Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/164

 152 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE campaigns lie read constantly from the best poets. ' There is no one in Germany,' writes Trithemius, 6 who has a greater thirst for learning, a stronger love of all the manifold sciences, or a keener delight in their spread than King Maximilian, the friend and patron of all scholars.' Unlike many contemporary princes, Maximilian did not confine his favour to the teachers of some one favourite branch, but encouraged study in all. Theo- logians, historians, jurists, poets, linguists, but above all Humanists and artists, had his protection and help. They all spoke with the highest enthusiasm of the prince, who united the greatest cordiality with the most princely dignity, drawing them to his presence, gain- ing their confidence, and communicating life and soul to everything around him. Maximilian gained the honourable name of ' Father of the Arts and Sciences ' principally because, in the words of Wimpheling, ' The one high aim of all his efforts was the glory of the Church and State, the eleva- tion of morals, and the encouragement of patriotism.' In nothing so much as in the province of learning was the motto which a Ehenish Francoman applied to him more appropriate : — German I am, German I maintain, German I govern, German I remain. Deutsch bin ich und sinn' ich, Deutsch handle ich und bleibe ich. This was the keynote to his unwearied labours in the cause of history, which had never had so intelligent or generous a patron in any of the Eoman emperors of Germany, either before or after him. Joseph Grtinbeck relates that ' he took in nothing