123 



Although the work now under consideration is certainly 

 one of much labour, and has been held in just estimation, 

 some remarkable errors occur in it. For example. No. XII 

 presents the portrait of Giovanni Francesco Poggio, under 

 which are these lines : — 



** Thy pen U dipped in gall. While Humour guides 

 Its prurient sallies, Laughter shakes his sides."* 



In the biographical sketch moreover, which follows, such 

 gross mistakes occur as one would conceive it impossible for a 

 great scholar like Boissard to have fallen into. The subject 

 of his memoir is altogether confounded with his celebrated 

 father. To the son he assigns not only the wit and bitter 

 rancour attributed to him in the lines above quoted, but like- 

 wise most of the literary works which had been really produced 

 by Poggio Bracciolini. Such are the Hutory of Florence j the 

 treatise Be varietate fortuna, the Latin translation of Xeno- 

 phones Cyropediay and of Biodorus (called Dioni/sms !J Siculus. 

 He also gives to Giovanni Francisco the merit of the impor- 

 tant discovery, made by his father, of the writings of Quin- 



of fancy. In the year 1530 however a curious Emblematical exhibition or Tableau 

 Vivant was enacted, in the getting up of which it is more than probable that Erasmus 

 (though not actually preseut) took a prominent part. It is thus related by J. L. Fabricius, 

 iu his treatise De ludis Senecit lib. v. " During the Diet of Augsburg, at which the 

 Lutlieraus presented their lumous Confession of Faith, a grand repast was held, at 

 which the Emperor Charles the Fifth, his brother Ferdinand, and many other dis- 

 tinguished personages were seated. A small company of actors iu masks made their 

 aj>pearance, and offered to entertain the assembly. This offer being accepted, a man 

 entered in the costume of a Doctor. He carried a bundle of sticks, some of which 

 were straight and some bent. A label upon his back was inscribed Reuchlin (Cap- 

 nion). He threw down the bundle in the middle of the hall and walked away. 

 Another, apparalled also like a Doctor, then came forward, with a label on his back 

 containing the word Erasmus. He endeavoured for a time to put the twigs in order, 

 and to straiten tho^e which were bent. Not succeeding, he shook his head, appa- 

 rently much concerned, and departed. A person in the habit of a Monk then entered. 

 On his back was inscribed the name of Luther. He put some coals under the twigs, 

 set fire to them, and walked away. Next a man in the guise of an Emperor ad- 

 vanced. He drew his sword — stirred the fire with it — increased the flame, uud went 

 off in a passion. Lastly, a person in poutilical garments made his appearance. On a 

 label upon his back was written the word Leo. Looking round to find wherewith to 

 quench the fire, he observed two vessels, one filled with oil, the other with water. 

 Agitated and frightened, ho seizeil the oil in a hurry, and poured it upon the flames. 

 They suddenly rose to a great height, and he walked away. The actors in this 

 scene asked for no reward, and they were never identified." 



* " Fello armata tibi manus est, multo<iu6 cachinno 

 _ __ J Tinxisli et nudo scripta proterva sale." 



