... Three approximations which will not
hastily be matched have distinguished the present century,
Aurungzebe, Cardinal Fleury, and Fontenelle. Had a fortnight
more been given to the philosopher, he might have celebrated
his secular festival; but the lives and labours of the Mogul
king and the French minister were terminated before they had
accomplished their ninetieth year."
Then follow several striking and graceful pages on Lucrezia Borgia and
Renee of France, Duchess of Ferrara. The following description of the
University of Padua and the literary tastes of the house of Este is
all that we can give here:--
"An university had been founded at Padua by the house of
Este, and the scholastic rust was polished away by the
revival of the literature of Greece and Rome. The studies of
Ferrara were directed by skilful and eloquent professors,
either natives or foreigners. The ducal library was filled
with a valuable collection of manuscripts and printed books,
and as soon as twelve new plays of Plautus had been found in
Germany, the Marquis Lionel of Este was impatient to obtain
a fair and faithful copy of that ancient poet.
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