Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Profligate Manners Of The City Of Avignon,
ON THE PROFLIGATE MANNERS OF THE CITY OF AVIGNON ,
DUIUKG THE RESIDENCE OF THE POPEDOM THERE IN THE FOURTEENTH CEHTURY . 1 THE city of Avignon lately ceded to the French Republic by the Pope , was , for a short period in the fourteenth century , ( in consequence of violent disputes as to the succession to the papal chair ) the residence of the head of the catholic church . The profligacy of
the manners of its inhabitants are iu a manner proverbial . The following extract from the celebrated Petrarch will aftbrd much information on the subject : 'Under the Pontificate of Clement VI . in 1344 / Petrarch says'that profusion and debauchery were carried to the utmost hei ght at Avignon . The generosity of this Pontiff was unboundedand he had the
, strongest attachment to the fair sex , who had free access at all hours to his palace . At the head of these ladies , who formed a court in the palace of Clement , was the viscountess of Turenne : she was the widow of Alphonso , son to the King of Arragon , and became viscountess by the death of her brother . She had infinite cunning , was proud and imperious . Such a character in a woman of
beautinfluy , enced the mind of Clement , who was of the most gentle temper , and easy to govern . The empire she obtained over him , and the authority with which she disposed of every thing in his court , have caused it to be suspected that she was his mistress . It is certain she made herself very agreeable to him as a companion , accumulated great wealth , ancl at least dishonoured herself by the avidity with which she received
money from all persons , without distinction . ' It is not surprizing , that , under the government of a woman intent on amassing wealth , and in a court filled with young persons of both sexes , who held the first places there , and had no curb to their desires , that licentiousness should prevail , and become general . No place was ever so dissolute as Avignon . ' Here , ' says Petrarch , 'is seen aNimrod
powerful on the earth , and a mighty hunter before the Lord , who ' attempts to scale heaven with raising superb towers ; a Semiramis with her quiver ; a Cambyses more extravagant than him of old . Here are the inflexible Minos , Rhadamanthus , the greedy Cerberus , Pasiphae , and the Minotaur . All that is vile ancl execrable is assembled in this place ; but neither a Dedalus , nor Ariadnewith a clue to
, lead out of it . The only means of escaping , is by the influence of gold : gold pacifies the most savage monsters , softens the hardest hearts , pierces through the flinty rock , and opens every door , even that of heaven : for , to say all in two words , even Jesus Christ is here bought with gold . Yet in this place reign the successors of poor fishermenwho have forgot their oriin : they march covered with
, g gold and purple , proud of the spoils of princes and of the people . Instead of those little boats , in which they gained a living on the lake of Gunaserath , they inhabit superb palaces : they have also their parchments , to which are hung pieces of lead ; and these they use as nets
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Profligate Manners Of The City Of Avignon,
ON THE PROFLIGATE MANNERS OF THE CITY OF AVIGNON ,
DUIUKG THE RESIDENCE OF THE POPEDOM THERE IN THE FOURTEENTH CEHTURY . 1 THE city of Avignon lately ceded to the French Republic by the Pope , was , for a short period in the fourteenth century , ( in consequence of violent disputes as to the succession to the papal chair ) the residence of the head of the catholic church . The profligacy of
the manners of its inhabitants are iu a manner proverbial . The following extract from the celebrated Petrarch will aftbrd much information on the subject : 'Under the Pontificate of Clement VI . in 1344 / Petrarch says'that profusion and debauchery were carried to the utmost hei ght at Avignon . The generosity of this Pontiff was unboundedand he had the
, strongest attachment to the fair sex , who had free access at all hours to his palace . At the head of these ladies , who formed a court in the palace of Clement , was the viscountess of Turenne : she was the widow of Alphonso , son to the King of Arragon , and became viscountess by the death of her brother . She had infinite cunning , was proud and imperious . Such a character in a woman of
beautinfluy , enced the mind of Clement , who was of the most gentle temper , and easy to govern . The empire she obtained over him , and the authority with which she disposed of every thing in his court , have caused it to be suspected that she was his mistress . It is certain she made herself very agreeable to him as a companion , accumulated great wealth , ancl at least dishonoured herself by the avidity with which she received
money from all persons , without distinction . ' It is not surprizing , that , under the government of a woman intent on amassing wealth , and in a court filled with young persons of both sexes , who held the first places there , and had no curb to their desires , that licentiousness should prevail , and become general . No place was ever so dissolute as Avignon . ' Here , ' says Petrarch , 'is seen aNimrod
powerful on the earth , and a mighty hunter before the Lord , who ' attempts to scale heaven with raising superb towers ; a Semiramis with her quiver ; a Cambyses more extravagant than him of old . Here are the inflexible Minos , Rhadamanthus , the greedy Cerberus , Pasiphae , and the Minotaur . All that is vile ancl execrable is assembled in this place ; but neither a Dedalus , nor Ariadnewith a clue to
, lead out of it . The only means of escaping , is by the influence of gold : gold pacifies the most savage monsters , softens the hardest hearts , pierces through the flinty rock , and opens every door , even that of heaven : for , to say all in two words , even Jesus Christ is here bought with gold . Yet in this place reign the successors of poor fishermenwho have forgot their oriin : they march covered with
, g gold and purple , proud of the spoils of princes and of the people . Instead of those little boats , in which they gained a living on the lake of Gunaserath , they inhabit superb palaces : they have also their parchments , to which are hung pieces of lead ; and these they use as nets