252 SCIENCE. [x. 



will of course freely discover what you choose. Only 

 do not talk too loudly about it : leave that to us. We 

 understand the world, and are meant to guide and 

 govern it. So discover freely : and meanwhile hand 

 over your discoveries to us, that we may instruct and 

 edify the populace with so much of them as we think 

 safe, while we keep our position thereby, and in many 

 cases make much money by your science. Do that, 

 and we will patronise you, applaud you, ask you to our 

 houses ; and you shall be clothed in purple and fine 

 linen, and fare sumptuously with us every day. I 

 know not whether these latter are not the worst enemies 

 which science has. They are often such excellent, 

 respectable, orderly, well-meaning persons. They desire 

 so sincerely that everyone should be wise : only not 

 too wise. They are so utterly unaware of the mischief 

 they are doing. They would recoil with horror if they 

 were told they were so many Iscariots, betraying Truth 

 with a kiss. 



But science, as yet, has withstood both terrors and 

 blandishments. In old times she endured being im- 

 prisoned and slain. She came to life again. Perhaps 

 it was the will of Him in whom all things live, that 

 she should live. Perhaps it was His spirit which gave 

 her life. 



She can endure, too, being starved. Her votaries 

 have not as yet cared much for purple and fine linen, 

 and sumptuous fare. There are a very few among 

 them who, joining brilliant talents to solid learning, 

 have risen to deserved popularity, to titles, and to 

 wealth. But even their labours, it seems to me, are 

 never rewarded in any proportion to the time and the 

 intellect spent on them, nor to the benefits which they 



