Ruins, or, Meditation on the Revolutions of Empires and the Law of Nature

Constantin-Francois Volney

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pubOne.info present you this new edition. COMTE ET PAIR DE FRANCE. COMMANDEUR DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR, MEMBRE DE L'ACADEMIE FRANCAISE, ET DE PLUSIEURS AUTRES SOCIETES SAVANTES.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

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• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 06 novembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819932024
• Langue: English

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THE RUINS,
OR, MEDITATION ON THE REVOLUTIONS OFEMPIRES:
AND
THE LAW OF NATURE,
by C. F. VOLNEY,
COMTE ET PAIR DE FRANCE. COMMANDEUR DE LA LEGIOND'HONNEUR, MEMBRE DE L'ACADEMIE FRANCAISE, ET DE PLUSIEURS AUTRESSOCIETES SAVANTES.
DEPUTY TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF 1789, AND AUTHOROF “TRAVELS IN EGYPT AND SYRIA, ” “NEW RESEARCHES ON ANCIENTHISTORY, ” ETC.
TO WHICH IS ADDED
VOLNEY'S ANSWER TO DR. PRIESTLY, A BIOGRAPHICALNOTICE BY COUNT DARU, AND THE ZODIACAL SIGNS AND CONSTELLATIONS BYTHE EDITOR.
I will cherish in remembrance the love of man, Iwill employ myself on the means of effecting good for him, andbuild my own happiness on the promotion of his. — Volney.
NEW YORK, TWENTIETH CENTURY PUB. CO., 4 WARREN ST.1890.
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE.
Having recently purchased a set of stereotypedplates of Volney's Ruins, with a view of reprinting the same, Ifound, on examination, that they were considerably worn by the manyeditions that had been printed from them and that they greatlyneeded both repairs and corrections. A careful estimate showed thatthe amount necessary for this purpose would go far towardsreproducing this standard work in modern type and in an improvedform. After due reflection this course was at length decided upon,and all the more readily, as by discarding the old plates andresetting the entire work, the publisher was enabled to greatlyenhance its value, by inserting the translator's preface as itappeared in the original edition, and also to restore many notesand other valuable material which had been carelessly omitted inthe American reprint.
An example of an important omission of this kind maybe found on the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth pages of thisvolume, which may be appropriately referred to, in this connection.It is there stated, in describing the ancient kingdom of Ethiopia,and the ruins of Thebes, her opulent metropolis, that “There apeople, now forgotten, discovered, while others were yetbarbarians, the elements of the arts and sciences. A race of men,now rejected from society for their sable skin and frizzled hair,founded on the study of the laws of nature, those civil andreligious systems which still govern the universe. ”
A voluminous note, in which standard authorities arecited, seems to prove that this statement is substantially correct,and that we are in reality indebted to the ancient Ethiopians, tothe fervid imagination of the persecuted and despised negro, forthe various religious systems now so highly revered by thedifferent branches of both the Semitic and Aryan races. This fact,which is so frequently referred to in Mr. Volney's writings, mayperhaps solve the question as to the origin of all religions, andmay even suggest a solution to the secret so long concealed beneaththe flat nose, thick lips, and negro features of the EgyptianSphinx. It may also confirm the statement of Dioderus, that “theEthiopians conceive themselves as the inventors of divine worship,of festivals, of solemn assemblies, of sacrifices, and of everyother religious practice. ”
That an imaginative and superstitious race of blackmen should have invented and founded, in the dim obscurity of pastages, a system of religious belief that still enthralls the mindsand clouds the intellects of the leading representatives of moderntheology, — that still clings to the thoughts, and tinges with itspotential influence the literature and faith of the civilized andcultured nations of Europe and America, is indeed a strangeillustration of the mad caprice of destiny, of the insignificantand apparently trivial causes that oft produce the most grave andmomentous results.
The translation here given closely follows thatpublished in Paris by Levrault, Quai Malaquais, in 1802, which wasunder the direction and careful supervision of the talented author;and whatever notes Count Volney then thought necessary to insert inhis work, are here carefully reproduced without abridgment ormodification.
The portrait, maps and illustrations are from aFrench edition of Volney's complete works, published by BossangeFreres at No. 12 Rue de Seine, Paris, in 1821, — one year after thedeath of Mr. Volney. It is a presentation copy “on the part ofMadame, the Countess de Volney, and of the nephew of the author, ”and it may therefore be taken for granted that Mr. Volney'sportrait, as here given, is correct, and was satisfactory to hisfamily.
An explanation of the figures and diagrams shown onthe map of the Astrological Heaven of the Ancients has been addedin the appendix by the publisher.
PETER ECKLER. New York, January 3, 1890.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
