128 SHEMITIC CIVILIZATION. 



that of simple interpreters. The Jewish 

 philosophy of that period is Arabian philo- 

 sophy, without modification. One page of 

 Roger Bacon contains more of the true 

 spirit of Science than all this second hand 

 knowledge, devoid of true originality, and 

 respectable only as a link in the chain of 

 tradition. 



If we examine the question in a moral 

 and social point of view, we shall find 

 that Shemitic morality is, at times, very 

 high and very pure. The code attributed 

 to Moses contains exalted ideas of right. 

 The prophets are sometimes most eloquent 

 tribunes. The moralists, Jesus the son of 

 Sirach, and Hillel, rise to a surprising 

 loftiness. Nor must we forget that the 

 morality of the Gospel was first preached 

 in a Shemitic tongue. On the other hand 

 the Shemitic character is generally hard, 

 narrow, egotistical. In this race we find 

 strong passions, perfect devotion, and in- 

 comparable qualities. It rarely possesses 

 that delicacy of moral feeling which seems 



