the black death and the dancing mania-第6章
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n of the pestilence； through those who escaped； over the whole country。
At the commencement； there was in England a superabundance of all the necessaries of life； but the plague； which seemed then to be the sole disease； was soon accompanied by a fatal murrain among the cattle。 Wandering about without herdsmen； they fell by thousands； and； as has likewise been observed in Africa； the birds and beasts of prey are said not to have touched them。 Of what nature this murrain may have been； can no more be determined； than whether it originated from communication with plague patients； or from other causes； but thus much is certain； that it did not break out until after the commencement of the Black Death。 In consequence of this murrain； and the impossibility of removing the corn from the fields； there was everywhere a great rise in the price of food； which to many was inexplicable； because the harvest had been plentiful； by others it was attributed to the wicked designs of the labourers and dealers； but it really had its foundation in the actual deficiency arising from circumstances by which individual classes at all times endeavour to profit。 For a whole year； until it terminated in August； 1349； the Black Plague prevailed in this beautiful island； and everywhere poisoned the springs of comfort and prosperity。
In other countries； it generally lasted only half a year； but returned frequently in individual places； on which account； some； without sufficient proof； assigned to it a period of seven years。
Spain was uninterruptedly ravaged by the Black Plague till after the year 1350； to which the frequent internal feuds and the wars with the Moors not a little contributed。 Alphonso XI。； whose passion for war carried him too far； died of it at the siege of Gibraltar； on the 26th of March； 1350。 He was the only king in Europe who fell a sacrifice to it； but even before this period； innumerable families had been thrown into affliction。 The mortality seems otherwise to have been smaller in Spain than in Italy； and about as considerable as in France。
The whole period during which the Black Plague raged with destructive violence in Europe was； with the exception of Russia； from the year 1347 to 1350。 The plagues which in the sequel often returned until the year 1383； we do not consider as belonging to 〃the Great Mortality。〃 They were rather common pestilences； without inflammation of the lungs； such as in former times； and in the following centuries； were excited by the matter of contagion everywhere existing； and which； on every favourable occasion； gained ground anew； as is usually the case with this frightful disease。
The concourse of large bodies of people was especially dangerous； and thus the premature celebration of the Jubilee to which Clement VI。 cited the faithful to Rome （1350） during the great epidemic； caused a new eruption of the plague； from which it is said that scarcely one in a hundred of the pilgrims escaped。
Italy was； in consequence； depopulated anew； and those who returned； spread poison and corruption of morals in all directions。 It is therefore the less apparent how that Pope； who was in general so wise and considerate； and who knew how to pursue the path of reason and humanity under the most difficult circumstances； should have been led to adopt a measure so injurious； since he himself was so convinced of the salutary effect of seclusion； that during the plague in Avignon he kept up constant fires； and suffered no one to approach him； and in other respects gave such orders as averted； or alleviated； much misery。
The changes which occurred about this period in the north of Europe are sufficiently memorable to claim a few moments' attention。 In Sweden two princes diedHaken and Knut； half… brothers of King Magnus； and in Westgothland alone； 466 priests。 The inhabitants of Iceland and Greenland found in the coldness of their inhospitable climate no protection against the southern enemy who had penetrated to them from happier countries。 The plague caused great havoc among them。 Nature made no allowance for their constant warfare with the elements； and the parsimony with which she had meted out to them the enjoyments of life。 In Denmark and Norway； however； people were so occupied with their own misery； that the accustomed voyages to Greenland ceased。 Towering icebergs formed at the same time on the coast of East Greenland； in consequence of the general concussion of the earth's organism； and no mortal； from that time forward； has ever seen that shore or its inhabitants。
It has been observed above； that in Russia the Black Plague did not break out until 1351； after it had already passed through the south and north of Europe。 In this country also； the mortality was extraordinarily great； and the same scenes of affliction and despair were exhibited； as had occurred in those nations which had already passed the ordeal： the same mode of burialthe same horrible certainty of deaththe same torpor and depression of spirits。 The wealthy abandoned their treasures； and gave their villages and estates to the churches and monasteries； this being； according to the notions of the age； the surest way of securing the favour of Heaven and the forgiveness of past sins。 In Russia； too； the voice of nature was silenced by fear and horror。 In the hour of danger； fathers and mothers deserted their children； and children their parents。
