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Read Ebook: Niitä näitä runouden alalta by Blom E J Erik Johan
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Transcriber's Notes
Changes to the text are listed at the end of the book.
On page 45, in the reference "Beccheri's Physica Subterranea, Lipsiae, 1738 , 8vo., 1681-80;", no satisfactory explanation of "1681-80" has been found. Note that the publication date of Physica Subterranea is 1669.
In Figure 2 on page 82, the following denote the conventional symbols for planetary bodies: , , , , , , , .
denotes three stars .
represents the oe-ligature.
SCIENTIFIC STUDIES:
PRACTICAL, IN CONTRAST WITH CHIMERICAL PURSUITS;
EXEMPLIFIED IN TWO POPULAR LECTURES.
THE LIFE OF EDWARD SOMERSET, SECOND MARQUIS OF WORCESTER, INVENTOR OF THE STEAM ENGINE.
CHIMERAS OF SCIENCE: ASTROLOGY, ALCHEMY, SQUARING THE CIRCLE, PERPETUUM MOBILE, ETC.
With Illustrative Diagrams.
HENRY DIRCKS, C. E., LL.D., F.C.S., M.R.S.L., F.R.S.R., &c. &c.
LONDON: E. & F. N. SPON, 48, CHARING CROSS, S.W. 1879.
INTRODUCTION.
It forms a necessary part of popular lectures that they should possess breadth with brevity, and interest without too great profundity. It is possible to see a large extent of country from a lofty tower without being cognizant of every blade of grass, the perfume of blossoms, or the notes of the sweetest songsters of the groves. In like manner the popular lecturer has to present only so much to the eye of the mind as will give the prominent features of his theme, omitting those details over which the scholar, or the true lover of his subject, dwells with the affection of a fond parent over a darling child.
We must look with astonishment at a man of noble birth, who in a period of civil commotion, with a monarch for his friend, and a court at his command, secluded himself during his youth in a stately ancient tower, engaged in abstruse studies and wonderful mechanical operations; and who, late in life, amidst the terrors of civil war was found turning his inventive faculties, like another Archimedes, to the construction of means of defence, and terrible weapons of offence. But it is only those who become immersed in studies, whether of theology, philosophy, or kindred mental pursuits, who can appreciate the growing appetite for what appears to unlettered men as the driest of all dry occupations. The mere pleasure-seeker knows not how much is lost, and how little is gained by sharing the most brilliant gaieties of fashionable life.
Look at the ancient astrologers, whose pursuits were once as pure and noble as those of modern astronomers. Amidst wild theories, superstitious beliefs, empirical systems, and pagan divination, a rupture became inevitable: one side adopted stellary divination or Astrology, the other Astronomy, or the simple and true study of the stars.
Whatever a man's intellectual pursuits may be, he has the advantage over the mere man of fashion of being engaged in employments which the longest life cannot exhaust.
But intellectual pursuits partake either of the negative or the positive; they are useful or useless, and when useless they fritter away and render nugatory the talent that might have been better employed.
The Marquis of Worcester affords an eminent example of genius of a high order, grandly and effectively directed towards the advancement of man's political and social position. His contemporary, Dr. John Dee, the Astrologer, together with his friend Kelly, the Alchemist, may be appropriately distinguished as representing a class chimerically inclined, and hurtful to the well-being of society; while a less eminent and less blameable section of chimerical labourers are those of whom the worst we can say is, that they waste much valuable time, energy, and fortune, through attaching themselves to mathematics, mechanics, and other learned pursuits, only in search of marvellous, instead of useful applications.
All chimeras are built on assumptions, and so far are "castles in the air;" in many forms they are simply ridiculous; but when they pretend to the supernatural they are pernicious and often wicked.
In the two lectures now presented for his perusal, the reader will find both these topics illustrated by suitable lives and authentic evidence.
H. D.
Lecture ON THE LIFE OF EDWARD SOMERSET, SECOND MARQUIS OF WORCESTER.
"He was a man, take him for all in all, We shall not look upon his like again."
DELIVERED AT THE LITERARY INSTITUTION, GREENWICH, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1864.
The Biographer of Edward, second MARQUIS OF WORCESTER, naturally finds some difficulty in rendering prominent the political position that nobleman enjoyed in the 17th century; or of impressing the minds of his hearers or readers with a just sense of the wonderful genius of the author of the "Century of Inventions," even although the fact be established of that remarkable man being also the true and first inventor of a veritable steam engine.
When we consider the eventful period in which he lived, and his personal character, together with the social, political, and romantic incidents of his life, the career of the Marquis of Worcester cannot fail to interest and instruct us. He was at once the most fortunate and unfortunate of men, living in times of mingled enlightenment, superstition, and civil discord, and finally finding himself cast on the tender mercies of a corrupt Court; the possessor of a high order of mechanical genius, yet proscribed politically and theologically; most loyal, yet falling the victim of puritanism; and closing his life neglected by a Sovereign whose father had been the chief ruin of his patrimony.
It was during the first or second year of his married life that he engaged the services of Caspar Kaltoff, whom he employed as a practical assistant, to work out his numerous mechanical experiments, and whom he extols as an "unparalleled workman, both for trust and skill." There are still to be seen on one side of the Keep--or citadel of Raglan Castle, the remains of grooves in the wall, probably for the insertion of large metal pipes, in some way or other connected with the waterworks which are known to have been erected there, and which were most likely carried out by Kaltoff, under his master's directions.
Dedication to "The Century of Inventions."
Becoming a widower in 1635, his lordship married in 1639, his second wife, Margaret, second daughter and co-heir of Henry O'Brien, Earl of Thomond.
