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Great, then, is the bond of the Latin language, great is its influence, which has been preserved with such religious sanctity" for so many ages among foreigners, barbarians, and enemies, so that we Romans have not so much reason to grieve as to rejoice and boast, even in the hearing of the whole world.12 We have lost Rome, our sovereignty,13 our dominion, not by our own fault, but by that of the times. But by means of this more splendid supremacy we reign still over a great part of the globe; for whereever the Roman language rules, there is still the Roman empire.14

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Exercise LXXXI.

Remarkable Thefts.

IN a French book, entitled' Traité préparatif à l'Apologie pour Herodote, among many remarkable thefts, some are recounted2 which by their audacity and the singular cunning3 displayed in them seem to me almost incredible. I have thought it worth while then to insert them here1 just as I have translated them from the French. It happened, says the author of that book, in the time of Francis I., that a thief, splendidly attired, took something secretly out of the pocket of the Cardinal of Lorraine, while the mass was being celebrated with great solemnity, and as he had been shrewd enough to observes that only the king, and he with eyes fixed upon him, had seen the deed, he was so far from letting himself be deterred by this, that, on the contrary, he had the audacity to smile and make a familiar sign to the king with his finger1 to say nothing, as though it was merely a practical joke. The king, who loved a joke, believed that it was done, not in earnest, but, as is the custom among courtiers," merely as a sportive trick," and pretended13 he had not seen the theft. When the mass was over, in order to ascertain what had happened, he took occasion while conversing with the cardinal to direct his attention 15 to his purse. As he could not find its contents, and

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was much vexed 16 by this, the king burst out into a violent fit of laughing. When, however, he had laughed enough, and it became necessary to return to serious matters," he commanded that what had been taken from the cardinal under his eyes should be restored to him; for he was still convinced that the articles had been secretly abstracted by some distinguished courtier in jest, and with the intention of restoring them.19 But when it was discovered on investigation that it had been a notorious and practised thief in a courtier's dress, and the cardinal expressed his surprise how the king, in general so great a lover of justice, could be so much amused by an impudent theft committed during divine worship," the king pronounced an imprecation on the thief, and narrated what had happened, adding with an oath, that it was the first time that a thief had sought his friendship and assistance; or, as it is more neatly expressed in French: le Rois, lequel usant de son serment accoustumé, jura fois de gentilhomme, que c'estoit la première fois qu'un larron l'avoit voulu faire compagnon.*

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Another equally remarkable theft, also narrated by this author, happened in the presence of the Emperor Charles V. Namely, on an occasion, when by the emperor's command, all the courtiers were preparing for a journey, and every one was busied with the packing up of his things," a most daring character belonging to the class of thieves," on seeing that only a few of the emperor's friends were by, and they entirely occupied in preparing him for his journey, for he was about to take horse directly, entered the emperor's apartment, went up to him, fell on his knee, according to the custom of courtiers, and began with all despatch to take away the carpets and hangings and pack them very cleverly in a bundle, while the emperor and his friends were looking on. Although, as I suppose, he had never practised this trick before, he carried off those hangings so dexterously, and without any suspicion of theft, that he relieved of this trouble the master of the wardrobe,30 who was then engaged in other matters.

*This story is generally told of our Charles II. text will, for the future, correct.

—an error which the

Exercise LXXXII.

On Italian and Transalpine Latinity in the 16th Century.

