Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/131

 UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER CENTRES OF LEARNING 119 scientific labours and their personal influence. Like Wimpheling in the field of pedagogy, and Reuchlin in the study of Hebrew, Zasius (born at Constance in 1461) did important pioneer work in the reform of jurisprudence. He differs from the reformers in other intellectual departments in that while they were fol- lowed by successors of equal distinction with them- selves, he stands out during his own and the two following centuries as a unique phenomenon. He not only surpassed other writers on law in outward form, in purity of style, facility and variety of language, and in natural sequence of thought, but his matter also is far beyond that of contemporary jurists. His aim throughout is to do away with the barbarisms of the commentators, and to make an independent examina- tion of first sources. In the execution of this task he endeavours to steer clear of traditional prejudices, to set aside sophistical casuistries, and to maintain a simple, natural attitude of mind. In the preface to his principal work he says, ' I propose to use the original texts and such arguments only as bear on the subject and are supported by good proof.' Far from wishing the German spirit to become subservient to the foreign Roman law, he made it his task to teach only so much of this law as was useful and in accordance with the customs of Germany. It was only when he found gaps and imperfections in the German law that he fell back on the Roman code to improve and perfect that of his own country. Whatever was incompatible with the genius of the German nation in the deepest sense of the word had no value in his eyes. He was the sworn enemy of those quibbling lawyers who, with the help of the Roman code, so twisted and