The Marquis of Worcester, born at the close of Queen Elizabeth's reign, is not mentioned as appearing at the Court of James I; his courtier life most likely commenced later, in the reign of Charles I, who was about his own age, and with whose career, the fortunes of both the Marquis of Worcester, and his father, family, and friends, were unhappily but too intimately interwoven.
It requires a visit to Raglan Castle fully to realise the grandeur, nobleness, and strength of that romantically situated, and almost regal stronghold. It wears all the solemnity that antiquity can bestow, it is so gothic, so solid, and embowered, as it were, in a constant dubious shade. Then it is so extensive in its bounds, its apartments are so capacious, and its massy walls so lofty and so finely chiseled and proportioned, that when we consider there is no quarry within any reasonable distance, nor any river or stream for conveyance, the whole structure assumes the mystery of absolute romance. Its historic associations also rivet the attention of every beholder who is acquainted with the part it played in determining the fate of that great struggle between the Crown and the Parliament, which commenced in 1640, and ended with the establishment of a Commonwealth.
The county of Monmouth is eminently distinguished for its scenery, its green hills and dales presenting a beautifully wooded and highly picturesque landscape from every point of view. The village of Raglan is a small unpretending hamlet, principally remarkable for its parish church, which contains the chapel of the Beauforts, the resting place of several members of the Somerset family. Peering above lofty neighbouring trees, the Donjon, Keep, or Citadel of Raglan Castle is a conspicuous object; itself very lofty and standing on a consin el?m?ss? viel? suorin seista tahtoi h?n. Ensink??n ei ep?elty, so'assa kaikki mielineen, Toinen luotti toisehensa, meihin h?n, me h?nehen.
Nyt tul' Klingspor, sota-p??llys, ylpe?, kuin kuningas, Kaksin leuvoin, yksin silmin, syd?melt? puolikas, Nyt tul' Klingspor, otti ohjat nimen suuren vallalla, Antoi k?skyj?, kuin Klerker, mutta alti pa'eta.
Kirkas y? s? H?meenlinnan, valvottuna hangella, Et s? vuotten kuluttua murene mun muistista, Vaikka pettyi harras into, toivon t?hti alas lask', Kaikki voiton uneks' muutti syd?met?n vennokas.
Milloinkas h?n kerran onpi tilin viel? tekev? Noista taka-askeleista, kun ol' meno eellens?, H?pe?st? nimellemme, kyyneleist? miehien Vuotavista, kun ois' ollut verta vuodattaminen?
Siikajoella, Revolahdell' l?hettiink? pakoisaan? K?s' vai jalka nopeampi ol'ko silloin liikkumaan? Adlerkreuts ja Kronstedt sek? muutki voisi vastata, Mutta urhot, kuulen ma, on miss' ei en?? lausuta.
Jalot mainitsinpa kahdet; kiitos heille ainiaan! Moni heid?n vertaisensa mennyt on jo manalaan. D?heln lep??, Dunker lep??, ja jos kysyt niist? nyt, Saa, kuin t?ss?, kertojana olla uros n??ntynyt.
Miks'en kaatua ma saanut, miss? muutki vierell?ni', Miss? Suomen urho joukko vietti juhla-hetki??n, Kussa kunniamme loisti kirkkahimmin: aikahan Alavuuden, Siikajoen ja Salmin sek? Lapuan?
Ei ois' pakko paetaksen' ollut Pohjan hankihin Taas ja n?hd? voitto-riemun tukehtuvan tuskihin, Eik? surra tuhansien kohtalota hirve??: Kohmettua Tornon j?ill?; Kaalisissa kenk?tt??.
Kova loppu vaivojemme, raskas ero maastamme! Muutamien kanssa tulin tok' m? Ruotsin rannalle. Uskollisna punattua tuonkin hiekan verell?n' Torill' itselleni t?ss? laulan hengen pid?tteen.
Jumal', auta is?nmaata! v?h?t muusta; soturi Heitte? voi hengen, onnen, k?det, jalat, kodonki. Jumal', auta is?nmaata! se on p??t?s lauluan', Muut jos sanat muuttuvatkin, n?ill? aina lopetan".
Ja h?n nousi sota-vanhus, l?ksi ulos h?lin??n, Saipa lantin muutamilta', enimmilt' ei niit?k??n; Siirtyi sitte herran luo ja kumartaen harmajaa P??t? ojensi jo h?lle kulunnaisen hattunsa.
Kenraali nyt, korehine kiiltimine, nauhoineen, Synkistyi ja tempas' hatun k?'est? sota-vanhuksen, Katsoi h?neen, katsoi v?keen, katsoi ja nyt tuokioon Lensi ukon lantti-aarre torillen jo kumohon.
Vanhus h?mm?styi, vaan herra virkkoi sanan hartahan: "Laulus' kuullut o'on, ja eest? tapellutkin saman maan, Ett' on mulla muisto moinen el?m?ni syksyn?, Katso, siit? ylpe'elen paljon enemm?n, kuin s?.
Tosin onni meid?t petti kahakoissa v?liste, Tosin turmioksi muuttui kohta kyll? voittomme, Vaan ei tarves n?yrty?mme ole eess? ihmisten, Min? kannan hatun p??ss?, kanna vanhus samoten".
Virkkoi noin; ja kirkkahampi valo nousi kasvoillen, Ja h?n painoi miehev?sti hatun p??h?n vanhuksen. Sitte lausui -- ilo viel? sylkytt??pi syd?nt?, Kun ma muistan h?nen muodon, sanansa ja ??nens?: --
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