suppressed in Gaul, and a few years thereafter almost every vestige of this ancient superstition was entirely obliterated.*

We have, heretofore, taken no notice of the pagan schools of ⚫ Gaul, from which issued some of the most distinguished men of the Roman empire. We will, therefore, advert to that subject, before we introduce to our readers the few distinguished writers between the reigns of Clovis and Charlemagne.

About five hundred and eighty-nine years before Christ, a colony of Phocians, attracted by the mildness of the climate and its advantageous situation for commerce, established themselves at Masilia, now Marseilles. They brought with them considerable knowledge of Grecian literature, which they cultivated with so much care, that the Romans, when they first discovered them, were charmed with their advancement in arts and science. As soon as they had established themselves in their new situation, they instituted schools for teaching eloquence, philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and other branches of learning, but the advantages to be derived from their schools, do not appear to have spread beyond the limits of the colony, until after the conquest of Gaul by the Romans. The Romans were so highly pleased with the gentle manners and regular conduct, and the genius and skill manifested by this distant colony of Greeks, that they conferred upon them all the privileges of Roman citizens, and in return found the colonists faithful allies; but in the civil war between Cæsar and Pompey, having embraced the fortunes of the latter, the victorious Cæsar reduced their privileges.

From the schools of Marseilles issued many learned men, who were distinguished even in the reigns of the degenerate successors of Augustus; some of these we have already noticed. Their example and influence contributed to excite a spirit of learning and literary emulation in other cities of Gaul. Schools were consequently established at Narbonne, Arles, Vienne, Thoulouse and Autun, which attained a celebrity almost equal to that of Marseilles, and which also furnished men who acquired great reputation in their respective professions, even in the capital of the Roman empire itself.

With respect to the manner in which learning was communicated in the schools above-mentioned, it appears that the student

*Henry's Hist. of G. Brit.; Rankin's Hist. of France; Eden. Ency, art Druid; Cæs. Com.

began with the study of the Greek and Latin grammar, in order that he might speak and write the language fluently. Having made himself acquainted with these, he pursued other elementary studies, a knowledge of which were necessary to form the scholar, but his attention was principally directed to such branches of learning as were considered essential to make an accomplished public speaker. The ancient philosophy of the Greeks was studied with care, as containing a vast fund of useful information on almost every topic; the prevailing systems were those taught by Zeno and his disciples and the philosophers of the middle academy-Aristotle and Epicurus had but few followers.

The schools of Gaul attained so great a reputation, that they were considered as the high roads to honor and power; they multiplied exceedingly, but, at length, shared the fate of all human institutions-from an exalted station from which they promulgated literature and science over a considerable portion of the Roman empire, they sunk into comparative insignificance-from being the seats of learning, they became the abodes of ignorance and superstition. For this decline of learning, various causes have been assigned; the principal, however, may be traced to the civil wars that so frequently raged on the succession of the emperors, and the irruptions of the tribes of barbarians who finally subverted the empire, and overturned the splendid fabric of Roman greatness. The progress of literature was thus so often interrupted, that the attention of men was directed to other objects of more immediate concern; their own personal safety and the preservation of their property, left but little time or inclination for study, hence the schools gradually fell into decay.

The introduction of christianity, as might reasonably have been expected, seeing its influence at the present day, in no way contributed to prevent the downfal of the schools, or to the preservation of learning. This heavenly system was already corrupted by the devices of men, who sought their own aggrandisement by keeping the people in ignorance, and who, on embracing christianity, mingled with the pure precepts of the gospel, the dogmas of the schools to which they had been previously attached. Ignorant themselves, the christian teachers were incapable of restoring learning to its former glory, and until the

reign of Charlemagne, there are but few writers worthy of no

tice.

Sidonius was a learned man of this period. His father was a tribune and a secretary of state under the emperor Honorius, and afterwards prefect of Gaul. Under the best masters of his time, he went through a regular course of study, and became intimately acquainted with the learning of the times. He early discovered a genius for poetry, which he cultivated to a considerable extent, having written several poems, which were much esteemed in his day, and possess no small share of merit. Sidonius married the daughter of the prefect Avitus, by whom he acquired an estate that rendered him independent, and enabled him to pursue his favorite studies. On the accession of his father-in-law to the imperial throne, he accompanied him to Rome, where he pronounced a glowing panegyric upon him in the presence of the senate. The reign of Avitus lasted but a few months, and Sidonius soon secured to himself the favor of Majorianus and Athenius, his successors; by the latter he was appointed prefect of Rome and created a patrician, and was also admitted among his counsellors. Whilst thus enjoying the favor of the emperor, he was suddenly seized with a religious spirit, and having relinquished his civil offices, he became bishop of Clermont. He soon after abandoned poetry as profane and unbecoming the christian character; he withdrew from the world, became a recluse in his mode of life, and his mind was solely occupied in the contemplation of the mysteries of religion.

