Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/343

317 UNIVERSITY OF ALCALa. 317 flourishing university. The stagnant water was chapter carried off by drains, the streets were paved, old ^^^' buildings removed, and new and spacious avenues thrown open.^^ At the expiration of eight years, the cardinal had the satisfaction of seeing the whole of his vast de- sign completed, and every apartment of the spacious pile carefully furnished with all that was requisite for the comfort and accommodation of the student. It was, indeed, a noble enterprise, more particularly when viewed as the work of a private individual. As such it raised the deepest admiration in Francis the First, when he visited the spot, a few years after the cardinal's death. " Your Ximenes," said he, "has executed more than I should have dared to con- ceive ; he has done, with his single hand, what in France it has cost a line of kings to accomplish." ^^ The erection of the buildings, however, did not piovi terminate the labors of the primate, who now as- sumed the task of digesting a scheme of instruction and discipline for his infant seminary. In doing this, he sought light wherever it was to be found ; and borrowed many useful hints from the venerable university of Paris. His system was of the most enlightened kind, being directed to call all the 25 Oviedo, Quincuagenas, MS. cardinal of too great a passion — Robles, Vida de Ximenez, cap. for building ; and punningly said, 16. — Quintanilla, Archetypo, p. " The church of Toledo had never 178. — Colmenar, Delices de I'Es- had a bishop of greater edification, pagne, torn. ii. pp. 308-310. — in every sense, than Ximenes." Navagiero, Viaggio, fol. 7, — who Flechier, Histoire de Ximenes, p. notices particularly the library, 597. "piena di molti libri et Latini et 27 Gomez, De Rebus Gestis, fol. Greci et Hebraici." 79. The good people accused the .'isions for ediicu- tion.