Paetow—Neglect of the Ancient Classics. 31$ 
was famous for its study of the ancient authors. 1 Evidently 
those men believed that the classics would keep their rank 
among the prominent intellectual pursuits of that day. The 
study of the authors was by no means confined to Orleans. Even 
at Paris they still flourished. The Welshman, Gerald de Barri 
tells us that he studied them there. Sermons were still being 
preached before the students at Paris warning them against the 
dangers of the heathen literature of Borne. An anonymous 
manuscript at Gonville and Gaius College, Cambridge, contains 
an interesting list of books prescribed for every grade and sub¬ 
ject of instruction. 1 Various works of a considerable number 
of classical authors are mentioned: Statius, Virgil, Juvenal, 
Horace, Ovid, Sallust, Cicero, Martial, Petronius, Symmachus, 
Suetonius, Livy and Seneca. Then follow books recommended 
for the seven liberal arts, and the higher branches of learning, 
medicine, law and theology. The list was drawn up-towards 
the close of the twelfth century, probably in England. 2 Very 
likely it reflects the work done at this time at Oxford and 
Paris. At all events, it shows that about 1200 the study of the 
classics was still associated with the branches ordinarily taught: 
at medieval universities. 
Within the first half of the thirteenth century, however, in¬ 
terest in the classics waned rapidly. In 1234 John Garland, 
a professor of grammar at Paris, still warmly espoused the 
cause of Orleans, but in the same breath he laments that “the 
Latin language is decaying, the green fields of the authors are 
withering, and the jealous blast of Boreas has blighted the 
flowery meadows.” 1 ILis is the last plea for the classics which 
comes from the walls of the great university of Paris. About 
1250 the troubadour Henri d’Andely wrote his famous allego¬ 
rical poem entitled the (< Battle of the Seven Arts ” Grammar, 
the champion of Orleans, supported by the classic authors, goes 
out to battle against Logic of Paris, who is supported by all the 
1 Matthew of Vendome, Geoffrey de Vinsauf, and Helinand. 
1 Ms. 385 pp. 7-61. 
2 I owe this conclusion as to the date and provenance of the Ms 
to Professor C. H. Haskins of Harvard. 
1 Ars lectoria ecclesiae. Ms. Bruges 546 fol. 76 v°. 
