Beacon　Lights　of　History
  Volume　III　　Part　2
  by　John　Lord
  Volume　III。
  Part　IIRenaissance　and　Reformation。
  CONTENTS。
  DANTE。
  RISE　OF　MODERN　POETRY。
  The　antiquity　of　Poetry
  The　greatness　of　Poets
  Their　influence　on　Civilization
  The　true　poet　one　of　the　rarest　of　men
  The　pre…eminence　of　Homer；　Dante；　Shakspeare；　and　Goethe
  Characteristics　of　Dante
  His　precocity
  His　moral　wisdom　and　great　attainments
  His　terrible　scorn　and　his　isolation
  State　of　society　when　Dante　was　born
  His　banishment
  Guelphs　and　Ghibellines
  Dante　stimulated　to　his　great　task　by　an　absorbing　sentiment
  Beatrice
  Dante's　passion　for　Beatrice　analyzed
  The　worship　of　ideal　qualities　the　foundation　of　lofty　love
  The　mystery　of　love
  Its　exalted　realism
  Dedication　of　Dante's　life…labors　to　the　departed　Beatrice
  The　Divine　Comedy；　a　study
  The　Inferno；　its　graphic　pictures
  Its　connection　with　the　ideas　of　the　Middle　Ages
  The　physical　hell　of　Dante　in　its　connection　with　the　Mediaeval
  doctrine　of　Retribution
  The　Purgatorio；　its　moral　wisdom
  Origin　of　the　doctrine　of　Purgatory
  Its　consolation　amid　the　speculations　of　despair
  The　Paradiso
  Its　discussion　of　grand　themes
  The　Divina　Commedia　makes　an　epoch　in　civilization
  Dante's　life　an　epic
  His　exalted　character
  His　posthumous　influence
  GEOFFREY　CHAUCER。
  ENGLISH　LIFE　IN　THE　FOURTEENTH　CENTURY。
  The　characteristics　of　the　fourteenth　century
  Its　great　events　and　characters
  State　of　society　in　England　when　Chaucer　arose
  His　early　life
  His　intimacy　with　John　of　Gaunt；　the　great　Duke　of　Lancaster
  His　prosperity
  His　poetry
  The　Canterbury　Tales
  Their　fidelity　to　Nature　and　to　English　life
  Connection　of　his　poetry　with　the　formation　of　the　English　Language
  The　Pilgrims　of　the　Canterbury　Tales
  Chaucer's　views　of　women　and　of　love
  His　description　of　popular　sports　and　amusements
  The　preponderance　of　country　life　in　the　fourteenth　century
  Chaucer's　description　of　popular　superstitions
  Of　ecclesiastical　abuses
  His　emancipation　from　the　ideas　of　the　Middle　Ages
  Peculiarities　of　his　poetry
  Chaucer's　private　life
  The　respect　in　which　he　was　held
  Influence　of　his　poetry
  CHRISTOPHER　COLUMBUS。
  MARITIME　DISCOVERIES。
  Marco　Polo
  His　travels
  The　geographical　problems　of　the　fourteenth　century
  Sought　to　be　solved　by　Christopher　Columbus
  The　difficulties　he　had　to　encounter
  Regarded　as　a　visionary　man
  His　persistence
  Influence　of　women　in　great　enterprises
  Columbus　introduced　to　Queen　Isabella
  Excuses　for　his　opponents
  The　Queen　favors　his　projects
  The　first　voyage　of　Columbus
  Its　dangers
  Discovery　of　the　Bahama　Islands
  Discovery　of　Cuba　and　Hispaniola
  Columbus　returns　to　Spain
  The　excitement　and　enthusiasm　produced　by　his　discoveries
  His　second　voyage
  Extravagant　expectations　of　Columbus
  Disasters　of　the　colonists
  Decline　of　the　popularity　of　Columbus
  His　third　voyage
  His　arrest　and　disgrace
  His　fourth　voyage
  His　death
  Greatness　of　his　services
  Results　of　his　discoveries
  Colonization
  The　mines　of　Peru　and　Mexico
  The　effects　on　Europe　of　the　rapid　increase　of　the　precious　metals
  True　sources　of　national　wealth
  The　destinies　of　America
  Its　true　mission
  SAVONAROLA。
  UNSUCCESSFUL　REFORMS。
  The　age　of　Savonarola
  Revival　of　Classic　Literature
  Ecclesiastical　corruptions
  Religious　apathy；　awakened　intelligence；　infidel　spirit
  Youth　of　Savonarola
  His　piety
  Begins　to　preach
  His　success　at　Florence
  Peculiarities　of　his　eloquence
  Death　of　Lorenzo　de　Medici
  Savonarola　as　a　political　leader
  Denunciation　of　tyranny
  His　influence　in　giving　a　constitution　to　the　Florentines
  Difficulties　of　Constitution…making
  His　method　of　teaching　political　science
  Peculiarities　of　the　new　Rule
  Its　great　wisdom
  Savonarola　as　reformer
  As　moralist
  Terrible　denunciation　of　sin　in　high　places
  A　prophet　of　woe
  Contrast　between　Savonarola　and　Luther
  The　sermons　of　Savonarola
  His　marvellous　eloquence
  Its　peculiarities
  The　enemies　of　Savonarola
  Savonarola　persecuted
  His　appeal　to　Europe
  The　people　desert　him
  Months　of　torment
  His　martyrdom
  His　character
  His　posthumous　influence
  MICHAEL　ANGELO。
  THE　REVIVAL　OF　ART。
  Michael　Angelo　as　representative　of　reviving　Art
  Ennobling　effects　of　Art　when　inspired　by　lofty　sentiments