Of all the estimates of the number of lives lost in Europe； the most probable is； that altogether a fourth part of the inhabitants were carried off。 Now； if Europe at present contain 210；000；000 inhabitants； the population； not to take a higher estimate； which might easily by justified； amounted to at least 105；000；000 in the sixteenth century。
It may therefore be assumed； without exaggeration； that Europe lost during the Black Death 25；000；000 of inhabitants。
That her nations could so quickly overcome such a fearful concussion in their external circumstances； and； in general； without retrograding more than they actually did； could so develop their energies in the following century； is a most convincing proof of the indestructibility of human society as a whole。 To assume； however； that it did not suffer any essential change internally； because in appearance everything remained as before； is inconsistent with a just view of cause and effect。 Many historians seem to have adopted such an opinion； accustomed； as usual； to judge of the moral condition of the people solely according to the vicissitudes of earthly power； the events of battles； and the influence of religion； but to pass over with indifference the great phenomena of nature； which modify； not only the surface of the earth； but also the human mind。 Hence； most of them have touched but superficially on the 〃Great Mortality〃 of the fourteenth century。 We； for our parts； are convinced that in the history of the world the Black Death is one of the most important events which have prepared the way for the present state of Europe。
He who studies the human mind with attention； and forms a deliberate judgment on the intellectual powers which set people and States in motion； may perhaps find some proofs of this assertion in the following observations：… at that time； the advancement of the hierarchy was； in most countries； extraordinary； for the Church acquired treasures and large properties in land； even to a greater extent than after the Crusades； but experience has demonstrated that such a state of things is ruinous to the people； and causes them to retrograde； as was evinced on this occasion。
After the cessation of the Black Plague； a greater fecundity in women was everywhere remarkablea grand phenomenon； which； from its occurrence after every destructive pestilence； proves to conviction； if any occurrence can do so； the prevalence of a higher power in the direction of general organic life。 Marriages were； almost without exception； prolific； and double and triple births were more frequent than at other times； under which head； we should remember the strange remark； that after the 〃Great Mortality〃 the children were said to have got fewer teeth than before； at which contemporaries were mightily shocked； and even later writers have felt surprise。
If we examine the grounds of this oft…repeated assertion； we shall find that they were astonished to see children； cut twenty； or at most； twenty…two teeth； under the supposition that a greater number had formerly fallen to their share。 Some writers of authority； as； for example； the physician Savonarola； at Ferrara； who probably looked for twenty…eight teeth in children； published their opinions on this subject。 Others copied from them； without seeing for themselves； as often happens in other matters which are equally evident； and thus the world believed in the miracle of an imperfection in the human body which had been caused by the Black Plague。
The people gradually consoled themselves after the sufferings which they had undergone； the dead were lamented and forgotten； and； in the stirring vicissitudes of existence； the world belonged to the living。
CHAPTER VMORAL EFFECTS
The mental shock sustained by all nations during the prevalence of the Black Plague is without parallel and beyond description。 In the eyes of the timorous； danger was the certain harbinger of death； many fell victims to fear on the first appearance of the distemper； and the most stout…hearted lost their confidence。 Thus； after reliance on the future had died away； the spiritual union which binds man to his family and his fellow…creatures was gradually dissolved。 The pious closed their accounts with the worldeternity presented itself to their viewtheir only remaining desire was for a participation in the consolations of religion； because to them death was disarmed of its sting。
Repentance seized the transgressor； admonishing him to consecrate his remaining hours to the exercise of Christian virtues。 All minds were directed to the contemplation of futurity； and children； who manifest the more elevated feelings of the soul without alloy； were frequently seen； while labouring under the plague； breathing out their spirit with prayer and songs of thanksgiving。
An awful sense of contrition seized Christians of every communion； they resolved to forsake their vices； to make restitution for past offences； before they were summoned hence； to seek reconciliation with their Maker； and to avert； by self…chastisement； the punishment due to their former sins。 Human nature would be exalted； could the countless noble actions which； in times of most imminent danger； were performed in secret； be recorded for the instruction of future generations。 They； however； have no influence on the course of worldly events。 They are known only to silent eyewitnesses； and soon fall into oblivion。 But hypocrisy； illusion； and bigotry stalk abroad undaunted； they desecrate what is noble； they pervert what is divine； to the unholy purposes of selfishness； which hurries along every good feeling in the false excitement of the age。 Thus it was in the years of this plague。 In the fourteenth century； the monastic system was still in its full vigour； the power of the ecclesiastical orders and brotherhoods was revered
