The R. J. Schoolmaster. VOL. III. FEBRUARY, 1858. For the Schoolmaster. The Golden Verses of Pythagoras. THE relative progress in enlightenment which rewards active and earnest enquiry after truth forms a surer test of intellectual greatness, than the absolute grandeur of the results which are attained. Thus the dim gropings of the earliest philosophers of antiquity, who found scarcely a broader basis for their speculations than that afforded by undeveloped axioms of morality, often awaken a higher interest by their earnestness than the clear processes of thought, by which modern philosophers proceed from loftier premises to more sublime results. NO.12. the Chaldeans, in arithmetic by the Phoni- 66 The system of philosophy, which found in the Golden Verses of Pythagoras its highest ethical expression, as well as its nearest approach to the precepts of Christianity, was instituted more than a century before Plato began to meet his disciples in the shady arcades of the Academy, or Socrates to teach his ennobling doctrines in the streets and the market-placcs of Athens. Its founder, Pythagoras, was born in the middle of the sixth century before Christ. The honor of being his birth-place is awarded to the island of Samos, the queen of the Ægean, where Rhae- But wherever Pythagoras obtained the elecus the architect, and Theodorus the sculptor ments of his knowledge, it is certain that he were constructing and adorning the far-famed elaborated the principles of his powerful systemple of Juno, and whither Anacreon brought tem of philosophy in the depths of his own his lyre at the in vitation of the tyrant Poly-mind. It was amidst the oak - crowned crates. The sources from which the young heights and marble cliffs of Samos, that he philosopher gathered the materials for his sys- reflected on the mysterious problems of life. tem are variously stated. Some writers of It was on the banks of its silver streams that antiquity allege that he was instructed in he began to seek for the causes of phenomegeometry by the Egyptians, in astronomy by na in the harmonious relations of number, and by the shore of the far-stretching Ægean that he obtained his sublimest conception of the unity of God. sharper or deeper, according to their rapidity of revolution, and their relative magnitude. Hence are derived the harmonies of the universe, and the music of the spheres. In somewhat refreshing contrast to these The period of culture was thus passed by Pythagoras among his native isles of Greece, or in occasional excursions to the surround-beautiful puerilities, misnamed philosophy, ing countries in pursuit of knowledge. stands the straight-forward ethical teaching of Pythagoras. It is a striking example of the facility with which the innate axioms of morality can be developed into practical maxims, while nature imparts but a dim light to questions of mere philosophy. But his mature years, when he acquired his most glorious mastery over the minds of men, were spent at Crotona, a city of Magna Græcia in the southern part of Italy. There, where the salubrious breezes from the sea, and athletic exercises gave to the inhabiThe Golden Verses give expression in a contants a degree of health already become densed form to this part of the system of Pyproverbial, he collected a devoted band of thagoras. Whether they were written by three hundred disciples, who were bound to him, or by his disciple, Empedocles, is of lithim by the strongest oaths and ties of affec- tle moment, so long as it is certain that they tion. These attended on his instructions in are the reflection of his teaching. They conpolitics, philosophy and religion, and hung taín scarcely anything, except the direction on his lips, as though they were listening to a to worship evil spirits, which we might not divine messenger. Nor does it seem wonder-accept as in accordance with the spirit and ful, when we reflect on his immense intellect-the doctrines of Christianity. The importance ual superiority to the men of his time, that attached to self-respect, and to self-examinathe admiring followers of Pythagoras, nay, tion is worthy of attention. that even he himself honestly attributed it to a more intimate communion with the gods. Thus, year after year, the most wealthy and influential citizens of Crotona listened with delight to the author of the Golden Verses. we We give an unadorned translation of nearly the whole of the Golden Verses, as find them in an old volume of the fragmentary works of nearly fifty Greek poets, published at Cambridge, England, 1677. GOLDEN VERSES. First the immortal gods, as is ordained by law, The principles of philosophy, which he taught, depend on a fanciful and mysterious arrangement of the relations of number. The monad or unity is the element of action, and the fountain of all number, but is itself fixed : it thus represents the unchangeable Creator, God. The duad is imperfect and passive, and is the cause of all increase: it thus becomes the representation of matter, the passive principle in nature. The triad, or three, is formed of unity and two, and thus is the world or the universe, which is composed of God and matter. The tetractys, or four, is a perfect