[Transcriber's notes:]
This work is derived from files on the Internet Archive:
http://archive.org/details/symbolismofchurc00dura
Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e.g. {99}. They have been located where page breaks occurred in the original book.
The honorific "Mr" is without a following period in the original. The period has been inserted in this transcription.
[End Transcriber's notes.]
{vii}
The interest which has lately been displayed, as on all subjectsconnected with Ecclesiology, so more especially on the symbolicalbearing of Church Architecture, has led us to imagine that atranslation of the most valuable work on Symbolism which the middleages can furnish, might not, at the present time, be unacceptable tochurchmen.
Written, however, at a period when Christian Architecture had notattained its full glory, it necessarily leaves untouched manyarrangements of similar tendency, subsequently adopted; addressed tothose who had not yet learnt to doubt everything not formally proved,it assumes many points which may now seem to require confirmation: andcomposed for the use of a clergy habituated to a most figurativeritual, it passes over much as well known, which is now forgotten orneglected. On these accounts we have considered it necessary to prefixan Essay on the subject; in which we have endeavoured to prove thatCatholic Architecture must necessarily be symbolical; to answer themore common objections to the system; and to elucidate it by referenceto actual examples, and notices of the figurative arrangements of ourown churches. We have also added notes, where any obscurity seemed{viii} to require explanation; and we have, both in them and in theAppendix, thrown together such passages from Martene, Beleth, S.Isidore of Seville, Hugo de S. Victore, and other writers, as tendedto explain and to enforce the remarks of Durandus.
With reference to the author himself, but little is known; and thatlittle has been told before.
William Durandus was born at Puy-moisson, in Provence, about the year1220. A legend of his native country is told in the present work.[Footnote 1] He became the pupil of Henry de Luza, afterwards Cardinalof Ostia; and taught canon law at Modena. On this subject he composeda most learned work, the Speculum Juris; from which he obtained thetitle of Speculator: as also another treatise called RepertoriumJuris: and a Breviarium Glossarum in Textum Juris Canonici. Hishigh attainments marked him [Footnote 2] out for the office ofChaplain to Pope Clement IV.
[Footnote 1: See p. 126]
[Footnote 2: Mutata fortuna, says Doard: to what this refers, we know not.]
He was afterwards Auditor of the Sacred Palace; and Legate to PopeGregory X at the Council of Lyons. He was then made Captain of thePapa