It is in the Treatise on Studies that we find for the first

time a formal list of classical French authors. Some of

these are now obscure and forgotten, as the Remarkable

Lives written by Marsolier, and the History of the Academy

of Inscriptions and Belles- Lettres, by de Boze ; but the most

of them have held their place in our programmes, and the

judgments of Rollin have been followed for two centuries, on

the Discourse on Universal History, by Bossnet, on the works

of Boileau and Racine, and on the Logic of Port Royal.

Like all his contemporaries, Rollin particularly recom-

mends Latin composition to his pupils. However, he has

spoken a word for French composition, which should bear,

244

THE HISTORY OP PEDAGOGY.

first, on fables and historical narratives, then on exercises in

epistolary style, and finally, on common things, descriptions,

and short speeches.

260. Greek and Latin. — But it is in the teaching of

the ancient languages that Rollin has especially tried the

resources of his pedagogic art. For two centuries, in the

colleges of the University, his recommendations have been

followed. In Greek, he censures the study of themes, and

reduces the study of this language to the understanding of

authors. More of a Latinist than of a Hellenist, of all the

arguments he offers to justify the study of Greek, the best

is, that, since the Renaissance, Greek has always been

taught ; but, without great success, he admits : —

" Parents," he says, " are but little inclined in favor of

Greek. They also learned Greek, they claim, in their youth,

and they have retained nothing of it ; this is the ordinary

language which indicates that one has not forgotten much of

it."

But Latin, which it does not suffice to learn to read, but

which must be written and spoken, is the object of all

Rollin's care, who, on this point, gives proof of consummate

experience. Like the teachers of Port Royal, he demands

that there shall be no abuse of themes in the lower classes,

and recommends the use of oral themes, but he holds firmly

to version, and to the explication of authors : —

" Authors are like a living dictionary, and a speaking

grammar, whereby we learn, through experience, the very

force and the true use of words, of phrases, and of the rules

of syntax."

This is not the place to analyze the parts of the Treatise

on Studies which relate to poetics and rhetoric, and which

are the code, now somewhat antiquated, of Latin verse and

prose. Rollin brings to bear on this theme great professional

ROLLIN. 245

sagacity, but also a spirit of narrowness. He condemns

ancient mythology, and excludes, as dangerous, the French

poets, save some rare exceptions. He claims that the true

use of poetry belongs to religion. He has no conception of

the salutary and wholesome influence which the beauties of

poetry and eloquence can exercise over the spirit.