6 INTRODUCTION. 
Connected with the city of Salerno by its vicinity, 
and the similarity of their literary pursuits, was 
monastery of mount Casino. This celebrated abbey 
and, having presided as abbot for twenty years, there — ; 
died and was buried. Of all this he informed the 
poet Dante, when he met with him in Paradise, ’ 
and lamented the subsequent depravity of his 
monks— a 
Quel monte, a cui Cassino 2 nella costa, 
Pu frequentato gia in su la cima 
Dalla gente ingannata, e mal disposta : 
Ed io son quel, che su vi portai prima 
Lo nome di colui, che ’n terra addusse 
and monks were prohibited from exercising the professions of 
advocates and physicians, but they still continued th practice. 
_ '™ Mabillon, Annales ordinis 8, Benedicti, vol. i. p. 55, 
