morals. Nor was his fear groundless in view of the disastrous results that had followed the one-sided study and admiration of the classics during the latter period of the Renaissance, when people not only imitated the beautiful style of the writers of antiquity but also their shocking principles.[1] About the year 1550 Ignatius, who had thought long and deeply upon this subject, wrote to a prelate: "Seing that young people are so disposed to receive and retain first impressions, whether good or bad ... and considering that books, especially classics as they are taught to boys, as Terence, Virgil, and others, contain amongst many things to be learnt, and not useless but profitable rather for life, some other things very profane and injurious even if only heard ... and so much the more, if these are placed before them in books in which they study habitually, having them in their hands – this considered, it has seemed to me, as it does still seem, that it would be very expedient if we were to remove from these classic works all the parts that are unedifying or noxious, and replace them by others of a better sort, or, without adding anything leave only what is profitable. And this appears to me up to these last years most desirable for the good Christian life and good training of our youth."[2]
- ↑ See above chapter II, § 2: pp. 50-52 and ch. V on the theatrical performances, pp. 165-167. – Vittorino da Feltre and other representatives of the Christian Renaissance differed radically on this point from the Pagan Humanists. Thus Vittorino read certain authors to his pupils only with many excisions. Woodward, Vittorino da Feltre, pp. 47 and 57.
- ↑ In Stewart Rose, St. Ignatius Loyola, p. 515. – Obscene passages are meant. But substitutions cannot be recommended.