square, and represents the perfection of nature. The decad, or ten, is composed of the sum of the preceding numbers, and comprehends all musical and arithmetical proposi-Yet may'st thou heal them if thou canst. Thus think; tions. Music also formed an integral part of the system of Pythagoras. He is said to have conceived the poetical idea that all the heavenly bodies, as they move through ether, develop melodious tones, louder or softer, These thus observe. But learn to govern these, Thy belly first, and sleep, and lust, But know that fate has destined all to die : Not on the GOOD alone has fate brought many ills. Since 'tis the part of fools, rashly to act and speak. Chide what is basely done, and what is good approve. -and each thing consider, The highest reason make thy charioteer. But if, thy body left behind, thou reachest heaven, A god immortal, incorruptible thou'lt be, nor longer mortal. The instructions of Pythagoras were either private (esoteric), or public (exoteric). Appearing before his disciples in a long white robe, and flowing beard, and as some say with a golden crown upon his head, he was received with awe. Perhaps no instance of "esprit de corps," so wonderful as that which existed among the disciples of Pythagoras, is presented in modern history, with the single exception of that which animated the followers of Loyola. It is scarcely possible for us to conceive of the moral power by which one man could hold so many others in complete subjection. But much as he was feared by his disciples, it is certain that their love for him was equal to their reverence. A LITERARY CLERGYMAN.-The Dundee Courier says that a clergyman in a country parish not many miles from Dundee had occasion the other Sabbath to illustrate a point in his sermon by an allusion to the poet Cowper, which he did after this fashion : "In illustration of what I bave been saying, my brethren, I may mention the amiable and Christian Poet Cowper, with whose beautiful poems of Paradise Lost' and Paradise Kegained,' you must all be familiar." SOME men are good company for half an hour, others for half a day, and others for their whole lives. For the Schoolmaster. Childhood. BY B. W. MATTESON. With thoughts of joy my spirit thrills Whene'er my lightsome task was o'er, It ne'er occurred that I should roam I ne'er had thought those halcyon joys As o'er my pillow there she bends, When coldness chilled, or fever raged, Though friends may pass away from earth Yes! wholesome counsel, when expressed In kindness to the heart depressed, When planted in the infant mind, Ere germs of grosser nature find The essence of the fertile mould, And blooms of fetid breath unfold,Prepares the soul, when rightly given, For virtue, greatness, truth and heaven. WARWICK, December, 1857. For the Schoolmaster. "School Days at Rugby." BY AUGUSTUS. THE following account of a scholar's tribute of respect to his faithful teacher is from an English book,-republished by Ticknor & Fields, Boston,-entitled "School Days at Rugby." The book is full of good instruction, clothed in a quaint, original, interesting style, and portrays school-life and school-boy character with the skill of a master painter. The character of the great Dr. Arnold, and the secret of his success as a teacher, are brought to light, and laid open before the reader, with great clearness and power. How touching is the description of Tom Brown's visit to the tomb of his venerated teacher. After reading it we felt like adopting the language of Irving, when he says: "Oh, the grave !-the grave! It buries every error-covers every defect-extinguishes every resentment. From its peaceful bosom spring none but fond regrets and tender recollections. Who can look down upon the grave even of an enemy, and not feel a compunctious throb that ever he should have warred with the poor handful of earth that lies mouldering before him? But the grave of those we love-what a place for meditation! Then it is that we call up in long review the whole history of virtue and gentleness, and the thousand endearments lavished upon us almost unheeded in the daily intercourse of intimacy." At the grave of his teacher!—and such a teacher as was Dr. Arnold! Well might a flood of thought rush through the mind of the old Rugby scholar, as he sat there in the old familiar place, in silence and in sadness, alone with the dead!-How he thought of every kindness shown him by that teacher. How he thought of every effort for his intellectual and his moral training. And how he thought of every neglect on his own part, of every little provocation, of every half-learnt lesson;in short, of every misdemeanor, or unfaithfulness, or neglect of duty. It all came back to him now. Conscience is very active at such a moment, and tells the mind many an old story, long hidden by the rubbish of time. Teacher, be faithful in thy calling; be diligent in thy duty; be awake to thy responsibility, as the guide and moulder of the mind and the heart. So shall thy pupils, who, through thy efforts have been born into the kingdom of intellectual and spiritual freedom and life, weep at thy tomb, and with their children and children's children, "shall rise up and," for thy