DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0226
214
RIEVAUX ABBEY.
times. It afforded peaceful fpots under the fhadow of its
fancftity, amid the perpetual turbulence and ravage of war. It
preferved in its libraries the learning of the old world—the
Bible amongft the reft; and it originated or perfected the chief
arts of the new: architecture, fculpture, carving, caligraphy,
painting on canvas, wood, vellum, and glafs. Aftrology, the
rude parent of aflronomy; alchemy, the equally rude but
cunning-looking parent of chemiftry ; botany, and the introduc-
tion of new plants and fruits, medicine, and metaphyfics—all
received a loving welcome in the cells of monks, and won
fubftantial advances at their hands. Agriculture was profecuted
with great zeal, efpecially by the Ciftercians; and it now
appears that we muft add the refearches of mining and the
labour of forges to their lift of induftries. Let us remember
the energetic as well as the lazy monks ; the fcientific as well
as the ignorant; the virtuous and enterprifing as well as the
fordid and fenfual; the Bernards, the Bacons, the Grofteftes,
and many a fhrewd and diligent labourer who has left no
name, as well as the fwinifh herd which roufed the ire and
gave fuch pungency to the fatire of Chaucer, who lived in the
midft of it. Even as we approach the fallen fhrines of this
much and juftly abufed race of men, remembering their many
beautiful arts and achievements, and the world of once great
and wise hearts which beat there, we may, in the words of
Lord Byron, fay-
“ Stop, for thy tread is on an empire’s duft ! ”
RIEVAUX ABBEY.
times. It afforded peaceful fpots under the fhadow of its
fancftity, amid the perpetual turbulence and ravage of war. It
preferved in its libraries the learning of the old world—the
Bible amongft the reft; and it originated or perfected the chief
arts of the new: architecture, fculpture, carving, caligraphy,
painting on canvas, wood, vellum, and glafs. Aftrology, the
rude parent of aflronomy; alchemy, the equally rude but
cunning-looking parent of chemiftry ; botany, and the introduc-
tion of new plants and fruits, medicine, and metaphyfics—all
received a loving welcome in the cells of monks, and won
fubftantial advances at their hands. Agriculture was profecuted
with great zeal, efpecially by the Ciftercians; and it now
appears that we muft add the refearches of mining and the
labour of forges to their lift of induftries. Let us remember
the energetic as well as the lazy monks ; the fcientific as well
as the ignorant; the virtuous and enterprifing as well as the
fordid and fenfual; the Bernards, the Bacons, the Grofteftes,
and many a fhrewd and diligent labourer who has left no
name, as well as the fwinifh herd which roufed the ire and
gave fuch pungency to the fatire of Chaucer, who lived in the
midft of it. Even as we approach the fallen fhrines of this
much and juftly abufed race of men, remembering their many
beautiful arts and achievements, and the world of once great
and wise hearts which beat there, we may, in the words of
Lord Byron, fay-
“ Stop, for thy tread is on an empire’s duft ! ”