OF THE ENGLISH EDITION PUBLISHED IN PARIS.
To offer the public a new translation of Volney'sRuins may require some apology in the view of those who areacquainted with the work only in the English version which alreadyexists, and which has had a general circulation. But those who areconversant with the book in the author's own language, and havetaken pains to compare it with that version, must have been struckwith the errors with which the English performance abounds. Theymust have regretted the loss of many original beauties, some ofwhich go far in composing the essential merits of the work.
The energy and dignity of the author's manner, theunaffected elevation of his style, the conciseness, perspicuity andsimplicity of his diction, are everywhere suited to his subject,which is solemn, novel, luminous, affecting, — a subject perhapsthe most universally interesting to the human race that has everbeen presented to their contemplation. It takes the most liberaland comprehensive view of the social state of man, develops thesources of his errors in the most perspicuous and convincingmanner, overturns his prejudices with the greatest delicacy andmoderation, sets the wrongs he has suffered, and the rights heought to cherish, in the clearest point of view, and lays beforehim the true foundation of morals— his only means of happiness.
As the work has already become a classical one, evenin English, and as it must become and continue to be so regarded inall languages in which it shall be faithfully rendered, we wish itto suffer as little as possible from a change of country; — that asmuch of the spirit of the original be transfused and preserved asis consistent with the nature of translation.
How far we have succeeded in performing this servicefor the English reader we must not pretend to determine. Webelieve, however, that we have made an improved translation, andthis without claiming any particular merit on our part, since wehave had advantages which our predecessor had not. We have beenaided by his labors; and, what is of still more importance, ourwork has been done under the inspection of the author, whosecritical knowledge of both languages has given us a great facilityin avoiding such errors as might arise from hurry or mistake.
Paris, November 1, 1802.
PREFACE OF THE LONDON EDITION.*
* Published by T. Allman, 42 Holborn Hill, London,1851.
The plan of this publication was formed nearly tenyears ago; and allusions to it may be seen in the preface toTravels in Syria and Egypt, as well as at the end of that work,(published in 1787). The performance was in some forwardness whenthe events of 1788 in France interrupted it. Persuaded that adevelopment of the theory of political truth could not sufficientlyacquit a citizen of his debt to society, the author wished to addpractice; and that particularly at a time when a single arm was ofconsequence in the defence of the general cause.
The same desire of public benefit which induced himto suspend his work, has since engaged him to resume it, and thoughit may not possess the same merit as if it had appeared under thecircumstances that gave rise to it, yet he imagines that at a timewhen new passions are bursting forth, — passions that mustcommunicate their activity to the religious opinions of men, — itis of importance to disseminate such moral truths as are calculatedto operate as a curb and restraint. It is with this view he hasendeavored to give to these truths, hitherto treated as abstract, aform likely to gain them a reception.
It was found impossible not to shock the violentprejudices of some readers; but the work, so far from being thefruit of a disorderly and perturbed spirit, has been dictated by asincere love of order and humanity.
After reading this performance it will be asked, howit was possible in 1784 to have had an idea of what did not takeplace till the year 1790? The solution is simple. In the originalplan the legislator was a fictitious and hypothetical being: in thepresent, the author has substituted an existing legislator; and thereality has only made the subject additionally interesting.
PREFACE OF THE AMERICAN EDITION.*
* The copy from which this preface is reprintedwas
published in Boston by Charles Gaylord, in 1833. Itwas
given to the writer, when a mere lad, by a lady—almost a
stranger— who was traveling through the littlehamlet on the
banks of the Hudson where he then resided. Thislady
assured me that the book was of great value,containing
noble and sublime truths; and the only conditionshe
attached to the gift was, that I should read itcarefully
and endeavor to understand its meaning. This Iwillingly
promised and faithfully performed; and all who have"climbed
the heights, " and escaped from the thraldom ofsuperstitious
faith, will concede the inestimable value of such agift—
rich with the peace and consolation that the truthimparts.
— Pub.
If books were to be judged of by their volume, thefollowing would have but little value; if appraised by theircontents, it will perhaps be reckoned among the mostinstructive.
In general, nothing is more important than a goodelementary book; but, also, nothing is more difficult to composeand even to read: and why? Because, as every thing in it should beanalysis and definition, all should be expressed with truth andprecision. If truth and preci