DOGMATISM OF THE STATIONARY PEEIOD. 237 



Arabic, certain books of Aristotle, and of other ancient sages ; and we 

 have a letter of Peter de Vineis, in which they are recommended to 

 the attention of the University of Bologna : probably the same recom- 

 mendation was addressed to other universities. Both Albertus Mao-- 

 nus and Thomas Aquinas wrote commentaries on Aristotle's works ; 

 and as this was done soon after the decree of Gregory the Ninth, 

 Launoy is much perplexed to reconcile the fact with the orthodoxy of 

 the two doctors. Campanella, wdio was one of the first to cast off the 

 authority of Aristotle, says, " We are by no means to think that St. 

 Thomas aristotleized ; he only expounded Aristotle, that he might 

 • •Direct his errors ; and I should conceive he did this with the license 

 of the Pope." This statement, however, by no means gives a just view 

 of the nature of Albertus's and Aquinas's commentaries. Both have 

 followed their authors with profound deference. 22 For instance, Aqui- 

 nas 23 attempts to defend Aristotle's assertion, that if there were no 

 resistance, a body would move through a space in no time ; and the 

 same defence is given by Scotus. 



We may imagine the extent of authority and admiration which 

 Aristotle would attain when thus countenanced, both by the powerful 

 aud the learned. In universities, no degree could be taken without a 

 knowledge of the philosopher. In 1452, Cardinal Totaril established 

 this rule in the University of Paris. 24 When Ramus, in 1543, pub- 

 lished an attack upon Aristotle, it was repelled by the power of the 

 court and the severity of the law. Francis the First published an 

 edict, in which he states that he had appointed certain judges, who 

 had been of opinion, 25 " que le dit Ramus avoit ete temeraire, arrogant 

 et impudent ; et que parcequ'en son livre des animadversions il repre- 

 iiai'. Aristotle, estait evidemment connue et manifeste son ignorance." 

 The books are then declared to be suppressed. It was often a com- 

 plaint of pious men, that theology was corrupted by the influence of 

 Aristotle and his commentators. Petrarch says, 26 that one of the Ital- 

 ian learned men conversing with him, after expressing much contempt 

 for the Apostles and Fathers, exclaimed, " Utinam tu Averroen pati 

 posses, ut videres quanto ille tuis his nugatoribus major sit !" 



When the revival of letters began to take place, and a number of 

 men of ardent and elegant minds, susceptible to the impressions of 

 beauty of style and dignity of thought, were brought into contact 

 with Greek literature, Plato had naturally greater charms for them. A 



a2 Deg. N. 475. » F. Piccolomini, ii. 8-35. » Launoy, pp. 108, 128. 



= s Launoy, p. 132. aa HaUam, M. A. iii. 536. 



