historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)
and all who were therein。
Horrible was the state of France in those times of the wars of religion
which began in 1562； the times which are spoken of usually as 〃The
Troubles；〃 as if men did not wish to allude to them too openly。 Then； and
afterwards in the wars of the League； deeds were done for which language
has no name。 The population decreased。 The land lay untilled。 The
fair face of France was blackened with burnt homesteads and ruined towns。
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Ghastly corpses dangled in rows upon the trees； or floated down the
blood…stained streams。 Law and order were at an end。 Bands of robbers
prowled in open day； and bands of wolves likewise。 But all through the
horrors of the troubles we catch sight of the little fat doctor riding all
unarmed to see his patients throughout Languedoc； going vast distances；
his biographers say； by means of regular relays of horses； till he too broke
down。 Well； for him； perhaps； that he broke down when he did； for capture
and recapture； massacre and pestilence； were the fate of Montpellier and
the surrounding country； till the better times of Henry IV。 and the Edict of
Nantes in 1598； when liberty of worship was given to the Protestants for
awhile。
In the burning summer of 1566； Rondelet went a long journey to
Toulouse； seemingly upon an errand of charity； to settle some law affairs
for his relations。 The sanitary state of the southern cities is bad enough
still。 It must have been horrible in those days of barbarism and misrule。
Dysentery was epidemic at Toulouse then； and Rondelet took it。 He
knew from the first that he should die。 He was worn out； it is said； by
over…exertion； by sorrow for the miseries of the land； by fruitless struggles
to keep the peace； and to strive for moderation in days when men were all
immoderate。 But he rode away a day’s journeyhe took two days over it；
so weak he wasin the blazing July sun； to a friend’s sick wife at
Realmont； and there took to his bed； and died a good man’s death。 The
details of his death and last illness were written and published by his
cousin Claude Formy； and well worth reading they are to any man who
wishes to know how to die。 Rondelet would have no tidings of his illness
sent to Montpellier。 He was happy； he said； in dying away from the tears
of his household； and 〃safe from insult。〃 He dreaded； one may suppose；
lest priests and friars should force their way to his bedside； and try to
extort some recantation from the great savant； the honour and glory of
their city。 So they sent for no priest to Realmont； but round his bed a
knot of Calvinist gentlemen and ministers read the Scriptures； and sang
David’s psalms； and prayed； and Rondelet prayed with them through long
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agonies； and so went home to God。
The Benedictine monk…historian of Languedoc； in all his voluminous
folios； never mentions； as far as I can find； Rondelet’s existence。 Why
should he？ The man was only a druggist’s son and a heretic； who healed
diseases； and collected plants； and wrote a book on fish。 But the learned
men of Montpellier； and of all Europe； had a very different opinion of him。
His body was buried at Realmont； but before the schools of Toulouse they
set up a white marble slab； and an inscription thereon setting forth his
learning and his virtues； and epitaphs on him were posed by the
learned throughout Europe； not only in French and Latin； but in Greek；
Hebrew； and even Chaldee。
So lived and so died a noble man； more noble； to my mind； than many
a victorious warrior； or successful statesman； or canonised saint。 To know
facts； and to heal diseases； were the two objects of his life。 For them he
toiled； as few men have toiled； and he died in harness； at his workthe
best death any man can die。
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VESALIUS THE ANATOMIST ｛9｝
I cannot begin a sketch of the life of this great man better than by
trying to describe a scene so picturesque； so tragic in the eyes of those
who are wont to mourn over human follies； so ic in the eyes of those
who prefer to laugh over them； that the reader will not be likely to forget
either it or the actors in it。
It is a darkened chamber in the College of Alcala； in the year 1562；
where lies； probably in a huge four…post bed； shrouded in stifling hangings；
the heir…apparent of the greatest empire in the then world； Don Carlos；
only son of Philip II。 and heir…apparent of Spain； the Netherlands； and all
the Indies。 A short sickly boy of sixteen； with a bull head； a crooked
shoulder； a short leg； and a brutal temper； he will not be missed by the
world if he should die。 His profligate career seems to have brought its own
punishment。 To the scandal of his father； who tolerated no one’s vices
save his own； as well as to the scandal of the university authorities of
Alcala； he has been scouring the streets at the head of the most profligate
students； insulting women； even ladies of rank； and amenable only to his
lovely young stepmother； Elizabeth of Valois； Isabel de la Paz； as the
Spaniards call her； the daughter of Catherine do Medicis； and sister of the
King of France。 Don Carlos should have married her； had not his worthy
father found it more advantageous for the crown of Spain； as well as more
pleasant for him； Philip； to marry her himself。 Whence came heart…
burnings； rage； jealousies； romances； calumnies； of which two lastin as
far at least as they concern poor Elizabethno wise man now believes a
word。
Going on some errand on which he had no businessthere are two
stories； neither of them creditable nor necessary to repeatDon Carlos has
fallen downstairs and broken his head。 He es； by his Portuguese
mother’s side； of a house deeply tainted with insanity； and such an injury
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may have serious consequences。 However； for nine days the wound goes
on well； and Don Carlos； having had a wholesome fright； is； according to
Doctor Olivarez； the medico de camara； a very good lad； and lives on
chicken broth and dried plums。 But on the tenth day es on numbness
of the left side； acute pains in the head； and then gradually shivering； high
fever； erysipelas。 His head and neck swell to an enormous size； then
es raging delirium； then stupefaction； and Don Carlos lies as one dead。
A modern surgeon would； probably； thanks to that training of which
Vesalius may be almost called the father； have had little difficulty in
finding out what was the matter with the luckless lad； and little difficulty
in removing the evil； if it had not gone too far。 But the Spanish
physicians were then； as many of them are said to be still； as far behind the
world in surgery as in other things； and indeed surgery itself was then in
its infancy； because men； ever since the early Greek schools of Alexandria
had died out； had been for centuries feeding their minds with anything
rather than with facts。 Therefore the learned morosophs who were
gathered round Don Carlos’s sick bed had bee according to their own
confession； utterly confused； terrified； and at their wits’ end。
It is the 7th of May； the eighteenth day after the accident according to
Olivarez’s story： he and Dr Vega have been bleeding the unhappy
prince； enlarging the wound t