"That is, provided always, deference is had to the proper use
of definitions, and that they are contemplated with scientific eyes."
"Eyes of a mole! as if man's eyes were not as good for names as the
eyes of any other creatur'! Who named the works of His hand? can you
tell me that, with your books and college wisdom? Was it not the first
man in the Garden, and is it not a plain consequence that his children
inherit his gifts?"
"That is certainly the Mosaic account of the event," said the Doctor;
"though your reading is by far too literal!"
"My reading! nay, if you suppose, that I have wasted my time in
schools, you do such a wrong to my knowledge, as one mortal should
never lay to the door of another without sufficient reason. If I have
ever craved the art of reading, it has been that I might better know
the sayings of the book you name, for it is a book which speaks, in
every line, according to human feelings, and therein according to
reason."
"And do you then believe," said the Doctor a little provoked by the
dogmatism of his stubborn adversary, and perhaps, secretly, too
confident in his own more liberal, though scarcely as profitable,
attainments,--"do you then believe that all these beasts were
literally collected in a garden, to be enrolled in the nomenclature of
the first man?"
"Why not? I understand your meaning; for it is not needful to live in
towns to hear all the devilish devices, that the conceit of man can
invent to upset his own happiness.
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