Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Comparison Between The Antients And Moderns In Science And Literature.
jbostered in its noxious bosom , and cherished by its fatal protection , Ignorance and Superstition now reared their heads aloft , and with a resistless power exerted their united efforts to render the mass of the people submissive to the despotic sway , and subservient to the corrupt designs of this tyrannical hierarchy . The little spark of learning which then existed was confined to a bigoted , weak , and designing priesthoodwhose interest it was to keep the laity in darkness
, , and discountenance the slightest inclination to study and enquiry . Like a comet , which makes its appearance once in a century , and awakens the attention of eveiy nation on the g lobe , there occasionally started into life a luminous genius , which astonished by the brilliancy of its exertions , and dazzled by the effulgency of its blaze ; but which only served to render the gloom that ensued the more perceptible
and profound . The page of history cannot better illustrate this than in those celebrated sovereigns , Charlemagne and Alfred . A few relics , however , of the inestimable treasures of antiquity had fortunately escaped the desolation consequent of the ravages of the northern barbarians ; -and had it not been for the protection afforded by the monasteriesthose receptacles of follysuperstitionand vice , in whose
, , , Gothic recesses they were encloistered , the embers of antient literature , which have since burnt with so bright a flame , would have been extinguished forrever . Happy is it for us , and for mankind in general , that the monastic institutions , however detrimental they may have been to the comfort and improvement of society , have , notwithstanding , been the guardians of the records of antiquity , and the means of
transmitting to us the history , the philosophy , the manners , and the customs of the antient world . There were three circumstances worthy of Observation , which first gave rise to the revival of learning in Europe . The first was the demolition of Constantinople , and the consequent destruction of the Greek empire by the Turks , which occasioned the migration of several men of- letters , who afterwards settled in Italy , and there first contributed to rouse the latent powers
of the mind from that lethargy which , before this event , universally prevailed . Another conspicuous cause was the settlement of the Saracens in Spain , who imported with them the sciences they had in many respects so successfully cultivated ; and communicated to their conquered foes a portion of that enthusiasm for knowledge which , at that period , so strongly characterized the inhabitants of Arabia . The third important circumstanceand the universality of whose
ope-, ation is perhaps the most observable , was the adventitious discovery of a copy of the celebrated pandects of Justinian , concealed among the ruins of a little town in Italy . From this event , however trivial at first appearance , effects were produced of more sonsequence than could possibly have been foreseen by the most penetrating sagacity . The study of the civil lawin a short timebecame the fashionable
, , employment of all persons of leisure and opulence in Europe . Universities and professorships were instituted for the improvement of students , and collegiate dignities were created as further incentives to application , and for the beneficial purpose of rewarding literary merit . An opportunity was now offered for the exertion of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Comparison Between The Antients And Moderns In Science And Literature.
jbostered in its noxious bosom , and cherished by its fatal protection , Ignorance and Superstition now reared their heads aloft , and with a resistless power exerted their united efforts to render the mass of the people submissive to the despotic sway , and subservient to the corrupt designs of this tyrannical hierarchy . The little spark of learning which then existed was confined to a bigoted , weak , and designing priesthoodwhose interest it was to keep the laity in darkness
, , and discountenance the slightest inclination to study and enquiry . Like a comet , which makes its appearance once in a century , and awakens the attention of eveiy nation on the g lobe , there occasionally started into life a luminous genius , which astonished by the brilliancy of its exertions , and dazzled by the effulgency of its blaze ; but which only served to render the gloom that ensued the more perceptible
and profound . The page of history cannot better illustrate this than in those celebrated sovereigns , Charlemagne and Alfred . A few relics , however , of the inestimable treasures of antiquity had fortunately escaped the desolation consequent of the ravages of the northern barbarians ; -and had it not been for the protection afforded by the monasteriesthose receptacles of follysuperstitionand vice , in whose
, , , Gothic recesses they were encloistered , the embers of antient literature , which have since burnt with so bright a flame , would have been extinguished forrever . Happy is it for us , and for mankind in general , that the monastic institutions , however detrimental they may have been to the comfort and improvement of society , have , notwithstanding , been the guardians of the records of antiquity , and the means of
transmitting to us the history , the philosophy , the manners , and the customs of the antient world . There were three circumstances worthy of Observation , which first gave rise to the revival of learning in Europe . The first was the demolition of Constantinople , and the consequent destruction of the Greek empire by the Turks , which occasioned the migration of several men of- letters , who afterwards settled in Italy , and there first contributed to rouse the latent powers
of the mind from that lethargy which , before this event , universally prevailed . Another conspicuous cause was the settlement of the Saracens in Spain , who imported with them the sciences they had in many respects so successfully cultivated ; and communicated to their conquered foes a portion of that enthusiasm for knowledge which , at that period , so strongly characterized the inhabitants of Arabia . The third important circumstanceand the universality of whose
ope-, ation is perhaps the most observable , was the adventitious discovery of a copy of the celebrated pandects of Justinian , concealed among the ruins of a little town in Italy . From this event , however trivial at first appearance , effects were produced of more sonsequence than could possibly have been foreseen by the most penetrating sagacity . The study of the civil lawin a short timebecame the fashionable
, , employment of all persons of leisure and opulence in Europe . Universities and professorships were instituted for the improvement of students , and collegiate dignities were created as further incentives to application , and for the beneficial purpose of rewarding literary merit . An opportunity was now offered for the exertion of