CHAPTER V

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

Progress of religious sensibility—Women compared to the moon—Entrance of the sentimental spirit—Free enquiry at Rome and in Italy—Philosophic religion—Entrance on the scene of women as priests, as well as physicians—Religious traditions of women in France—Decay of faith—Roman liberalism—Situation of the French clergy—Alliance between women and the aesthetic clergy—Liberal principles of this alliance—The _bibliennes_—Aristocratic religion—Writings of the mystic women: Gabrielle de Bourbon, Catherine d’Amboise—The mystic writings of Margaret of France, her ideas—Her relations with the _palinods_—The mystics—The mysticism of divided application—Direct communion with God—Smiling character of the new mysticism—Spiritual petrarchism—Correggio—Vittoria Colonna—Vergerio. Pages 422-453