The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23

parssmsnt except that Of Paris. and o.
Paris the clergy preached 'boyo9W
against the Huguenots Tho 6tates-oen-
eral, which met at Bois In December, lo7c.
declared almost unanimously In favor OF
one religion only, and on jan 1. 1871 tne
King announced In their Assembly that tho
Ediot OF Beaulieu had been extorted from
him, and that he did not intend to uphoio
1t. Thus disappeared what prospect OF
ascendency, or even OF equality, the French
Professionals ever had. All they we're TO got
from Henri w. by tho Ediot OF Nantes was
a narrowly restricted liberation
IL.
The massacre OF st. Bartholomew deaN
a blow to French humanism from wmch
It never recovered. Mr.. A. A. Tilley IN
chapter on the subject shows how the re-
ligious wars NJ themselves had been SOIL
GUS hindrance to the pursuit OF learning
yet how, down to the massacre. they mao
been relieved by considerable intervals OF
peace. Even Protestant professors, espe-
cially II they made no parade OF their re-
ligious opinions, had been able to continue
their teachings in comparative security
Now all was changed. Ramus pierre ne
la Ramee), the famous logician, who ior
more than a quarter OF q century had been
a power In the university life OF Paris, was
hunted down by rival professor, ana
persisted in the massacre. Lamblnus
(Denys Lambin) died Of the shock month
later. OF this professor OF Greek. who
made his mark chiefly as Latin scholar
and who brilliantly edited Plautus, Lucre-
titus, Cicero and Horace a high authority
Mr.. H. A. j. Munro. has said: His knowl-
edge OF Cicero and the older Latin writer's,
as we'll as the Augustan poets, has never
been surpassed, and rarely equaed'
Other luminaries Of the French kenais-
sance fed after the massacre to Geneva
and the same city provided refuge for the
younger Scaliger. the greatest name IN the
| history Of French classical scholarship
Another celebrated French scholar Isaac
Casaubon, had to live for twenty years al
Geneva, and, ultimately. when he found "
no longer possible for a scholar who was
Protestant to make livelihood in France
he was glad to accept the offer Of preben-
dial stall from the Archbishop OF Canter-
bury. French poetry cannot be said to
have suffered from the Massacre OF 81
|
scholarship, though deviation In us de-
| velopment may be traced to that event.
Within month OF the massacre Ronsard
published the first book OF his epic, La
Franciade,' but he never completed IT, ana
eighteen months later retired from the
court. After his retirement the poetical
stream divided into two channels, the one
represented by the Catholic courtier and
ecclesiastic, Philippe Desportes, and the
other by the Huguenot country gentleman
and soldier, Salluste du Bartas. Both we're
disciples and admirers OF Ronsard, but de-
parted from his methods in exa city opposite
directions. Desportes had more esprit and
less ina gination thai, Ronsard; his language
was less poetical, but more lucid and correct
he WAS an excellent writer Of courtly songs
On the other hand, Du Bartas deliberately
chose sacred subjects, as a protest against
the frivolous and pagan character OF the
contemporary muse "Notre Milton man
que" Is the French verdict upon him.
1t is we'll known that Montaigne's literary
labors were almost exactly contempt
raneous with what may be called the acute
stage OF the wars OF religion In France
the stage which followed the Massacre Of
st. Bartholomew. The subject OF an essa,
penned by him in March. 1572-the subject
namely. that Philosophy is to learn how
to die--was peculiarly suited to the times
for to the men OF the Renaissance death
like the sword OF Damocles. seemed to b.
forever suspended over the banquet OF life
Montaigne's attitude toward the religious
struggle was peculiarly his own. Mr.
Tilley directs attention to the fact that h
was on friendly terms with the leaders
both parties and was ever entrusted by then
with delicate negotiations. His was tn
only country house in France. he believed
; which, with no guards or sentinels bu
the stars" was left ito the protection o
heaven Yet it was never pillaged. HI
neutrality was due to no visible hesitatio
4 between the rival forms Of religion. "Dh
t trust OF change and respect for duly consti
tuted authority combined to make him
outwardly at least, loyal adherent OF tn
Catholic Church. He had no doubt tha
!, the best and the soundest cause was tina
, which maintained the ancient religion an
:. government OF the country. Nor had b
,, any sort of sympathy with Professionalism
That inquiring habit Of mind. which SCENE
> to him 80 desirable in all other matter
y was, he held, wholly out Of place in tn
; sphere Of religion. He objected TO II
!, promlscuous singing Of Psalms, and /
=. regarded the translation Of the Holy Scrip
= lures into the vernaoular as more dangerot
than useful. He was deferred, howeve
J. from taking a side partly by his love c
y ease, tranquility and independence, b.
still more by his love Of liberation
!. was characteristic that he dedicated h
edition Of the writings Of Boetius in tern
!, OF warm admiration to the fallen state
man, Michel de rHopital, the one man wi
had tried to carry out tolerant policy.
:, III.
Q In Poland, although the HUSTLE sect hi
?, been stamped out OF that country,
4 rafher burnt out. a hundred years befol