  Brilliancy　of　Art　in　the　sixteenth　century
  Early　life　of　Michael　Angelo
  His　aptitude　for　Art
  Patronized　by　Lorenzo　de　Medici
  Sculpture　later　in　its　development　than　Architecture
  The　chief　works　of　Michael　Angelo　as　sculptor
  The　peculiarity　of　his　sculptures
  Michael　Angelo　as　painter
  History　of　painting　in　the　Middle　Ages
  Da　Vinci
  The　frescos　of　the　Sistine　Chapel
  The　Last　Judgment
  The　cartoon　of　the　battle　of　Pisa
  The　variety　as　well　as　moral　grandeur　of　Michael　Angelo's　paintings
  Ennobling　influence　of　his　works
  His　works　as　architect
  St。　Peter's　Church
  Revival　of　Roman　and　Grecian　Architecture
  Contrasted　with　Gothic　Architecture
  Michael　Angelo　rescues　the　beauties　of　Paganism
  Not　responsible　for　absurdities　of　the　Renaissance
  Greatness　of　Michael　Angelo　as　a　man
  His　industry；　temperance；　dignity　of　character；　love　of　Art　for
  Art's　sake
  His　indifference　to　rewards　and　praises
  His　transcendent　fame
  MARTIN　LUTHER。
  THE　PROTESTANT　REFORMATION。
  Luther's　predecessors
  Corruptions　of　the　Church
  Luther　the　man　for　the　work　of　reform
  His　peculiarities
  His　early　piety
  Enters　a　Monastery
  His　religious　experience
  Made　Professor　of　Divinity　at　Wittenberg
  The　Pope　in　great　need　of　money　to　complete　St。　Peter's
  Indulgences；　principles　on　which　they　were　based
  Luther；　indignant；　preaches　Justification　by　Faith
  His　immense　popularity
  Grace　the　cardinal　principle　of　the　Reformation
  The　Reformation　began　as　a　religious　movement
  How　the　defence　of　Luther's　doctrine　led　to　the　recognition　of　the
  supreme　authority　of　the　Scriptures
  Public　disputation　at　Leipsic　between　Luther　and　Eck
  Connection　between　the　advocacy　of　the　Bible　as　a　supreme　authority
  and　the　right　of　private　judgment
  Religious　liberty　a　sequence　of　private　judgment
  Connection　between　religious　and　civil　liberty
  Contrast　between　Leo　I。　and　Luther
  Luther　as　reformer
  His　boldness　and　popularity
  He　alarms　Rome
  His　translation　of　the　Bible；　his　hymns；　and　other　works
  Summoned　by　imperial　authority　to　the　Diet　of　Worms
  His　memorable　defence
  His　immortal　legacies
  His　death　and　character
  THOMAS　CRANMER。
  THE　ENGLISH　REFORMATION。
  Importance　of　the　English　Reformation
  Cranmer　its　best　exponent
  What　was　effected　during　the　reign　of　Henry　VIII。
  Thomas　Cromwell
  Suppression　of　Monasteries
  Their　opposition　to　the　revival　of　Learning
  Their　exceeding　corruption
  Their　great　wealth　and　its　confiscation
  Ecclesiastical　courts
  Sir　Thomas　More；　his　execution
  Main　feature　of　Henry　VIII。's　anti…clerical　measures。
  Fall　of　Cromwell
  Rise　of　Cranmer
  His　characteristics
  His　wise　moderation
  His　fortunate　suggestions　to　Henry　VIII。
  Made　Archbishop　of　Canterbury
  Difficulties　of　his　position
  Reforms　made　by　the　government；　not　by　the　people。
  Accession　of　Edward　VI
  Cranmer's　Church　reforms：　open　communion；　abolition　of　the　Mass；
  new　English　liturgy
  Marriage　among　the　clergy；　the　Forty…two　Articles
  Accession　of　Mary
  Persecution　of　the　Reformers
  Reactionary　measures
  Arrest；　weakness；　and　recantation　of　Cranmer
  His　noble　death；　his　character
  Death　of　Mary
  Accession　of　Elizabeth；　and　return　of　exiles　to　England
  The　Elizabethan　Age
  Conservative　reforms　and　conciliatory　measures
  The　Thirty…nine　Articles
  Nonconformists
  Their　doctrines　and　discipline
  The　great　Puritan　controversy
  The　Puritans　represent　the　popular　side　of　the　Reformation
  Their　theology
  Their　moral　discipline
  Their　connection　with　civil　liberty
  Summary　of　the　English　Reformation
  IGNATIUS　LOYOLA。
  RISE　AND　INFLUENCE　OF　THE　JESUITS。
  The　counter…reformation　effected　by　the　Jesuits
  Picture　of　the　times；　theological　doctrines
  The　Monastic　Orders　no　longer　available
  Ignatius　Loyola
  His　early　life
  Founds　a　new　order　of　Monks
  Wonderful　spread　of　the　Society　of　Jesus
  Their　efficient　organization
  Causes　of　success　in　general
  Virtues　and　abilities　of　the　early　Jesuits
  Their　devotion　and　bravery
  Jesuit　Missions
  Veneration　for　Loyola；　his　〃Spiritual　Exercises〃
  Lainez
  Singular　obedience　exacted　of　the　members　of　the　Society
  Absolute　power　of　the　General　of　the　Order
  Voluntary　submission　of　Jesuits　to　complete　despotism
  The　Jesuits　adapt　themselves　to　the　circumstances　of　society
  Causes　of　the　decline　of　their　influence
  Corruption　of　most　hu