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CHAPTER V. 

 \ 

 PROGRESS OF THE ARTS IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 



1. /4RT an ^ Science- I shall, before I resume 

 ^Z-JL the history of science, say a few words on 

 the subject described in the title of this chapter, 

 both because I might otherwise be accused of doing 

 injustice to the period now treated of; and also, 

 because we shall by this means bring under our 

 notice, some circumstances which were important 

 as being the harbingers of the revival of progres- 

 sive knowledge. 



The accusation of injustice towards the state 

 of science in the middle ages, if we were to ter- 

 minate our survey of them with what has hitherto 

 been said, might be urged from obvious topics. 

 How do we recognize, it might be asked, in a pic- 

 ture of mere confusion and mysticism of thought, 

 of servility and dogmatism of character, the powers 

 and acquirements to which we owe so many of the 

 most important inventions which we now enjoy? 

 Parchment and paper, printing and engraving, 

 improved glass and steel, gunpowder, clocks, tele- 

 scopes, the mariner's compass, the reformed calen- 

 dar, the decimal notation, algebra, trigonometry, 

 chemistry, counterpoint, an invention equivalent to 

 a new creation of music ; these are all possessions 



