THE BURGHERS. 315 



quirements of daily life. And since it was considered 

 unworthy of a gentleman to trade, the profits of com- 

 merce were monopolised by the third estate. Educa- 

 tion was required for mercantile pursuits ; it was at 

 first given by the priests who had previously taught 

 laymen only to repeat the pater-no.ster and the credo, and 

 to pay tithes. Schools were opened in the towns, and 

 universities became secular. The rich merchants took 

 a pride in giving their sons the best education that 

 money could obtain, and these young men were not 

 always disposed to follow commercial pursuits. They 

 adopted the study of the law, cultivated the fine arts, 

 made experiments in natural philosophy, and were 

 often sent by their parents to study in the land beyond 

 the Alps, where they saw something which was in 

 itself an education for the burgher mind — merchants 

 dwelling in palaces, seated upon thrones, governing 

 great cities, commanding fleets and armies, negotiating 

 on equal terms with the proudest and most powerful 

 monarchs of the North. 



Italy, protected by its mountain barrier, had not 

 been so frequently flooded by barbarians as the pro- 

 vinces of Gaul and Spain. The feudal system was 

 there established in a milder form, and the cities re- 

 tained more strength. Soon they were able to attack 

 the castle lords, to make them pull down their towers, 

 and to live like peaceable citizens within the walls. 

 The Emperor had little power ; Florence, Genoa, and 

 Pisa grew into powerful city states resembling those of 

 Italy before the rise of ancient Rome, but possessing 

 manufactures which, in the time of ancient Italy, had 

 been confined to Egypt, China, and Hindostan. 



The origin of Venice was different from that of its 

 sister States. In the darkest days of Italy, when a 



