按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Montpellier； bringing with them traditions of that primaeval science which
57
… Page 58…
Historical Lectures and Essays
had been revealed to Adam while still in Paradise； and founded
Montpellier； the mother of all the universities in Europe。 Nay； some went
farther still； and told of Bengessaus and Ferragius； the physicians of
Charlemagne； and of Marilephus； chief physician of King Chilperic； and
evenif a letter of St。 Bernard's was to be believedof a certain bishop
who went as early as the second century to consult the doctors of
Montpellier； and it would have been in vain to reply to them that in those
days； and long after them； Montpellier was not yet built。 The facts are
said to be： that as early as the beginning of the thirteenth century
Montpellier had its schools of law； medicine； and arts； which were erected
into a university by Pope Nicholas IV。 in 1289。
The university of Montpellier； likeI believemost foreign ones；
resembled more a Scotch than an English university。 The students lived；
for the most part； not in colleges； but in private lodgings； and constituted a
republic of their own； ruled by an abbe of the scholars； one of themselves；
chosen by universal suffrage。 A terror they were often to the respectable
burghers； for they had all the right to carry arms； and a plague likewise；
for； if they ran in debt； their creditors were forbidden to seize their books；
which； with their swords； were generally all the property they possessed。 If；
moreover； anyone set up a noisy or unpleasant trade near their lodgings；
the scholars could pel the town authorities to turn him out。 They
were most of them； probably； mere boys of from twelve to twenty； living
poorly； working hard； andthose at least of them who were in the
collegescruelly beaten daily； after the fashion of those times； but they
seem to have forted themselves under their troubles by a good deal of
wild life out of school； by rambling into the country on the festivals of the
saints； and now and then by acting plays； notably； that famous one which
Rabelais wrote for them in 1531： 〃The moral edy of the man who
had a dumb wife；〃 which 〃joyous PATELINAGE〃 remains unto this day in
the shape of a well… known ic song。 That edy young Rondelet
must have seen acted。 The son of a druggist； spicer； and grocerthe three
trades were then binedin Montpellier； and born in 1507； he had been
58
… Page 59…
Historical Lectures and Essays
destined for the cloister； being a sickly lad。 His uncle； one of the canons
of Maguelonne； near by； had even given him the revenues of a small
chapela job of nepotism which was mon enough in those days。 But
his heart was in science and medicine。 He set off； still a mere boy； to
Paris to study there； and returned to Montpellier； at the age of eighteen； to
study again。
The next year； 1530； while still a scholar himself； he was appointed
procurator of the scholarsa post which brought him in a small fee on
each matriculationand that year he took a fee； among others； from one of
the most remarkable men of that or of any age； Francois Rabelais himself。
And what shall I say of him？who stands alone； like Shakespeare； in
his generation； possessed of colossal learningof all science which could
be gathered in his daysof practical and statesmanlike wisdomof
knowledge of languages； ancient and modern； beyond all his peersof
eloquence； which when he speaks of pure and noble things bees heroic；
and； as it were； inspiredof scorn for meanness； hypocrisy； ignoranceof
esteem； genuine and earnest； for the Holy Scriptures； and for the more
moderate of the Reformers who were spreading the Scriptures in Europe；
and all this great light wilfully hidden； not under a bushel； but under a
dunghill。 He is somewhat like Socrates in face； and in character likewise；
in him； as in Socrates； the demigod and the satyr； the man and the ape； are
struggling for the mastery。 In Socrates； the true man conquers； and
es forth high and pure； in Rabelais； alas！ the victor is the ape； while
the man himself sinks down in cynicism； sensuality； practical jokes； foul
talk。 He returns to Paris； to live an idle； luxurious life； to diesays the
legendsaying； 〃I go to seek a great perhaps；〃 and to leave behind him
little save a school of Pantagruelistscareless young gentlemen； whose
ideal was to laugh at everything； to believe in nothing； and to gratify their
five senses like the brutes which perish。 There are those who read his
books to make them laugh； the wise man； when he reads them； will be far
more inclined to weep。 Let any young man who may see these words
remember； that in him； as in Rabelais； the ape and the man are struggling
59
… Page 60…
Historical Lectures and Essays
for the mastery。 Let him take warning by the fate of one who was to him
as a giant to a pigmy； and think of Tennyson's words …
Arise； and fly The reeling faun； the sensual feast； Strive upwards；
working out the beast； And let the ape and tiger die。
But to return。 Down among them there at Montpellier； like a
brilliant meteor； flashed this wonderful Rabelais； in the year 1530。 He had
fled； some say； for his life。 Like Erasmus； he had no mind to be a martyr；
and he had been terrified at the execution of poor Louis de Berquin； his
friend； and the friend of Erasmus likewise。 This Louis de Berquin； a man
well known in those days； was a gallant young gentleman and scholar；
holding a place in the court of Francis I。； who had translated into French
the works of Erasmus； Luther； and Melancthon； and had asserted that it
was heretical to invoke the Virgin Mary instead of the Holy Spirit； or to
call her our Hope and our Life； which titlesBerquin averredbelonged
alone to God。 Twice had the doctors of the Sorbonne； with that terrible
persecutor； Noel Beda； at their head； seized poor Berquin； and tried