THE completeness of the wreck of ancient civiliza-
tion in Western Europe during the centuries that fol-
lowed the fall of the Roman Empire is indicated by
the degradation of all the arts of expression. As one
light of ancient civilization after another was extin-
guished, the habits of culture, of which these arts are
the manifestation, disappeared. The language of com-
mon speech as well as that of literature became feeble
and corrupt. The last book in which something of
classic dignity and vigor survived bore the significant
title of The Consolation of Philosophy. Palace, villa,
and temple, the monuments of ancient elegance and
splendor, were destroyed by violence, or deserted and
left to slow decay. No new great works of civic
utility or adornment were undertaken; the old were

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