faithfulness, "call thee blessed." "A VISIT TO DR. ARNOLD'S GRAVE. IN THE summer of 1842, our hero stopped once again at the well-known station; and, leaving his bag and fishing-rod with a porter, walked slowly and sadly up towards the town. It was now July. He had rushed away from Oxford the moment that term was over, for a fishing ramble in Scotland, with two college friends, and had been for three weeks living on oat-cake, mutton-hams, and whiskey, in the wildest parts of Skye. They had descended one sultry evening on the little inn at Kyle Rhea ferry, and while Tom and another of the party put their tackle together and began exploring the stream for sea-trout for supper, the third strolled into the house to arrange for their entertainment. Presently he came out in a loose blouse and slippers, a short pipe in his mouth, and an old newspaper in his hand, and threw himself on the heathery scrub, fishermen. There he lay, the picture of freewhich met the shingle within easy hail of the and-easy loafing, hand-to-mouth young England, "improving his mind," as he shouted to cannot stand or lean upon any human prop, however strong, and wise, and good; but that He upon whom alone it can stand and lean will knock away all such props in his own wise and merciful way, until there is no them, by the perusal of the fort-night old weekly paper, soiled with the marks of toddy glasses and tobacco ashes, the legacy of the last traveller, which he had hunted out from the kitchen of the little hostlery, and being a youth of a communicative turn of mind, be-ground or stay left but Himself, the Rock of gan imparting the contents to the fishermen as he went on. Ages, upon whom alone a sure foundation for every soul of man is laid. As he wearily labored at his line, the thought struck him," it may all be false, a mere newspaper lie," and he strode up to the recumbent "What a bother they are making about these wretched corn laws; here's three or four columns full of nothing but sliding scales and fixed duties.-Hang this tobacco, it is al-smoker. ways going out!-Ah, here's something better-a splendid match between Kent and EngNothing else in it," answered the other, land, Brown! Kent winning by three wick-handing it up to him listlessly. "Hullo, Brown! ets. Felix fifty-six runs without a chance, what's the matter old fellow-ain't you well?'' and not out!" "Where is it?" said Tom, turning over the "Let me look at the paper," said he. 66 Tom, intent on a fish which had risen at leaves, his hand trembling, and his eyes swimhim twice, answered only with a grunt. 66 Anything about the Goodwood?" called out the third man. ming, so that he could not read." "What? What are you looking for?" said his friend, jumping up and looking over his "Rory-o-more drawn. Butterfly colt amiss," shoulder. shouted the student. 66 "That-about Arnold," said Tom. Just my luck," grumbled the inquirer, "Oh here," said the other, putting his finjerking his flies off the water, and throwing ger on the paragraph. Tom read it over and again with a heavy, sullen splash, and fright-over again; there could be no mistake of ening Tom's fish. identity, though the account was short enough. "Thank you," said he at last, dropping the paper, "I shall go for a walk: don't you and Herbert wait supper for me." And away he strode, up over the moor at the back of the house, to be alone, and master his grief if possible. "I say, can't you throw lighter over there? we ain't fishing for grampuses," shouted Tom across the stream. Hullo, Brown! here's something for you," called out the reading man next moment. Why, your old master, Arnold, of Rugby, is dead." His friend looked after him, sympathizing and wondering, and knocking the ashes out of his pipe, walked over to Herbert. After a short parley they walked together up to the house. Yet they also Tom's hand stopped half-way in his cast, and his line and flies went all tangling round and round his rod; you might have knocked him over with a feather. Neither of his companions took any notice of him, luckily; and "I'm afraid that confounded newspaper has with a violent effort he set to work mechanic-spoiled Brown's fun for this trip. ally to disentangle his line. He felt complete- "How odd that he should be so fond of his ly carried off his moral and intellectual legs, old master," said Herbert. as if he had lost his standing point in the in- were both public-school men. visible world. Besides which the deep loving loyalty which he felt for his old leader made the shock intensely painful. It was the first great wrench of his life, the first gap which the angel of Death had made in his circle, and he felt numbed, and beaten down and spiritless. Well, well! I believe it was good for him and for many others in like case; who had to learn by that loss, that the soul of man The two, however, notwithstanding Tom's prohibition, waited supper for him, and had everything ready when he came back some half-an-hour afterwards. But he could not join in their cheerful talk, and the party was soon silent, notwithstanding the efforts of all three. One thing only had Tom resolved, and that was that he couldn't stay in Scotland any longer; he felt an irresistible |