324 LEAVES THEY HAVE TOUCHED. 



" J. Bapt. Ferrarii Hesperides, sive de Malorum Aureorum cultur§/ 

 et usii Libri IV." In this age of decadence in classical knowledge 

 it may be necessary to say that the Hesperides were certain mythic 

 nymphs, daughters of Hesperus or the West, placed in charge of 

 gardens or islands productive of delicious fruits, but whose site was 

 kept secret. We have first, in Ferrarius' book, the story of the visit 

 of Hercules to the garden of the Hesperides in quest of the precious 

 fruits (Aurea Mala) ; then comes an account of the introduction of 

 these fruits, which are stated to be citrons, lemons, and oranges of 

 various sorts, into Italy, with mythological legends relating to that 

 introduction ; and finally we have a discussion of the several varieties 

 of the fruits just named, their properties and their proper treatment. 

 Interspersed are splendidly executed copjDei-plates of Hercules, froni 

 the antique ; engravings of coins on which Hercules figures ; also, 

 emblematic groups representing the introduction of the Aurea Mala 

 into Italy ; and then spirited representations of the difierent fruits 

 themselves, some in each species assuming very curious and even 

 grotesque forms. The sketches or designs of the emblematic groups 

 were contributed by artists of great eminence : one is by Andreas 

 Sacchi ; another by Pietro Beretini di Cortona ; another by Francis 

 Albani ; another by Philippus Galiardus ; another by Guido Reni ; 

 and another by Nicholas Poussin. The Hercules Farnese is by 

 Perier. The engraver in the majority of cases is Bloemhart. It 

 appears that Guido Reni had just died. A eulogy on his skill and 

 genius is given. In Guido's plate, a Syren or Nereid is seen per- 

 forming on the violin. In the mind of an Italian there is nothing of 

 the ludicrous about the idea of a violin. Angels in heaven are often 

 represented in sacred Art as playing on that instrument. 



Ferrarius dedicates his work to the city of Siena, bis native place. 

 Hercules, he says, presented to King Eurysthenes only three of the 

 apples of the Hesperides. He, Ferrarius, offers to the acceptance of 

 his fellow-Sienese an orchard full of them. The language throughout 

 his great folio is remarkably easy and good; nevertheless, at the end" 

 he rhetorically professes to have lowly thoughts of his literary powers, 

 indulging at the same time in a play on his own name. These are his 

 closing words : ffmc hahui quoe de raalis aureis conscriherein, nee elegan- 

 tius potui ferreo stylo, Ferrarius." 



Often must Horace Walpole have lifted down this curious volume 

 from its place ; often mu.st his hands and those of his friends have 



