98 SCIENCE AND THE HUMAN MIND 



centuries. The interest for us of mediaeval thought 

 is the interest of tracing the changing attitude of the 

 human mind, as it passes through states where science 

 would have been impossible, to a condition in which 

 its rise follows naturally from the philosophic en- 

 vironment. 



In a sense we have seen the worst aspect of the 

 Middle Ages. They are weakest on the intellectual 

 side, and on that side weakest of all in the special 

 department of thought necessary for scientific philo- 

 sophy. We have but glanced in passing at their work 

 of forming and consolidating the nations of Europe. 

 We have not touched on their wonderful achievements 

 in literature and art. The romances of chivalry are 

 outside our ken. Dante's Divine Comedy has for 

 us little significance, save as the enshrinement in 

 poetry of the scheme of Thomas Aquinas. The glories 

 of cathedral architecture are to us but illustrations 

 of the growth of the builder's art. Even mediaeval 

 religion, which on its unlucky philosophic side has 

 concerned us nearly, in its essence does not touch 

 our enquiry. Its saving faith in its divine Founder, 

 its spirit of humble reverence and love for all mankind 

 and all creation, its message of salvation to suffering 

 humanity, are hid from our eyes. We meet St Bernard 

 the suspicious Inquisitor, but St Francis of Assisi, 

 loving, joyous, simple-hearted, does not appear in our 

 pages. 



