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see daylight： and here we have religion。 On the other hand； in a State
gradually undergoing depopulation； crumbling away； and fatally
becoming a prey； they had formed a living society governed by laws and
discipline； rallying around a common aim and a common doctrine；
sustained by the devotion of chiefs and by the obedience of believes；
alone capable of subsisting beneath the flood of barbarians which the
empire in ruin suffered to pour in through its breaches： and here we
have the church。 … It continues to build on these two first
foundations； and after the invasion； for over five hundred years； it
saves what it can still save of human culture。 It marches in the van
of the barbarians or converts them directly after their entrance；
which is a wonderful advantage。 Let us judge of it by a single fact：
In Great Britain； which like Gaul had become Latin； but whereof the
conquerors remain pagan during a century and a half； arts； industries；
society； language； all were destroyed； nothing remained of an entire
people； either massacred or fugitive； but slaves。 We have still to
divine their traces； reduced to the condition of beasts of burden；
they disappear from history。 Such might have been the fate of Europe
if the clergy had not promptly tamed the fierce brutes to which it
belonged。
Before the bishop in his gilded cope or before the monk； the
converted German 〃emaciated； clad in skins；〃 wan； 〃dirtier and more
spotted than a chameleon；〃＇1＇ stood fear…stricken as before a
sorcerer。 In his calm moments； after the chase or inebriety； the vague
divination of a mysterious and grandiose future； the dim conception of
an unknown tribunal； the rudiment of conscience which he already had
in his forests beyond the Rhine； arouses in him through sudden alarms
half…formed； menacing visions。 At the moment of violating a sanctuary
he asks himself whether he may not fall on its threshold with vertigo
and a broken neck。＇2＇ Convicted through his own perplexity； he stops
and spares the farm； the village； and the town； which live under the
priest's protection。 If the animal impulse of rage； or of primitive
lusts； leads him to murder or to rob； later； after satiety； in times
of sickness or of misfortune； taking the advice of his concubine or of
his wife； he repents and makes restitution twofold； tenfold； a
hundredfold； unstinted in his gifts and immunities。＇3＇ Thus； over the
whole territory the clergy maintain and enlarge their asylums for the
oppressed and the vanquished。 … On the other hand； among the warrior
chiefs with long hair； by the side of kings clad in furs； the mitered
bishop and abbot； with shaven brows； take seats in the assemblies；
they alone know how to use the pen and how to discuss。 Secretaries；
councilors； theologians； they participate in all edicts； they have
their hand in the government； they strive through its agency to bring
a little order out of immense disorder； to render the law more
rational and more humane； to re…establish or preserve piety；
instruction； justice； property； and especially marriage。 To their
ascendancy is certainly due the police system； such as it was；
intermittent and incomplete； which prevented Europe from falling into
a Mongolian anarchy。 If； down to the end of the twelfth century； the
clergy bears heavily on the princes； it is especially to repress in
them and beneath them the brutal appetites； the rebellions of flesh
and blood； the outbursts and relapses of irresistible ferocity which
are undermining the social fabric。 … Meanwhile； in its churches and
in its convents； it preserves the ancient acquisitions of humanity；
the Latin tongue； Christian literature and theology； a portion of
pagan literature and science； architecture； sculpture； painting； the
arts and industries which aid worship。 It also preserved the more
valuable industries； which provide man with bread； clothing； and
shelter； and especially the greatest of all human acquisitions； and
the most opposed to the vagabond humor of the idle and plundering
barbarian； the habit and taste for labor。 In the districts depopulated
through Roman exactions； through the revolt of the Bagaudes； through
the invasion of the Germans； and the raids of brigands； the
Benedictine monk built his cabin of boughs amid briers and
brambles。＇4＇ Large areas around him； formerly cultivated； are nothing
but abandoned thickets。 Along with his associates he clears the ground
and erects buildings； he domesticates half…tamed animals； he
establishes a farm； a mill； a forge； an oven； and shops for shoes and
clothing。 According to the rules of his order； he reads daily for two
hours。 He gives seven hours to manual labor； and he neither eats nor
drinks more than is absolutely essential。 Through his intelligent；
voluntary labor； conscientiously performed and with a view to the
future； he produces more than the layman does。 Through his temperate；
judicious； economical system he consumes less than the layman does。
Hence it is that where the layman had failed he sustains himself and
even prospers。＇5＇ He welcomes the unfortunate； feeds them； sets them
to work； and unites them in matrimony and beggars； vagabonds； and
fugitive peasants gather around the sanctuary。 Their camp gradually
becomes a village and next a small town； man plows as soon as he can
be sure of his crops； and becomes the father of a family as soon as he
considers himself able to provide for his offspring。 In this way new
centers of agriculture and industry are formed； which likewise become
new centers of population。＇6＇
To food for the body add food for the soul； not less essential。
For； along with nourishment； it was still necessary to furnish Man
with inducements to live； or； at the very least； with the resignation
that makes life endurable； and also with the poetic daydreams taking
the place of massing happiness。＇7＇ Down to the middle of the
thirteenth century the clergy stands almost alone in furnishing this。
Through its innumerable legends of saints； through its cathedrals and
their construction； through its statues and their expression； through
its services and their still transparent meaning； it rendered visible
〃the kingdom of God。〃 It finally sets up an ideal world at the end of
the present one； like a magnificent golden pavilion at the end of a
miry morass。＇8＇ The saddened heart； athirst for tenderness and
serenity； takes refuge in this divine and gentle world。 Persecutors
there； about to strike； are arrested by an invisible hand； wild beasts
become docile； the stags of the forest come of their own accord every
morning to draw the chariots of the saints； the country blooms for
them like a new Paradise； they die only when it pleases them。
Meanwhile they comfort mankind； goodness； piety； forgiveness flows
from their lips with ineffable sweetness； with eyes upturned to
heaven； they see God； and without effort； as in a dream； they ascend
into the light and seat themselves at His right hand。 How divine the
legend； how inestimable in value； when； under the universal reign of
brute force； to endure this life it was necessary to imagine another；
and to render the second as visible to the spiritual eye as the first
was to the physical eye。 The clergy thus nourished men for more than
twelve centuries； and in the grandeur of its recompense we can
estimate the depth of their gratitude。 Its popes； for two hundred
years； were the dictators of Europe。 It organized crusades； dethroned
monarchs； and distributed kingdoms。 Its bishops and abbots became
here； sovereign princes； and there； veritable founders of dynasties。
It held in its grasp a third of the territory； one…half of the
revenue； and two…thirds of the capital of Europe。 Let us not believe
that Man counterfeits gratitude； or that he gives without a valid
motive； he is too selfish and too envious for that。 Whatever may be
the institution； ecclesiastic or secular； whatever may be the clergy；
Buddhist or Christian； the contemporaries who observe it for forty
generations are not bad judges。 They surrender to it their will and
their possessions； just in proportion to its services； and the excess
of their devotion may measure the immensity of its benefaction。
II。 Services and Recompenses of the Nobles。
Up to this point no aid is found against the power of the sword and
the battle…ax except in persuasion and in patience。 Those States
which； imitating the old empire； attempted to rise up into compact
organizations； and to interpose a barrier against constant invasion；
obtained no hold on the shifting soil； after Charlemagne everything
melts away。 There are no more soldiers after the battle of Fontanet；
during half a century bands of four or five hundred outlaws sweep over
the country； killing； burning； and devastating with impunity。 But； by
way of compensation； the dissolution of the State raises up at this
very time a military generation。 Ea