Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/144

 132 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE no emperor, since Charlemagne, lias every section of the people built so great hopes. It is the universal expectation that he will unite all the forces of Germany in a campaign against the Turks.' ' How long,' he ex- claims to the princes of Germany, ' will you endure to see the Catholic Church undefended, and Constan- tinople unlawfully garrisoned. The wars you are fighting amongst yourselves may be just ones, but the first thing is to fight for Christ. Let there be a truce for once to German dissensions, that so your invincible valour may be turned against the Turks. Set free the unhappy Christian prisoners who are groaning under Ottoman chains, and rescue Constantinople from the heretics. You are nobles and bear the insignia of nobility, chains of gold adorn your necks and costly rings are on your fingers, your swords and spurs sparkle with gold. You are Christians, and wish to be con- sidered as such ; let your deeds prove your faith. Do not suffer that men should be able to reproach you with your cowardice, your indifference, your luxury and drinking, your voluptuousness and gambling. How easy a matter it is for princes of Germany to be victo- rious, for what a people they govern ! What other nation is comparable to them in arms ? ' Exhortations of the same nature are repeated by Geiler in his sermons, and by Brant in his great religious poem, and in his smaller Latin poems addressed to the princes and other separatists in the State. ' A divided nation falls to the ground. Civil quarrels open the door to the foreign enemy. An unequal team upsets the waggon.' The study of the classics was also eagerly pursued at Strasburg, side by side with that of history, Brant being one of its most energetic promoters. Geiler also, who