A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 453 pages of information about A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three.

A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 453 pages of information about A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three.

I looked about sharply for fine, old, mellow-tinted Alduses:—­but to no purpose.  Yet I must notice a pretty little Aldine Petrarch of 1521, 12mo. bound with Sannazarius de partu Virginis, by the same printer, in 1527, 12mo.:  in old stamped binding—­but somewhat cropt.  The leaves of both copies crackle lustily on turning them over.  These, also, from the Weingarth monastery.  I noticed a beautiful little Petrarch of 1546, 8vo. with the commentary of Velutellus; having a striking device of Neptune in the frontispiece:  but no membranaceous articles, of this character and period, came across my survey.

I cannot, however, take leave of the Royal Library (a collection which I should think must contain 15,000 volumes) without expressing my obligations for the unrestricted privilege of examination afforded me by those who had the superintendance of it.  But I begin to be wearied, and it is growing late.  The account of the “court-levee,” and the winding up of other Stuttgart matters, must be reserved for to-morrow.  The watchman has just commenced his rounds, by announcing, as usual, the hour of ten—­which announce is succeeded by a long (and as I learn metrical) exhortation—­for the good folks of Stuttgart to take care of their fires and candles.  I obey his injunctions; and say good night.

[1] See vol. ii. p. 421.

[2] [Of this PORTRAIT, which may be truly said to enrich the pages of the
    previous edition of the Tour, a more liberal use has been made
    than I was prepared to grant.  My worthy friends, Messrs. Treuttel,
    Wuertz, and Richter were welcome to its republication; but a third
    edition
of it, by another hand, ought not to have been published
    without permission.  The ORIGINAL of this Portrait has ceased to exist. 
    After a laborious life of fourscore years, the learned Schweighaeuser
    has departed—­in the fullest maturity of reputation arising from
    classical attainments; to which must be added, all the excellences of
    a mild, affable, christian-like disposition.  As a husband, a father,
    and a friend, none went before him:  no one displayed these domestic
    virtues in a more perfect and more pleasing form.  As a Greek Scholar
    and Commentator, he may be said to rank with Hemsterhusius,
    Wyttenbach, and Heyne.  He was equally the boast of Strasbourg and the
    glory of his age.  Never was profound learning more successfully united
    with “singleness of heart,” and general simplicity of character.  He
    ought to have a splendid monument (if he have it not already?) among
    his Fellow Worthies in the church of St. Thomas at Strasbourg.  PEACE
    TO HIS ASHES!]

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A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.