public seminaries within 70 miles of the metropolis -but Lysander, guessing his intentions from his manner and attitude, cut the dialogue short, by observing, that we did not meet to discuss subjects of a personal and irritable nature, and which had already exercised the wits of two redoubted champions of the church—but that our object, and the object of all rational and manly discussion, was, to state opinions with frankness, without intending to wound the feelings, or call forth the animadversions, of well meaning and respectable characters. 'I know,' continued he, 'that you, Philemon, have been bred in one of these establishments, under a man as venerable for his years as he is eminent for his talents and worth; who employs the leisure of dignified retirement in giving to the world the result of his careful and profound researches; who, drinking largely at the fountain head of classical learning, and hence feeling the renovated vigor of youth, e (without having recourse to the black art of a Cornelius Agrippa,*) circumnavigates the Ery Let him who wishes to be regaled in a dull dreary night-when the snow is heavily falling, and the wind whistles hollowly-open those leaves of Bayle's Historical and Biographical Dictionary, which relate to this extraordinary character; and see there how adroitly Agrippa is defended against the accusation of 'having two devils attending him in the shape of two little dogs-one of them being called Monsieur, and the other Mademoiselle'—' whereas Paulus Jovius, Thevet, &c. speak only of one dog, and never mention his name.' Vol. i. 357, 361; edit. 1736, 10 vols. folio. The bibliographer, who wishes to be master of the most curious and rare editions of his works, may go from Bayle to Clement, and from Clement to threan Sea'-then, ascending the vessel of Nearchus, he coasts from Indus to the Euphrates'-and explores with an ardent eye what is curious and what is precious, and treasures in his sagacious mind what is most likely to gratify and improve his fellowcountrymen. A rare and eminent instance this, of the judicious application of acquired knowledge! --and how much more likely is it to produce good, and to secure solid fame, than to fritter away one's strength, and undermine one's health, in perpetual pugilistic contests with snarling critics, dull commentators, and foul-mouthed philologists.' Philemon heartily assented to the truth of these remarks; and more than once interrupted Lysan to Vogt. He must beware of the castrated Lyon's editions 'per Beringos fratres'-against one of which Bayle declaims, and produces a specimen (quite to his own liking) of the passage suppressed :--another, of a similar kind, is adduced by Vogt; (edit. 1793, p. 19, 20,) who tells us, however, that an edition of 1544, 8vo, without mention of place, or printer --and especially a Cologne edition of 1598, by Hierat, in 12mo,—exhibits the like castrations: p. 20. This has escaped Clement; learned as he is upon the Lyon's editions, vol. i. 94, 95, 96. Bauer (Bibl. Libr. Rarior.) is here hardly worth consulting; and the compilers of the celebrated Nouveau Dict. Historique [Caen edit. 1789, vol. i. 7. Art. Agrippa.] deserve censure for the recommendation of these Lyon's editions only. Agrippa's VANITY OF SCIENCES' was first published at Antwerp in 4to, 1530; a book, upon the rarity of which, bibliographers delight to expatiate. His OCCULT PHILOSOPHY'-according to Bayle, in 1531; [at least, the Elector of Cologne had seen several printed leaves of it in this year] but according to Vogt and Bauer, in 1533.-There is no question about the edition of 1533; of which Vogt tells us, An Englishman, residing at Frankfort, anxiously sought for a copy of it, offering 50 crowns [imperiales] and more, without success.' All the editions in Agrippa's life-time [before 1536] are considered uncastrated, and the best. It should not be forgotten that Brucker, in his Hist. Crit. Phil. has given a masterly account of Agrippa, and an analysis of his works, 6 der in his panegyrical peroration by his cheerings:* for he had, in his youth, (as was before observed) been instructed by the distinguished character upon whom the eulogy had been pronounced. The effort occasioned by the warmth in discussing such interesting subjects nearly exhausted Lysander-when it was judged prudent to retire to rest. Each had his chamber assigned to him; and while the checquered moon-beam played upon the curtains and the wall, through the half-opened shutter, the minds of Lysander and Philemon felt a correspondent tranquillity; and sweet were their slumbers till the morning shone full upon them. This word is almost peculiar to our own country, and means a vehement degree of applause. It is generally used previous to, and during, a contest of any kind-whether by men in red coats, or blue coats, or black coats-upon land, upon water, or within doors. Even the walls of St. Stephen's chapel frequently echo to the loud cheerings' of some kind or another. See every newspaper on every important debate. PART II. The Cabinet. OUTLINE OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC BIBLIOGRAPHY. Condemn the daies of elders great or small, p. 18, edit. 1776. |