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the inhabitants； no town is more fit for the culture of letters； and above all
of medicine。 What site is more delicious and more lovely？ A heaven
pure and smiling； a city built with magnificence； men born for all the
labours of the intellect。 All around vast horizons and enchanting sites
meadows； vines； olives； green champaigns； mountains and hills； rivers；
brooks； lagoons； and the sea。 Everywhere a luxuriant vegetation
everywhere the richest production of the land and the water。 Hail to thee
sweet and dear city！ Hail； happy abode of Apollo； who spreadest afar the
light of the glory of thy name！〃
〃This fine tirade；〃 says Dr。 Maurice Raynaudfrom whose charming
book on the 〃Doctors of the Time of Moliere〃 I quote〃is not； as one
might think； the translation of a piece of poetry。 It is simply part of a
public oration by Francois Fanchon； one of the most illustrious chancellors
of the faculty of medicine of Montpellier in the seventeenth century。〃
〃From time immemorial；〃 he says； 〃'the faculty' of Montpellier had made
itself remarkable by a singular mixture of the sacred and the profane。
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The theses which were sustained there began by an invocation to God； the
Blessed Virgin； and St。 Luke； and ended by these words： 'This thesis
will be sustained in the sacred Temple of Apollo。'〃
But however extravagant Chancellor Fanchon's praises of his native
city may seem； they are really not exaggerated。 The Narbonnaise； or
Languedoc； is perhaps the most charming district of charming France。 In
the far north…east gleam the white Alps； in the far south…west the white
Pyrenees； and from the purple glens and yellow downs of the Cevennes on
the north…west； the Herault slopes gently down towards the 〃Etangs；〃 or
great salt…water lagoons； and the vast alluvial flats of the Camargue； the
field of Caius Marius； where still run herds of half…wild horses； descended
from some ancient Roman stock； while beyond all glitters the blue
Mediterranean。 The great almond orchards； each one sheet of rose…
colour in spring； the mulberry orchards； the oliveyards； the vineyards；
cover every foot of available upland soil： save where the rugged and
arid downs are sweet with a thousand odoriferous plants； from which the
bees extract the famous white honey of Narbonne。 The native flowers
and shrubs； of a beauty and richness rather Eastern than European； have
made the 〃Flora Montpeliensis；〃 and with it the names of Rondelet and his
disciples； famous among botanists； and the strange fish and shells upon its
shores afforded Rondelet materials for his immortal work upon the
〃Animals of the Sea。〃 The innumerable wild fowl of the Benches du
Rhone； the innumerable songsters and other birds of passage； many of
them unknown in these islands； and even in the north of France itself；
which haunt every copse of willow and aspen along the brook…sides； the
gaudy and curious insects which thrive beneath that clear； fierce； and yet
bracing sunlight； all these have made the district of Montpellier a home
prepared by Nature for those who study and revere her。
Neither was Chancellor Fanchon misled by patriotism； when he said
the pleasant people who inhabit that district are fit for all the labours of the
intellect。 They are a very mixed race； and； like most mixed races； quick…
witted； and handsome also。 There is probably much Roman blood
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among them； especially in the towns； for Languedoc； or Gallia
Narbonnensis； as it was called of old； was said to be more Roman than
Rome itself。 The Roman remains are more perfect and more interesting
so the late Dr。 Whewell used to say than any to be seen now in Italy； and
the old capital； Narbonne itself； was a plete museum of Roman
antiquities ere Francis I。 destroyed it； in order to fortify the city upon a
modern system against the invading armies of Charles V。 There must be
much Visigothic blood likewise in Languedoc： for the Visigothic Kings
held their courts there from the fifth century； until the time that they were
crushed by the invading Moors。 Spanish blood； likewise； there may be；
for much of Languedoc was held in the early Middle Age by those
descendants of Eudes of Aquitaine who established themselves as kings of
Majorca and Arragon； and Languedoc did not bee entirely French till
1349； when Philip le Bel bought Montpellier of those potentates。 The
Moors； too； may have left some traces of their race behind。 They held
the country from about A。D。 713 to 758； when they were finally expelled
by Charles Martel and Eudes。 One sees to this day their towers of
meagre stonework； perched on the grand Roman masonry of those old
amphitheatres； which they turned into fortresses。 One may see； tooso
tradition holds upon those very amphitheatres the stains of the fires with
which Charles Martel smoked them out； and one may see； too； or fancy
that one sees； in the aquiline features； the bright black eyes； the lithe and
graceful gestures； which are so mon in Languedoc； some touch of the
old Mahommedan race； which passed like a flood over that Christian land。
Whether or not the Moors left behind any traces of their blood； they
left behind； at least； traces of their learning； for the university of
Montpellier claimed to have been founded by Moors at a date of altogether
abysmal antiquity。 They looked upon the Arabian physicians of the
Middle Age； on Avicenna and Averrhoes； as modern innovators； and
derived their parentage from certain mythic doctors of Cordova； who；
when the Moors were expelled from Spain in the eighth century； fled to
Montpellier； bringing with them traditions of that primaeval science which