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THERE had come to me in my house on the Quirinal,' for the purpose of paying a complimentary visit, some young and noble Germans, who having travelled through nearly all Italy, without failing to see and converse with almost every one who enjoyed some reputation in the learned world," wished to see me also, as they at least said, for the same reason, and to converse with me. And as they asked me concerning my studies, and I in turn questioned them about the state of Germany, about the scholars, who were said to flourish there, their age, personal appearance, fortune, and style of living, but especially which of them had firmly maintained the religion of their parents, and had not suffered themselves to be carried off by that flood of pestilent opinions, a couple of hours passed away, while they were returning various answers to the different inquiries." I then took my leave of them, with friendly greetings, and every good wish.10 During our conversation, there had been sitting by me Darius Bernardus, a young man of cheerful temper, and of religious and unblemished character,13 who remarked on their departure, 'How truly it is said, that the gift of speaking Latin readily and fluently1 is found only in those beyond the Alps. For example, those who have just taken their leave, how they never hesitate in speaking, never trip, never stumble;" how they have everything at their fingers' ends, 18 how all their discourse runs on without any hindrance or roughness!19 But our countrymen, even those, who, by their studious labours, have contracted a pallid, emaciated, and worn-out look, if they have ever to speak in Latin, how they strive, how they labour, how they pant for breath! You might believe that they were, by the most violent exertions, fetching up their words from the bottom of their chest ;22 whereas to those, on the contrary,

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who were just now with you, without any thought or care, an ever-flowing and opulent supply" of Latin words seems to stream forth and run along unbidden from their mouths.' 'It is quite as you say, Darius,' I replied; but Italy has also famous men, who both write with the utmost elegance, and speak, when they find occasion, most eloquently and with the greatest command of language. Perhaps,' said he, 'you mean Manutius, Sigonius, and Peter John Maffei, or, from the same society, one, the tidings of whose death 25 drew from you plenty of tears, I mean Perpinianus; and such men as appear only once in a generation.' 'Both those whom you mention,' said I, 'and others, although he whom you named last was a Spaniard, not an Italian, but he had been so long in Italy that he might be accounted an Italian. And I wish, Darius, that you could have heard that man, and had not been engaged at court in another business," when he taught rhetoric in this city. For you have never heard and will not even hear in future time any one to whom the praise of Nestor is more applicable; "out of whose mouth speech flowed sweeter than honey." But what was the meaning of that sign which you seemed to make to me once or twice while we were conversing?' 'Did I? Oh! 30 I was vexed to hear the elder, who spoke with you, let fall some unLatin words, which dimmed with certain blots the unvarying lustre of his unprepared discourse.' 'If he did so, he only yielded to necessity; and I advise you, too, Darius, not to imitate the folly of those who are so studious of antiquity that they even shrink from words peculiar to the Christian religion, and substitute in their place others which sometimes savour of impiety," who, if they did not fear the consequences, would say instead of Christ, 'Jupiter the best and greatest,'-for it is more Ciceronian !' When I was proceeding to enlarge on this subject, some friends came in and compelled us to break our conversation.

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Exercise LXXXIII.

Applications for Literary Assistance.

Peter John Perpinianus greets heartily M. Ant. Muretus. THOSE who have pledged their word to another seem to me to bear a weight heavier than Ætna,' unless they are aided by the kindness of the person to whom they have made the promise, or of the person in whose name they have made it.2 You know, I believe, what I mean. Respecting those verses on our Lady of Loretto, I am continually beset by the person who wished to have them from you on account of the high expectations he entertained from your taste1 and learning. Although I am aware that I made the engagement without your knowledge and sanction, still I feel confident that my rashness in promising will be made goods by your extraordinary kindness in the performance. If the fountains and orchards of Tivoli have any power, if your retreat there has brought you any leisure from your daily occupations, I beseech and implore you to show that I have some place in your friendship. I had something to say to you, but I hope to have a better opportunity of applying to you by word of mouth when you have returned to us. For the General of our Order has determined that I should remain at Rome

during the next year. All our friends salute you. Farewell. From the City, 15th Aug. 1564.

From the same to the same.

I cannot now wait any longer for your return. For I fear lest it should be postponed too long, and I am pressed for time.' Whither, you will ask, are you hastening that you cannot wait these few days? I am not going anywhere. Do not fear that, in consequence of a change in the determination of our General, I have to leave Rome. You shall hear the whole story from the beginning. Being again placed at the head of the rhetorical school, from which I thought I was