



THE ALDINI. 17 



HENRIETTA. 



But how very tiresome this would be, aunt; we should 

 never get through our books, and should take a week in read- 

 ing what is now only a day's lesson. 



MRS. F. 



And, pray, of what consequence would that be 1 ? What is 

 the object of all reading? Surely not to be able to say how 

 many books we have read, but to store our minds with useful 

 and solid information; and assuredly that object is better at- 

 tained by a careful perusal of one book, than by reading a 

 dozen in a hurried and superficial manner. Recollect, Hen- 

 rietta, that it is the quantity of knowledge you acquire, not 

 the quantity of books which you read, which is the object 

 you should always have in view. Read to learn, not to 

 boast, and you will become wiser and better from your 

 knowledge: but I will say no more upon the subject, as I 

 trust that what I have already observed may prove sufficient. 

 Let us now proceed to Mary's original question, and tell her 

 about the Jlldine poets, 



Thank you, mamma. 



MRS. F. 



The edition so termed, is named after three celebrated 

 Italian printers called the Aldini, father, son, and grandson, 

 all distinguished by their talents and industry, and to whom 

 we are indebted for great improvements in the art of printing. 

 Aldus 



FREDERICK. 



What a strange name! 



MRS. F. 



It was a corruption, or, rather, a diminutive of his baptis- 

 mal name, Theobaldus. But, to continue; Aldus Pius Manu- 

 tius was born in 1447, and set up a printing press at Venice, 

 where, in 1494, he published his first work. The beauty of 

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