Page:Bohemian poems, ancient and modern (Lyra czecho-slovanska).djvu/27

Rh whilst many others silently deplored the fall of the national literature. The greatest part of the schools of the kingdom were conducted by the Jesuits and other monks, and not much more than bad Latin was taught in them. It cannot be denied that there were amongst the Jesuits many individuals possessed of literary and scientific accomplishments, but their principle being, that the people should not be enlightened, but rather kept in darkness, they imparted to their pupils only the outward shell of knowledge, retaining the kernel for themselves; for their object was to remain in the exclusive possession of learning, and to stand in this respect superior not only to the laity, but even to other monastic communities. In order to keep the people more effectually in a state of ignorance, they went from town to town exacting from the inhabitants under the penalty of everlasting damnation, that they should shew the books in their possession. These books were examined by the Jesuits, who burnt the greater part of them, and since that time a Bohemian work is a rare book amongst us. They also endeavoured by the same means to obliterate throughout all Bohemia every trace of her ancient learning. They therefore related to their pupils, that previously to their arrival in Bohemia ignorance prevailed in the country, and