No More Learning

The decision on this point has already been
given. The generation that invented those
numerous Homeric fables, that poetised the myth
of the contest between Homer and Hesiod, and
looked upon all the poems of the epic cycle as
Homeric, did not feel an aesthetic but a material
singularity when it pronounced the name " Homer. "
This period regards Homer as belonging to the
ranks of artists like Orpheus, Eumolpus, Daedalus,
and Olympus, the mythical discoverers of a new
branch of art, to whom, therefore, all the later
fruits which grew from the new branch were
thankfully dedicated.
And that wonderful genius to whom we owe
the Iliad and the Odyssey belongs to this thank-
ful posterity: he, too, sacrificed his name on the
altar of the primeval father of the Homeric epic,
Homeros.
Up to this point, gentlemen, I think I have
been able to put before you the fundamental
philosophical and aesthetic characteristics of the
problem of the personality of Homer, keeping all
minor details rigorously at a distance, on the
supposition that the primary form of this wide-
spread and honeycombed mountain known as the
Homeric question can be most clearly observed
by looking down at it from a far-off height. But
I have also, I imagine, recalled two facts to those
friends of antiquity who take such delight in
accusing us philologists of lack of piety for great


## p. 168 (#188) ############################################

168 HOMER AND CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY.
conceptions and an unproductive zeal for destruc-
tion. In the first place, those " great" conceptions
—such, for example, as that of the indivisible and
inviolable poetic genius, Homer—were during the
pre-Wolfian period only too great, and hence in-
wardly altogether empty and elusive when we
now try to grasp them. If classical philology
goes back again to the same conceptions, and
once more tries to pour new wine into old bottles,
it is only on the surface that the conceptions are
the same: everything has really become new;
bottle and mind, wine and word. We everywhere
find traces of the fact that philology has lived in
company with poets, thinkers, and artists for the
last hundred years: whence it has now come
about that the heap of ashes formerly pointed to
as classical philology is now turned into fruitful
and even rich soil. *
And there is a second fact which I should like
to recall to the memory of those friends of antiquity
who turn their dissatisfied backs on classical
philology. You honour the immortal masterpieces
of the Hellenic mind in poetry and sculpture, and
think yourselves so much more fortunate than
preceding generations, which had to do without
them; but you must not forget that this whole
fairyland once lay buried under mountains of
prejudice, and that the blood and sweat and
arduous labour of innumerable followers of our
science were all necessary to lift up that world
* Nietzsche perceived later on that this statement was,
unfortunately, not justified. —Tr.


## p. 169 (#189) ############################################

HOMER AND CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY. 169
from the chasm into which it had sunk. We grant
that philology is not the creator of this world,
not the composer of that immortal music; but
is it not a merit, and a great merit, to be a mere
virtuoso, and let the world for the first time hear
that music which lay so long in obscurity, despised
and undecipherable? Who was Homer previously
to Wolfs brilliant investigations? A good old
man, known at best as a " natural genius," at all
events the child of a barbaric age, replete with
faults against good taste and good morals. Let
us hear how a learned man of the first rank writes
about Homer even so late as 1783: "Where does
the good man live? Why did he remain so long
incognito? Apropos, can't you get me a
silhouette of him? "
We demand thanks—not in our own name, for
we are but atoms—but in the name of philology
itself, which is indeed neither a Muse nor a Grace,
but a messenger of the gods: and just as the
Muses descended upon the dull and tormented
Boeotian peasants, so Philology comes into a
world full of gloomy colours and pictures, full of
the deepest, most incurable woes; and speaks
to men comfortingly of the beautiful and
godlike figure of a distant, rosy, and happy
fairyland.
It is time to close; yet before I do so a
few words of a personal character must be
added, justified, I hope, by the occasion of this
lecture.
It is but right that a philologist should describe
his end and the means to it in the short formula


## p. 170 (#190) ############################################

170 HOMER AND CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY.
of a confession of faith; and let this be done in
the saying of Seneca which I thus reverse—
"Philosophia facta est quae philologia fuit. "
By this I wish to signify that all philological
activities should be enclosed and surrounded by a
philosophical view of things, in which everything
individual and isolated is evaporated as something
detestable, and in which great homogeneous views
alone remain. Now, therefore, that I have enunci-
ated my philological creed, I trust you will give
me cause to hope that I shall no longer be a
stranger among you: give me the assurance that
in working with you towards this end I am worthily
fulfilling the confidence with which the highest
authorities of this community have honoured me.
A


## p. (#191) ################################################

THE WORKS OF
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE.
First Complete and Authorised English Translation, in 18 Volumes.
Edited by Dr. OSCAR LEVY.
Now Ready.
THOUGHTS OUT OF SEASON, Vol. I. Translated by
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THOUGHTS OUT OF SEASON, Vol. II. Translated, with
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Author's Sister, Portrait and Facsimile. 2s. 6d. net.
THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA. Revised Translation
by T. Common, with Introduction by Mrs. Fosrster-Nietzsche, and
Commentary by A. M. Ludovici. 6s. net.
BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL. Translated by Helen
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.
THE FUTURE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITU-
TIONS. Translated, with Introduction, by J. M. Kennedy, as. 6d.
net.
HUMAN, ALL-TOO-HUMAN, Vol. I. Translated by Helen
Zimmern, with Introduction by J. M. Kennedy. 5s. net.
THE WILL TO POWER, Vol. I. Translated, with In-
troduction, by A. M. Ludovici. 5s. net.
Ready Spring 1970.
THE GENEALOGY OF MORALS. Translated, with In-
troduction, by Horace B. Samuel, M. A. 3s. 6d. net.
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THE DAWN OF DAY. Translated, with Introduction, by
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Ready Autumn 1910.
The Case of Wagner; Nietzsche contra Wagner;
Poems, etc.
The Antichrist, etc.
We Philologists, etc.
Various Essays and Fragments.
Ecce Homo. (The celebrated Autobiography. )
T. N. FOULIS, 15 Frederick Street, Edinburgh; and
21 Paternoster Square, London, E. C.


