202 CASTILIAN LITERATURE. PART sixteenth century, may take rank with their illus- __J trious contemporaries of Italy. They could not indeed achieve such brilliant results in the discovery of the remains of antiquity, for such remains had been long scattered and lost amid the centuries of exile and disastrous warfare consequent on the Saracen invasion. But they were unwearied in their illustrations, both oral and written, of the ancient authors ; and their numerous commentaries, translations, dictionaries, grammars, and various works of criticism, many of which, though now ob- solete, passed into repeated editions in their own day, bear ample testimony to the generous zeal, with which they conspired to raise their contem- poraries to a proper level for contemplating the works of the great masters of antiquity ; and well entitled them to the high eulogium of Erasmus, that " liberal studies were brought, in the course of a few yeais, in Spain to so flourishing a condi- tion, as might not only excite the admiration, but serve as a model to the most cultivated nations of Europe." ^^ Universities. Thc Spauish uuivcrsitics were the theatre, on vhich this classical erudition was more especially displayed. Previous to Isabella's reign, there were but few schools in the kingdom ; not one indeed of any note, except in Salamanca ; and this did not escape the blight which fell on every generous study. But under the cheering patronage of the present government, they were soon filled, and 28 Erasmus, EpistoKT, p. 977.
