BRTJNETIERE. 581 BRTJNIQUEL. apparent objectivity, and an impressive logical sjTithesis, manifested in a style always keen and cutting, often superciliously eonteinptuous; for though outwardly impersonal, his criticism is in fact strongly prejudiced. Hence he is more pojui- lar with the public than with liis feUow publi- cists, who find liim more intent to "classify, weigh and compare, than to enjoy or help others to en- joy" (Lemaitrc). His greatest service to the study of literature has been to place the classical and romantic periods in true perspective with the Eighteenth Century and the pi'esent day. Throughout, he sees, with Taine, a natural evo- lution in literary tradition, although he accords greater play to individuality. Even the 'Natu- ralists,' Zola, the Goncourts. and other of his pet abominations, are grudgingly admitted to nave been of service in "drawing our writers from the cloudy summits of old-time romanticism to the level plains of reality." Brunetifre's gieat- €st work is his marvelously condensed .l/oH!/e( de riiistoire dc la Uttcraturc fran^aise (1897), which has been defectively translated (New York, 1899), Other important works are: Evolution des genres dans Vhistoire de la lit- t&rature. Vol, I. (1890), a history of criticism; Les epoques du theatre fran^ais (1892); L'evo- lution de la poesie lyrique en France au XlXe. Steele (1894) ; and Le roman naturaliste (1883). Fifteen volumes of essays are collected under various titles as Xouvelles questions de critique (1890); Histoire ef Uttcraturc (1884-86); Etudes critiques sur Vhistoire dc la. litterature fran^aise (1880-98); Discours academiques (1901). In recent years his work has appeared less frequently and'is usually political, ethical, or social even in its treatment of literary sub- jects. BRUNFELS, broon'fels. Otto (1488-1534). A German physician and botanist, born in Mainz. He became a member of a Carthusian community near there, but subsequently turned Protestant, and was pastor in Steinheim and Neuenburg. Ultimately he abandoned his pastoral office, studied medicine, and died as a physician in Bern, In his Historia Plantarum (1530-36), he was the first to de.scribe the native plants of Germany. The text was accom[)anied by illus- trations in outline. BRUNHIL'DA, or BRUNEHAXJT, bn.in-hi/ (c.550-613). Queen of Austrasia and the daugh- ter of Athanagild. King of the Visigoths. Brunhilda was wedded to Sigibert I. of Aus- trasia, while her sister, Galswintha, became the wife of Sigibert's brother, Chilperic, King of Neustria. Fredegunda* (q.v. ) , the former con- cubine of Chilperic, soon recovered her ascend- ency over the King and caused Oalswintlia to be murdered in 567. Brunhibia determined to avenge herself on Fredegumla, and the annals of the next lialf-century in Gaul are filled with the bloody deeds provoked by tlie enmity of the two women. Brunhilda and her husband were sucfessful at first, until Sigibert was murdered in 575 at the instigation of Fredegimda. Brun- hilda herself was captured by Cliili>eric; l)Ut her l>eauty gained over Merovig, the son of Chilperic, who made her his wife and assisted her to escape. Merovig was put to deatli by his father, but Brunhilda returned to Austrasia and governed in the name of her son, Childebert I. Murders and wars continued, however, as long as Brun- hilda was alive, for she exercised the real power in the kingdom, in the name of her .son and grandson. Finally, the armies of Austrasia were overthrown in 613 liy Chitaire II., son of Fre- degunda ; the aged t^luccn was taken captive and for three days sulijccted to insult and torture, then bound to a wild horse and dragged to death. Brunhilda was very beautiful, splendidly en- dowed, an able ruler, religious, a founder of churches, hospitals, and monasteries; but in her revenge she was implacable, and the wars which she brought about undermined the power of the Merovingians. — Another Briniiii,i>. is the hero- ine of the Norse legend of Sigurd or Siegfried, traces of which are found in tlie Xihclungcniied. She is a Valkyr, and is rescued from a couch surrounded by flames, on which she lies in enchanted sleep, by Sigurd, who bears her off and marries her, but, under the inlhience of sorcery, forsakes her. In her jealousy Brunhilda causes him to be murdered, and immolates herself on his funeral pyre. BRUNI, broo'ne. A long, irregular island southeast of Tasmania, lying south of Storm Bay and d'Entrecasteaux Channel. Area, 160 square miles. It is divided by a narrow isthmus into North and South Bruni Islands. The latter has a revolving light 335 feet above sea-level, and contains coal-mines. BRUNI, Leonardo (1369-1444). An Italian humanist, born at Arezzo, and hence styled 'Are- tino.' He was one of the most learned men who flourished during the epoch of the revival of (^reek learning in Italy. He first studied law in Florence and R.avenna, but afterwards turned his attention to classical literature. In Rome he was Papal secretary under four Popes, and in 1414 attended John XXIII. to the Council of Constance. On the deposition of that Pope, he returned to Florence, where lie was of service to the Republic in several important matters. His Historiarum Florentinarunt libri XII. (Strass- hurg, 1610) procured for him the rights of citi- zenship, and in 1427, through the favor of the Medicean family, he was appointed State Secre- tary. He died in Florence, March 9, 1444. Flor- ence and Arezzo vied with each other in the splendor with which they celebrated his obsequies. He aided in advancing the study of Greek litera- ture mainly by his literal translations into Latin of Aristotle, Plato, Demosthenes. Plutarch, and others. Of his numerous original works the following may be mentioned: Commentarius Reruni Suo Tempore Gestarum (1476) ; De Romce Origine ; Poliscene Comedia and Epistolw (1472); and lives of Dante and Petrarch in Italian (1672). BRTJNIG (bri.i'nlKl PASS. A pass in the Swiss Alps, on the frontier-line between the Can- Ion of Bern and Obwaldeu (Map: Switzerland, C 2), It lies at an altitude of about 3300 feet. It is crossed by a road leading from Lucerne to Brienz, constructed in 1857-62. Since 1889 there has been a railway line leading over the pass, and connecting Lucerne with Meiningen and Brienz. BRUNIQTTEL, bru'nc'kel' (usually traced back to l,>iii'i-ii Brunhilda or Brunehaut). A prehistoric statiim in Tarn-et-Garonne, France, where were found, in great abundance, the pe- culiarly chipped stone implements characteristic of the Magdalcniaii Kjioch of prehistoric archje- ology. Consult Mortillet, />p /)/-<7iis<ori5«e (Paris, 1900), for numerous references.
