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"The schools, as we know, from the histories of "the age, were not only filled with students, as "at present; but, men in years, persons of dis"tinction, fathers of families, and ministers of "state, after the toils of the day were over, crowded "to them, as to a theatre of amusement." The same writer adds*, that, "when Abeillard taught, "in the Convent of St. Denys; more than 3,000

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scholars, are said by some authors, to have at-; "tended his lectures. When he left this convent, "and retired to the convent of Nogent in Cham66 pagne, the lovers of science pursued, and dis"covered him;" and, "before the end of the "first year, exceeded six hundred. Situated in a

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forest, exposed to the inclement seasons, with"out a single convenience to smooth the rugged life, or without one amusement, except what "literary pursuits, scientific conversation, and their own society could supply;-in Abeillard, they "saw the divine Plato; in themselves, that illus"trious group of disciples, which had given renown "to to the academic walks of Athenst." We may lament, that the instruction, given them, was not more elegant, more sublime, or more useful: But, the thirst of knowledge, the mental activity of the scholars, it is impossible to deny. Ignorant, it would be injustice to call them. "In the twelfth century," says Dom Rivet †, "men of letters were "almost infinitely multiplied; a prodigious num

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Histoire Litteraire de France, vol. ix.-(Etat des Lettres en France dans le cours du douzième Siecle.)

"ber of writings on every subject, and sometimes "of a very interesting nature, appeared."

3. In the thirteenth century, the rays of science were brighter, and more generally diffused. The formation of the Italian republics raised, in every part of that ample territory, a spirit of mental energy, which equally discovered itself in commerce, and the polite arts. Many edifices, of the most exquisite gothic architecture, were raised. Cimabue, the father of the modern school of painting, adorned them with the efforts of his art; Brunelleschi revived, at Florence, the forms of antient architecture; and Dante produced the Divina Comedia.

In the Netherlands, the elegant arts equally flourished. No one, who has seen the long line of magnificent towns in Belgium, can have surveyed the many public edifices of exquisite and costly architecture, and the numberless works in marble, gold, silver, iron and bronze, which decorate them, -without admiration. Many of these may be traced to the period, of which we are speaking.

In the same period, France discovered equal mental ardour. The church of Notre-Dame, at Paris; the façades of the churches, of Rheims, and NotreDame, at Rouen, and the cathedrals of Amiens and Strasbourg shew, that in the architecture of the times, France did not yield the palm to Italy. The number of her schools, and the multitudes, by whom they were frequented, make it evident, that she possessed an equal taste for general literature. Libraries began now to be formed. The

foundations of the Bibliothèque Royâle, at Paris, were laid at this time; and Robert, (called of Sorbonne, from a village of that name in the diocese of Rheims, in which he was born), founded the university of the Sorbonne ;-collecting, moreover, for the use of its members, an extensive library. In 1289, it consisted of upwards of a thousand volumes-which were then valued, at 3,812 livres, 10 sous, and 8 deniers-(about 3,000 l. sterling, according to the present value of money.)

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The literary spirit of the times was increased by the discovery, in 1137, of a complete copy of the Pandects of Justinian, at Amalfi. The wisdom, and the justice, of the laws, expressed in these, were immediately felt; and the study of them was pursued, with a kind of enthusiasm. They were introduced into several universities: Exercises were performed, lectures read, degrees conferred, in this, as in other branches of science: and most of the nations on the continent adopted the Pendects, if not as the basis, at least, as an important portion of their jurisprudence.

4. If we compare the state of letters in England, with that of foreign countries, at this period, England will not suffer by the comparison. During a great part of this interval, the throne was filled by Henry the second, the most powerful monarch in Europe. Beside England, and Ireland, he was master, in right of his father, of his mother, and of his wife, and by the annexation of Brittany to his other states,-of more than a third part of the provinces, which then composed

the French monarchy. He possessed great abilíties; and inherited from his father, a taste for literature, and the arts. "When he could enjoy leisure," says Mr. Hume, "he recreated himself, "either in conversation, or in reading; and he "cultivated his natural abilities by study, above "any prince of his time." Throughout his reign, England made great advances in learning, and in the polite arts; and, if we were required to name the golden age of the literature of the middle ages, we could not assign any era, better deserving this appellation than the reign of this monarch. It was distinguished by its improvements in architecture; particularly by an universal increase of dimension, the sharp pointed arch, resting on the slender column, and the leafy moulding. These Mr. Miller * mentions among the characteristics of the Norman style of architecture. He supposes it to have flourished, from the Norman conquest to the reign of John. At the close of his account of it, he says;-"Let us not quit this topic, without paying a due tribute of admiration to the libe

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rality, and magnificence, of those, whose mighty "works we have been endeavouring to characterise. "Almost all the cathedrals in England, and Wales; a prodigious number of splendid monasteries, and

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parish churches, in every part of the kingdom, "were erected by them, in little more than one "century." Considering the concomitant learning, which architectural eminence pre-supposes, it

* Description of the Cathedral Church of Ely, p. 27

is impossible, that this should have been a century of ignorance.

One of the most valuable monuments of the literature of the middle ages, the letters of St. Thomas of Canterbury, and of his correspondents, -belongs to this reign. The writers express themselves with a conscious elevation of rank, and character, with sense, and with spirit; and discover an extensive knowledge of sacred, and profane, literature. Their frequent allusions to the classics, shew their acquaintance with these precious remains of antiquity. It is surprising, that it did not lead them to a purer style. The same -may be said of many of the historians of these times. Sir Henry Saville preferred William of Malmesbury to all other historians, with whom he was acquainted, both for judiciousness, and fidelity. Bishop Warburton speaks in terms, equally high, of Matthew Paris.

But, the wonder of the thirteenth century is Roger Bacon. It is a disgrace to his countrymen, that neither a complete collection of his works; nor a full and able account of his life, and literary labours, have yet appeared. He first studied, at Oxford; thence, removed to Paris; and took the degree of doctor in that university. "After his "return to Oxford," says Mr. Chalmers, in his General Biographical Dictionary, "he was considered, by the greatest men in that university, as one of the ablest, and most indefatigable inquirers after knowledge that the world ever pro“duced; and, therefore, they not only shewed

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