From the sixth to the eighth century all profane literature sacred literature alone remained-This is evident in the writings of this epoch-1. Of the schools in Gaul from the eighth century-Cathedral schools-Rural schools-Mon -What they taught there-2. Of the writings of the d character of literature-It ceased to be speculative, and t especially science and intellectual enjoyments; it becam knowledge, eloquence, writings, were made means of action of this characteristic upon the idea formed of the intelled this epoch-It produced scarcely any works; it has no lite erly so called; still minds were active-Its literature co 'mons and legends-Bishops and missionaries-1st. Of S bishop of Arles-Of his sermons-2d. Of Saint Columba Preface of the Old Mortality of Walter Scott-Robert Patters of the Vie de Saint Marcellin, bishop of Embrun, written mencement of the sixth century-Saint Ceran, bishop Eagerness of the Christians of these times to collect the tr monuments of the life of the saints and martyrs-Stat branch of sacred literature-Collection of the Bollandists- number and popularity of legends-They almost alone sa epoch-1. The wants of the moral nature of man-Exa of Saint Bavon, of Saint Wandregisilus, of Saint Vale wants of physical nature-Examples: Life of Saint Germ of Saint Wandregisilus, of Saint Rusticulus, of Saint S Bourges-3. The wants of the imagination-Examples: I Seine, of Saint Austregesilus-Literary defects and m Some wrecks of profane literature from the sixth to the eight Of their true character-1st. Prose writers-Gregory of life His Ecclesiastical History of the Franks-The influ ancient Latin literature unites with that of the Christian Mixture of civil and religious history-Frédégaire-His O 2d. Poets-Saint Avitus, bishop of Vienne-His life-H the creation-Original sin--The condemnation of man- -The passage of the Red Sea-The praise of virginity- of the three first with the Paradise Lost of Milton-Fortun The causes and the character of the revolution which substituted the Car- lovingians for the Merovingians-Recapitulation of the history of civi- lization in France under the Merovingian kings-The Frankish state in its relations with the neighboring nations-The Frankish state in its internal organization-The aristocratical element prevailed in it, but without entirety or regularity-The state of the Frankish church- Episcopacy prevails in it, but is itself thrown into decay-Two new powers arise-1. The Austrasian Franks-Mayors of the palace-The family of the Pepins-2. Papacy-Circumstances favorable to its pro- gress-Causes which drew and united the Austrasian Franks to the popes-The conversion of the Germans beyond the Rhine-Relations of the Anglo-Saxon missionaries, on the one hand with the popes, on the other, with the mayors of the palace of Austrasia-Saint Boniface -The popes have need of the Austrasian Franks against the Lom- bards-Pepin-le-Bref has need of the pope to make himself king- Their alliance, and the new direction which it impressed upon civili- Reign of Charlemagne-Greatness of his name-Is it true that he settled nothing? that all that he did has perished with him?-Of the action -They play a double part-That which they do in virtue of the first, is durable; that which they attempt under the second, passes away with them-Example of Napoleon-Necessity of being thoroughly acquainted with the history of events under Charlemagne, in order to understand that of civilization-How the events may be recapitulated in tables-1. Charlemagne as a warrior and conqueror : Table of his principal expeditions-Their meaning and results- 2. Charlemagne as an administrator and legislator-Of the government of the provinces-Of the central government-Table of national as- semblies under his reign-Table of his capitularies-Table of the acts and documents which remain of this epoch-3. Charlemagne as a pro- tector of intellectual development: Table of the celebrated contempo- raneous men-Estimation of the general results, and of the character HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN FRANCE, FROM THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. LECTURE THE FIRST. Object of the course-Two methods of studying in detail the history of European civilization-Reasons for preferring the study of the history of the civilization of a particular country-Reasons for studying that of France-Of the essential facts which constitute the perfection of civilization-Comparison of the great European nations under this point of view-Of civilization in England-GermanyItaly-Spain-France-French civilization is the most complete, and offers the most faithful representation of civilization in general -That the student has other things to bear in mind besides the mere study-Of the present prevailing tendencies in the intellectual order-Of the prevailing tendencies in the social order-Two problems resulting therefrom-Their apparent contradiction-Our times are called upon to solve them-A third and purely moral problem, rendered equally important by the present state of civilization-The unjust reproaches of which it is the object-The necessity of meeting them-All science, in the present day, exerts a social influence-All power should tend to the moral perfection of the individual, as well as to the improvement of society in general. MANY of you will call to mind the nature and aim of a course of lectures which were brought to a close some months since. That course was cursory and of a general nature. I then attempted, in a very short period of time, to place before you an historical view of European civilization. I hastened, as it were, from point to point, confining myself strictly to general facts and assertions, at the risk of being sometimes misunderstood and perhaps discredited. Necessity, as you know, imposed this method upon me; but in spite of this necessity I should have been much pained 1 by the inconveniences which arose from it, had I n that in a future course I should be enabled to reme had I not proposed to myself, at the time, to comple future period, the outline which I then traced, and you to the general results which I placed before y same path which I myself had followed, an att complete study of the facts. Such is the end at wh aim. Two methods offer themselves as tending to the of the proposed end. I might either recommence of last summer, and review the general history of civilization in its whole extent, by giving in detail it was impossible to give in mass, and by again pa with more leisurely steps that ground which before over in almost breathless haste. Or I might study of civilization in a single great country, in one of pal European nations in which it has been deve thus, by confining the field of my researches, be enabled thoroughly to explore it. The first method seemed to offer serious incon It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to mai unity in a history with so extensive a range, and the same time, should be perfect in all its details. covered last summer, that there was a true unit through European civilization; but this unity is on in general actions and grand results. We must a highest mountain before the petty inequalities and of the surface will become invisible, and before we cover the general aspect, and the true and essent of the entire country. When we quit general facts to look into particulars, the unity vanishes, the again appear, and in the variety of occurrences sight of both causes and effects; so that to give history, and still to preserve some harmony, it is necessary to narrow the field of inquiry. There is also another great objection to this meth immense extent and diversity of knowledge whic supposes and requires both in the speaker and his Those who wish to trace with moderate accuracy t of European civilization should have a sufficiently acquaintance, not only with the events which ha among each people, with their history, but likew their language, literature, and philosophy, in short. |