed , most like that god , Who , from the conflict with the giant make Returned victorious , and from orbs divine Lightened effulgence , while ft silent scorn Lay beautiful upon his smiling lip . O Theseus J O fair Theseus 1 false and fair ! He with the step and bearing of the god Approached ; he stood by me ; he clasped my hand ; He uttered words that wore like burning fire ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 5, 1852, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05061852/page/21/