DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0295
Ch. VIL THROUGH ITALY. 267
and emperors, by synods and pontiffs, the defer-
ence paid to its opinions, and the reverence that
waited upon its graduates, prove the high estima-
tion in which it was once held; and the names
of Gratian and Aldrovandus, of Malpighi and
Guglielmini, of Ferres and Cassini, are alone
sufficient to shew that this high estimation was
not unmerited. The Scuole publiche, or halls
of the university, form a very noble building;
seventy professors are employed, and the endow-
ments are very considerable. The number of
students however is not adequate to the fame
and splendor of such an establishment, as it
scarce amounts to five hundred, while anciently
it exceeded twice as many thousands. The de-
crease here, as at Padua, is to be ascribed to
the multiplication of similar establishments in
all Christian countries.
Besides the Institute) and the University,
two Academies of inferior lustre and celebrity
watch over the interests of literature, and en-
deavor to extend the empire of the Muses.
They are entitled, by a playful opposition, the
Inepiieti and the Oziosi, and abandoning· the
higher regions of science to the speculations of
their brethren of the two great seminaries of
learning, they range at large through the fields
of fancy, and amuse themselves in collecting its
2
and emperors, by synods and pontiffs, the defer-
ence paid to its opinions, and the reverence that
waited upon its graduates, prove the high estima-
tion in which it was once held; and the names
of Gratian and Aldrovandus, of Malpighi and
Guglielmini, of Ferres and Cassini, are alone
sufficient to shew that this high estimation was
not unmerited. The Scuole publiche, or halls
of the university, form a very noble building;
seventy professors are employed, and the endow-
ments are very considerable. The number of
students however is not adequate to the fame
and splendor of such an establishment, as it
scarce amounts to five hundred, while anciently
it exceeded twice as many thousands. The de-
crease here, as at Padua, is to be ascribed to
the multiplication of similar establishments in
all Christian countries.
Besides the Institute) and the University,
two Academies of inferior lustre and celebrity
watch over the interests of literature, and en-
deavor to extend the empire of the Muses.
They are entitled, by a playful opposition, the
Inepiieti and the Oziosi, and abandoning· the
higher regions of science to the speculations of
their brethren of the two great seminaries of
learning, they range at large through the fields
of fancy, and amuse themselves in collecting its
2