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This will perhaps be most strikingly illustrated by a retrospect of the state of European society in the middle； or； as they are frequently styled； the dark ages。
It has been a vulgar error to imagine； that the mind of man； so far as relates to its active and inventive powers； was sunk into a profound sleep； from which it gradually recovered itself at the period when Constantinople was taken by the Turks； and the books and the teachers of the ancient Greek language were dispersed through Europe。 The epoch from which modern invention took its rise； commenced much earlier。 The feudal system； one of the most interesting contrivances of man in society； was introduced in the ninth century； and chivalry； the offspring of that system； an institution to which we are mainly indebted for refinement of sentiment； and humane and generous demeanour； in the eleventh。 Out of these grew the originality and the poetry of romance。
These were no mean advancements。 But perhaps the greatest debt which after ages have contracted to this remote period； arose out of the system of monasteries and ecclesiastical celibacy。 Owing to these a numerous race of men succeeded to each other perpetually； who were separated from the world； cut off from the endearments of conjugal and parental affection； and who had a plenitude of leisure for solitary application。 To these men we are indebted for the preservation of the literature of Rome； and the multiplied copies of the works of the ancients。 Nor were they contented only with the praise of never…ending industry。 They forged many works； that afterwards passed for classical； and which have demanded all the perspicacity of comparative criticism to refute。 And in these pursuits the indefatigable men who were dedicated to them； were not even goaded by the love of fame。 They were satisfied with the consciousness of their own perseverance and ingenuity。
But the most memorable body of men that adorned these ages； were the Schoolmen。 They may be considered as the discoverers of the art of logic。 The ancients possessed in an eminent degree the gift of genius； but they have little to boast on the score of arrangement； and discover little skill in the strictness of an accurate deduction。 They rather arrive at truth by means of a felicity of impulse； than in consequence of having regularly gone through the process which leads to it。 The schools of the middle ages gave birth to the Irrefragable and the Seraphic doctors； the subtlety of whose distinctions； and the perseverance of whose investigations； are among the most wonderful monuments of the intellectual power of man。 The thirteenth century produced Thomas Aquinas； and Johannes Duns Scotus； and William Occam； and Roger Bacon。 In the century before； Thomas a Becket drew around him a circle of literary men； whose correspondence has been handed down to us； and who deemed it their proudest distinction that they called each other philosophers。 The Schoolmen often bewildered themselves in their subtleties； and often delivered dogmas and systems that may astonish the common sense of unsophisticated understandings。 But such is man。 So great is his persevering labour； his invincible industry； and the resolution with which he sets himself； year after year； and lustre after lustre； to accomplish the task which his judgment and his zeal have commanded him to pursue。
But I return to the question of literary fame。 All these men； and men of a hundred other classes； who laboured most commendably and gallantly in their day； may be considered as swept away into the gulph of oblivion。 As Swift humorously says in his Dedication to Prince Posterity； 〃I had prepared a copious list of Titles to present to your highness； as an undisputed argument of the prolificness of human genius in my own time： the originals were posted upon all gates and corner's of streets： but； returning in a very few hours to take a review； they were all torn down； and fresh ones put in their places。 I enquired after them among readers and booksellers； but in vain： the memorial of them was lost among men； their place was no more to be found。〃
It is a just remark that had been made by Hume＇5＇： 〃Theories of abstract philosophy； systems of profound theology； have prevailed during one age。 In a successive period these have been universally exploded； their absurdity has been detected； other theories and systems have supplied their place； which again gave way to their successors； and nothing has been experienced more liable to the revolutions of chance and fashion than these pretended decisions of science。 The case is not the same with the beauties of eloquence and poetry。 Just expressions of passion and nature are sure； after a little time； to gain public applause； which they maintain for ever。 Aristotle and Plato and Epicurus and Descartes may successively yield to each other： but Terence and Virgil maintain an universal； undisputed empire over the minds of men。 The abstract philosophy of Cicero has lost its credit： the vehemence of his oratory is still the object of our admiration。〃
＇5＇ Essays； Part 1； Essay xxiii。
A few examples of the instability of fame will place this question in the clearest light。
Nicholas Peiresk was born in the year 1580。 His progress in knowledge was so various and unprecedented； that； from the time that he was twenty…one years of age； he was universally considered as holding the helm of learning in his hand； and guiding the commonwealth of letters。 He died at the age of fifty…seven。 The academy of the Humoristi at Rome paid the most extraordinary honours to his memory； many of the cardinals assisted at his funeral oration； and a collection of verses in his praise was published in more than forty languages。
Salmasius was regarded as a prodigy of learning； and various princes and powers entered into a competition who should be so fortunate as to secure his residence in their states。 Christina； queen of Sweden； having obtained the preference； received him with singular reverence and attention； and； Salmasius being taken ill at Stockholm； and confined to his bed； the queen persisted with her own hand to prepare his caudles； and mend his fire。 Yet； but for the accident of his having had Milton for his adversary； his name would now be as little remembered； even by the generality of the learned； as that of Peiresk。
Du Bartas； in the reign of Henry the Fourth of France； was one of the most successful poets that ever existed。 His poem on the Creation of the World went through upwards of thirty editions in the course of five or six years； was translated into most European languages； and its commentators promised to equal in copiousness and number the commentators on Homer。
One of the most admired of our English poets about the close of the sixteenth century； was Donne。 Unlike many of those trivial writers of verse who succeeded him after an interval of forty or fifty years； and who won for themselves a brilliant reputation by the smoothness of their numbers； the elegance of their conceptions； and the politeness of their style； Donne was full of originality； energy and vigour。 No man can read him without feeling himself called upon for earnest exercise of his thinking powers； and； even with the most fixed attention and application； the student is often obliged to confess his inability to take in the whole of the meaning with which the poet's mind was perceptibly fraught。 Every sentence that Donne writes； whether in verse or prose； is exclusively his own。 In addition to this； his thoughts are often in the noblest sense of the word poetical； and passages may be quoted from him that no English poet may attempt to rival； unless it be Milton and Shakespear。 Ben Jonson observed of him with great truth and a prophetic spirit： 〃Donne for not being understood will perish。〃 But this is not all。 If Waller and Suckling and Carew sacrificed every thing to the Graces； Donne went into the other extreme。 With a few splendid and admirable exceptions； his phraseology and versification are crabbed and repulsive。 And； as poetry is read in the first place for pleasure； Donne is left undisturbed on the shelf； or rather in the sepulchre； and not one in a