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the pleasant people who inhabit that district are fit for all the labours of the
intellect。 They are a very mixed race； and； like most mixed races； quick…
witted； and handsome also。 There is probably much Roman blood
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among them； especially in the towns； for Languedoc； or Gallia
Narbonnensis； as it was called of old； was said to be more Roman than
Rome itself。 The Roman remains are more perfect and more interesting
so the late Dr。 Whewell used to say than any to be seen now in Italy； and
the old capital； Narbonne itself； was a plete museum of Roman
antiquities ere Francis I。 destroyed it； in order to fortify the city upon a
modern system against the invading armies of Charles V。 There must be
much Visigothic blood likewise in Languedoc： for the Visigothic Kings
held their courts there from the fifth century； until the time that they were
crushed by the invading Moors。 Spanish blood； likewise； there may be；
for much of Languedoc was held in the early Middle Age by those
descendants of Eudes of Aquitaine who established themselves as kings of
Majorca and Arragon； and Languedoc did not bee entirely French till
1349； when Philip le Bel bought Montpellier of those potentates。 The
Moors； too； may have left some traces of their race behind。 They held
the country from about A。D。 713 to 758； when they were finally expelled
by Charles Martel and Eudes。 One sees to this day their towers of
meagre stonework； perched on the grand Roman masonry of those old
amphitheatres； which they turned into fortresses。 One may see； tooso
tradition holds upon those very amphitheatres the stains of the fires with
which Charles Martel smoked them out； and one may see； too； or fancy
that one sees； in the aquiline features； the bright black eyes； the lithe and
graceful gestures； which are so mon in Languedoc； some touch of the
old Mahommedan race； which passed like a flood over that Christian land。
Whether or not the Moors left behind any traces of their blood； they
left behind； at least； traces of their learning； for the university of
Montpellier claimed to have been founded by Moors at a date of altogether
abysmal antiquity。 They looked upon the Arabian physicians of the
Middle Age； on Avicenna and Averrhoes； as modern innovators； and
derived their parentage from certain mythic doctors of Cordova； who；
when the Moors were expelled from Spain in the eighth century； fled to
Montpellier； bringing with them traditions of that primaeval science which
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had been revealed to Adam while still in Paradise； and founded
Montpellier； the mother of all the universities in Europe。 Nay； some went
farther still； and told of Bengessaus and Ferragius； the physicians of
Charlemagne； and of Marilephus； chief physician of King Chilperic； and
evenif a letter of St。 Bernard's was to be believedof a certain bishop
who went as early as the second century to consult the doctors of
Montpellier； and it would have been in vain to reply to them that in those
days； and long after them； Montpellier was not yet built。 The facts are
said to be： that as early as the beginning of the thirteenth century
Montpellier had its schools of law； medicine； and arts； which were erected
into a university by Pope Nicholas IV。 in 1289。
The university of Montpellier； likeI believemost foreign ones；
resembled more a Scotch than an English university。 The students lived；
for the most part； not in colleges； but in private lodgings； and constituted a
republic of their own； ruled by an abbe of the scholars； one of themselves；
chosen by universal suffrage。 A terror they were often to the respectable
burghers； for they had all the right to carry arms； and a plague likewise；
for； if they ran in debt； their creditors were forbidden to seize their books；
which； with their swords； were generally all the property they possessed。 If；
moreover； anyone set up a noisy or unpleasant trade near their lodgings；
the scholars could pel the town authorities to turn him out。 They
were most of them； probably； mere boys of from twelve to twenty； living
poorly； working hard； andthose at least of them who were in the
collegescruelly beaten daily； after the fashion of those times； but they
seem to have forted themselves under their troubles by a good deal of
wild life out of school； by rambling into the country on the festivals of the
saints； and now and then by acting plays； notably； that famous one which
Rabelais wrote for them in 1531： 〃The moral edy of the man who
had a dumb wife；〃 which 〃joyous PATELINAGE〃 remains unto this day in
the shape of a well… known ic song。 That edy young Rondelet
must have seen acted。 The son of a druggist； spicer； and grocerthe three
trades were then binedin Montpellier； and born in 1507； he had been
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destined for the cloister； being a sickly lad。 His uncle； one