As a writer Sidonius occupied a high rank among his contemporaries; "his descriptions are animated and his writings are not destitute of sensibility or judgment. His prose and verse flow smoothly, though there is a considerable want of purity in his language, and of harmony in his periods; there is a quaintness of expression, and a general defect of simplicity in his style. Some parts of his works will admit of comparison with any of the authors of the Augustan age." He published nine books of letters, and began the history of the wars of Attila. He died in the fifty-eighth year of his age.

Fortunatus was born at Poictiers A. D. 530. He was educated at Ravenna, where he pursued with success the prescribed studies, which were limited in their character. of his life he was made bishop of Poictiers.

Near the close

His genius and

learning are highly extolled by his contemporaries. As a writer he seems to have devoted most of his attention to poetry, to which he was much attached. The principal feature that distinguished his poetical compositions, is an easy and flowing style, which few writers of that period were able to reach. His chief poetical work is a poem on the life of Saint Martin, filled with all the absurdities that a superstitious age could invent, and a credulous mind adopt. He wrote many smaller poems, chiefly on religious subjects, and addressed to different bishops and other clerical men of his time. Among his prose writings the most celebrated is his "Exposition of the Lord's prayer," which is said to be not only "pious and rich in theology, but surpassing all his other prose writings, in purity, perspicuity and precision. It is free from that overflowing stream of words, which being poured forth tumultuously and without arrangement, obscure and embarrass the sense." From his genius and talents Fortunatus was worthy to have flourished in a more refined and literary age.

About this time also flourished Boethius. He was born at Rome, and at an early age was sent to Athens to learn the Greek language, and study philosophy. He there prosecuted his studies under the direction of Proclus, a distinguished professor of the eclectic school. On his return to Rome he continued to pursue his studies with unabated ardor, and soon gave proofs of his extensive learning in the various works which he published on different sciences and in defence of the orthodox faith against the host of heretics that beset it. Devoted himself to the study of the sciences, he was anxious to impress his countrymen with a similar devotion; for that purpose he translated, and illustrated by commentaries, the geometry of Euclid, the music by Pythagoras, the arithmetic of Nicomachus, the mechanics of Archimedes, the astronomy of Ptolemy, the theology of Plato and the logic of Aristotle.

Boethius, who possessed the generous and independent spirit of an ancient Roman, by the freedom of his speech offended Theodoric, who threw him into prison, where he was afterwards put to death. During his confinement he composed his celebrated work entitled the "Consolation of Philosophy." This work, which contains a vast treasure of sublime moral sentiments, is written partly in prose and partly in verse, and is thrown into the

form of a conference between the author and philosophy, who "endeavors to soothe his afflictions, and prepare him for the last great trial. He begins by complaining of the miserable state to which he is reduced, when his divine instructer, to assuage his distress, reminds him of the instability of fortune, and of the large portion of happiness which he had so long enjoyed. She also reminds him, that although the wicked may enjoy apparent felicity, and the virtuous may be sometimes afflicted, the Deity will equitably judge, and reward and punish them according to their deeds. This work has been frequently translated.

Another distinguished writer of this period was Gregory of Tours. He was descended from an illustrious family of Auvergne,

and was principally educated under the inspection of an uncle, distinguished for his piety and virtue. Early in life he determined to devote himself to the church, and in order to prepare himself for the responsible duties of his station, he employed much of his time in suitable studies. Being raised to the dignity of bishop of Tours, he preserved a firm and independent course of conduct which gained him the esteem of all, and was frequently consulted by his sovereign on matters of state. He died in the fifty-second year of his age A. D. 595.

The principal work of Gregory which has reached us, is his history of France, in ten books. The first and second book is a mere sketch of the history of the world from the creation to the death of Clovis, A. D. 511. The other eight books contain a more copious narrative of the history of France, from the death of Clovis to the year A. D. 591. Gregory also wrote eight books of the "Lives of the Saints," beginning with the miracles of Christ and his apostles; also a "Commentary on the Psalms" and a "Treatise on Ecclesiastical Offices." The style of Gregory cannot be admired; nor can we place sufficient reliance upon him as an historian, on account of his credulity and that superstition which belonged to the age in which he lived.

With a notice of the French historian Fredegarius, and the ve nerable Bede, we shall close our account of distinguished writers between the time of Clovis and Charlemagne. Fredegarius flourished about the middle of the seventh century-the place of his birth and his early education are alike unknown. As a French historian he ranks next to Gregory of Tours. His history, like that of Gregory, begins with the creation, and is