A Strange Story — CompleteLytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Science
A Strange Story — Complete
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
English fiction -- 19th century
book! Accept This Book instead; Read and Pray.”
He placed his Bible in my hand, embraced me, and, an hour afterwards,
the old man and the child left my hearth solitary once more.
(1) The summary of this distinguished lecturer’s objections to
phrenology is to be found in the Appendix to vol i. of “Lectures on
Metaphysics,” p. 404, et seq. Edition 1859.
(2) The change of length of iron girders caused by variation of
temperature has not unfrequently brought down the whole edifice into
which they were admitted. Good engineers and architects allow for such
changes produced by temperature. In the tubular bridge across the Menai
Straits, a self-acting record of the daily amount of its contraction and
expansion is ingeniously Contrived.
(3) Bacon’s “Essay on Atheism.” This quotation is made with admirable
felicity and force by Dr. Whewell, page 378 of Bridgewater Treatise
on Astronomy and General Physics considered with reference to Natural
Theology.
CHAPTER XLVII.
That night, as I sat in my study, very thoughtful and very mournful, I
resolved all that Julius Faber had said; and the impression his words
had produced became gradually weaker and weaker, as my reason, naturally
combative, rose up with all the replies which my philosophy suggested.
No; if my imagination had really seduced and betrayed me into monstrous
credulities, it was clear that the best remedy to such morbid tendencies
towards the Superstitious was in the severe exercise of the faculties
most opposed to Superstition,--in the culture of pure reasoning, in the
science of absolute fact. Accordingly, I placed before me the very book
which Julius Faber had advised me to burn; I forced all my powers of
mind to go again over the passages which contained the doctrines that
his admonition had censured; and before daybreak, I had stated the
substance of his argument, and the logical reply to it, in an elaborate
addition to my chapter on “Sentimental Philosophers.” While thus
rejecting the purport of his parting counsels, I embodied in another
portion of my work his views on my own “illusions;” and as here my
commonsense was in concord with his, I disposed of all my own previous
doubts in an addition to my favourite chapter “On the Cheats of the
Imagination.” And when the pen dropped from my hand, and the day-star
gleamed through the window, my heart escaped from the labour of my mind,
and flew back to the image of Lilian. The pride of the philosopher died
out of me, the sorrow of the man reigned supreme, and I shrank from the
coming of the sun, despondent.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account