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Show 192 Early Western Travels [ Vol. 26 was in early life a man of fashion and accomplishments; of splendid abilities, distinguished as a classical scholar and translator of Anacreon's Odes. At length, the sudden death of his mistress Montbazon, to whom he was extremely attached, so affected him that he forsook at once his libertine life, banished himself from society, and introduced into the monastery of La Trappe an austerity of discipline hitherto unknown. 1" The vows were chastity, poverty, obedience, and perpetual silence. The couch was a slab of stone, the diet water and bread once in twenty- four hours, and each member removed a spadeful of earth every day from the spot of his intended grave. The following passage relative to this monastery I find quoted from an old French author; and as the [ 169] language and sentiments are forcible, I need hardly apologize for introducing it entire. " CPest la que se retirent, ceux qui ant commis quelque crime secret, dent les remards les poursuivent; ceux qui sont tourmentes de vapeurs milancoliques et religieuse; ceux qui ant oublie que Dieu est le plus misiricordieux des pires, et qui tie voient en lui, que le plus cruel des tyrans; ceux qui reduisent h vieu, les souffrances, la mart et la passion de Jesu Crist, et qui ne voient la religion que du cote effrayent et terrible: c? est la que sont pratique des austerite qui abregent la vie, et sont injure h la diviniti." During the era of the Reign of Terror in France, the monks of La Trappe, as well as all the other orders of priesthood, were dispersed over Europe. They increased greatly, however, notwithstanding persecution, and societies m The monastery of La Trappe was founded in 1132 ( sometimes incorrectly given as 1140). Originally affiliated with the order of Fontxevauh, it was made a branch of the Cistercian order ( 1x48). Contrary to Flagg's account, La Trappe did not have a separate existence until the time of Ranee, who was made abbot in 1664. The account of Ranee's conversion given here by Flagg, is recognized by historians as merely popular tradition. See Gaiuardin, Les TrappisUs ( Paris, 1844), and Piaunenschmidt, Geschkhteder Trappisten ( Paderborn, 1873).- ED. |