CHAPTER XXIII

1443-1508. The golden age of Italian letters and arts 93

" " Rich in scholars but poor in genius 94

" " Its prosaic tendency 94

" " The revival of learning 95

" " Promoted by the multiplicity of independent communities 97

" " Especially by the petty sovereigns 98

" " Adulatory tendency of such literature 99

" " A narrow patriotism generated 100

" " Taste for classical erudition, philology and grammar 101

" " The study of Latin induced pedantry and languid conventionality 102

" " The prosaic scholarism of this period 103

" " Tending to pagan ideas 103

" " The rival philosophies of Aristotle and Plato 105

" " Leading to fierce quarrels 106

" " Superseding Christian revelation 106

" " And eventually shaking Catholic unity 107

" " Influence of the Dukes of Urbino on letters 107

" " Mediocrity of many authors of local fame 108