## p. (#192) ################################################

OTHER NIETZSCHE AN LITERATURE
ON THE TRACKS OF LIFE:
THE IMMORALITY OF MORALITY.
Translated from the Italian of Leo G. Sera by
J. M. Kennedy.
With an Introduction by Dr. Oscar Levy.
7*. 6d. net.
(John Lane. )
Dr. Sera is a physician who has deeply studied literature
and historical science, and the object of his book is, in the
opening words of the preface: "To establish our conception
of social life on its original basis. " The author adduces
many new and startling theories in regard to the questions he
treats of in support of his views. He holds that the diffusion
of democratic principles is vulgarising science and art, and
that present social conditions, especially work and Christian
teaching, are leading to the intellectual and moral degen-
eration of the race. Stimulating chapters on Stendhal,
Nietzsche, Goethe, The Origin of Society, Work, and the
Aristocratic Ideal, show current opinions of Genius, Aristo-
cracy, Democracy, Sport, and Sexuality in a new light.
Scientific thought is put upon a new basis more in conformity
with modern Continental views. The audacity of Dr.
Sera's theories has evoked much discussion in England and
on the Continent; and his work is certain to appeal to all
serious thinkers, and to students of modern moral problems.
"There are a host of points which Dr. Sera makes which it would
be well if our social conventionalists would consider. For one
thing, his philosophy is based on what men really do and think, as
apart from their professions. "—Sunday Times.
"Written with a vigour and freshness rarely met with in works of
this character, few readers could peruse the volume without intel-
lectual quickening and expansion. —Western Morning News.
"A vigorously written bit of work, packed full of shrewd
thinking. ' —Birmingham Post.
'' The volume contains many obiter dicta of great shrewdness,
and of particular value to our own race. "—Globe.


## p. (#193) ################################################

OTHER NIETZSCHEAN LITERATURE
WHO IS TO BE MASTER OF
THE WORLD?
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche,
By A. M. LUDOVICI.
With a Preface by Dr. Oscar Levy.
Crown 8vo, 216 pages, 2s. 6d. net.
(T. N. Foulis. )
In this book the author has made a plain and lucid
statement of Nietzsche's views. The work embodies the
Three Lectures recently given at University College,
London, and other matter besides—together with copious
references to the numerous philosophers, historians, and
scientists who may be said to have led up to Friedrich
Nietzsche's position.
"The lectures are well worth reading, as showing what Nietzsche-
anism really means. "—Glasgow Herald.
"If this little book does not impel some young and gallant spirits
to the works of the philosopher, I shall be surprised. . . . Mr.
Ludovici shows such clearness, method, constructive art, as belong
to a master of exposition. "— Westminster Gazette.
THE REVIVAL OF ARISTOCRACY.
By Dr. OSCAR LEVY.
$s. 6d. net.
(Probsthain.
)
A fierce indictment of the philosophy of the nineteenth
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"The ablest exposition of Nietzscheanism that has yet appeared. "
—Manchester Guardian.
"Here we see the philosophy of Nietzsche put into a concentrated
form, and set forth by a clever and biting pen. "—Glasgow Herald.


## p. (#194) ################################################

OTHER NIETZSCHEAN LITERATURE
THE QUINTESSENCE OF
NIETZSCHE.
By J. M. KENNEDY.
37° PP-i 6*- net-
(T. Werner Laurie. )
This book is valuable as giving not only the first full
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Socialism, Democracy, and to British Institutions in
general. The publication of the fragmentary works and
letters has thrown new light on Nietzsche's opinions
concerning love, woman, and marriage, all of which are
referred to or cited in the course of the work. Quotations
are given from all Nietzsche's writings, no work of the
philosopher being left unmentioned. For the chapters
dealing with Nietzsche's life, studies, travels, etc. , ample
use has been made of the new'/ issued autobiography,
"Ecce Homo," from which several quotations are given.
The volume is tastefully illustrated, and is further pro-
vided with a short bibliography and a full index.
NIETZSCHE IN OUTLINE AND APHORISM. By
A. R. Orage, Editor of The New Age. 176 pages. Fcap. 8vo,
as. 6d. net. (T. N. Founs. )
"Mr. Orage has made his selection with care and judgment. His book gives
an excellent summary of Nietzsche's teaching, which many will be glad to
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NIETZSCHE, The Dionysian Spirit of the Age. By A. R.
Orage. With Portrait. 83 pages. Crown 8vo, boards,,is. net. (T. N.
Foulis. )
"This little book on Nietzsche is badly wanted in England . . . very inter-
esting and readable. "—Fabian News.


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