ULYSSES ALDROVANDI. 





origin of the doubt, or the history and prevalence 

 of the opinion. In betaking ourselves to what we 

 may call the original documents, we find both nega- 

 tive evidence against the modern account in a total 

 silence on the subject ; and what we cannot but 

 consider. positive proof of its inaccuracy, in circum- 

 stances which appear to us quite incompatible with 

 the melancholy representation. Bullart's biographi- 

 cal notice was published nearly a hundred years 

 before the time of Haller, viz. in 1682. It is as 

 full as any account we have seen ; and though al- 

 Juding, in due proportion, to the circumstances of 

 Aldrovandi's last days, it is perfectly silent as to the 

 point under review. Mirseus, again, takes us more 

 than another century back ; for, in fact, he was a 

 contemporary of Aldrovandi, being born in 1573; 

 and in his short and interesting notice there is the 

 same total absence of all allusion to the circumstance, 

 which could scarcely have occurred had the fact 

 been known or believed in his time.* His statement 

 is so touching, that we quote it. " But this man, 

 distinguished by the highest sagacity, who has 

 brought before our eyes the unknown forms of so 

 many animals, seems almost to have been wronged 

 by Nature, as a step-mother, in that in his old age 

 he became blind; and that he who was marked by 



* Since writing the above, we find in the curious work of 

 Paul Freherus of Nuremburg, Theatrum Virorum Clarorum, &c. 

 1688, an explicit notice of this report " Retulerunt quidam, quod 

 propter copiosas librorum editiones, ad extremam pauperiem re- 

 daetus in Xenodochio Bononiensi vitam finierit." (Theatr. p. 

 1317.) 



