65.  Whilst upon this subject of manuscripts of our Author, I will give some particulars regarding a very curious one, containing a version in the Irish language.

[Sidenote:  Notice of a curious Irish Version of Polo.]

This remarkable document is found in the Book of Lismore, belonging to the Duke of Devonshire.  That magnificent book, finely written on vellum of the largest size, was discovered in 1814, enclosed in a wooden box, along with a superb crozier, on opening a closed doorway in the castle of Lismore.  It contained Lives of the Saints, the (Romance) History of Charlemagne, the History of the Lombards, histories and tales of Irish wars, etc., etc., and among the other matter this version of Marco Polo.  A full account of the Book and its mutilations will be found in O’Curry’s Lectures on the MS. Materials of Ancient Irish History, p. 196 seqq., Dublin, 1861.  The Book of Lismore was written about 1460 for Finghin MacCarthy and his wife Catharine Fitzgerald, daughter of Gerald, Eighth Earl of Desmond.

The date of the Translation of Polo is not known, but it may be supposed to have been executed about the above date, probably in the Monastery of Lismore (county of Waterford).

From the extracts that have been translated for me, it is obvious that the version was made, with an astounding freedom certainly, from Friar Francesco Pipino’s Latin.

Both beginning and end are missing.  But what remains opens thus; compare it with Friar Pipino’s real prologue as we give it in the Appendix![20]

“[Irish uncial text:  riguib ocus tassech na cathar sin. bai bratair rigui anaibit san fnses inn cathr intansin. ba eoluc dano ss’ nahilberlaib fransiscus aainm. bhur iarum du ambant na maste ucut ocus cuingst fair inleabor doclod fcula otengaid natartaired cg inteng laitanda].” &c.

—­“Kings and chieftains of that city.  There was then in the city a princely Friar in the habit of St. Francis, named Franciscus, who was versed in many languages.  He was brought to the place where those nobles were, and they requested of him to translate the book from the Tartar (!) into the Latin language.  ‘It is an abomination to me,’ said he, ’to devote my mind or labour to works of Idolatry and Irreligion.’  They entreated him again.  ‘It shall be done,’ said he; ’for though it be an irreligious narrative that is related therein, yet the things are miracles of the True God; and every one who hears this much against the Holy Faith shall pray fervently for their conversion.  And he who will not pray shall waste the vigour of his body to convert them.’  I am not in dread of this Book of Marcus, for there is no lie in it.  My eyes beheld him bringing the relics of the holy Church with him, and he left [his testimony], whilst tasting of death, that it was true.  And Marcus was a devout man.  What is there in it, then, but that Franciscus translated