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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
' the early Greek press are doubtless to be found amongst the Alaine editions. Such are the Aristotle, Greek, folio, 1495-1498, and the Ga- len, which issued from the same establishment after the decease of Aldus Manutius, viz. anno 1525, in tire vols, folio, and a small character. Andreas Cratander of Basil had the courage and patience to reprint the work in the like number of volumes. The Commentary of Eusta- thius on Homer, in 4 vols. Greek, folio, printed at Rome by Antonius Bladus, 1542-1550, was an immense undertaking. It was, however, after a considerable interval, exceeded by the fine edition of the works of St. Chrysostom, executed in England, where Greek typography had before been comparatively little pitictised. I speak of the well-known magnificent impression, intitled, S. J. Chrytottomi Opera, Grtece, 8 vols, folio, printed in Eton college, by John Norton, 1613, under the direction and at the charge of sir Henry Saville. These volumes, (says Chevil- lier,) " sont d'un tres-beau caractfere. C'est un chef d'oBUvre d'Imprimerie Grecque." This impression acquired for John Norton the same title or distinction in England, which the cele- brated Robert Stephens had attained under Francis I. of " iu Grscis, &c., Regius Typo- gfraphus."
1515, Sept. 27. "The Kin^ (Henry VIII.) gives to Richard Pynson, Esquire, our Printer, Four Pounds annually, to be paid from the receipts of the Exchequer during life." — The title of esquire, which Pynson had thus formally received, he afterwards used in the colophon to bis Statuta ^o. Emprented at London in Flete- ttrete at the eigne of the George by saynt Dtm- itone'i chyrehe by me Richard Pynson squyer and prenter vnto the hynges noble grace.
1516. Fitzherbert's Grand Ahndgement.TcAv). This volume is a large folio law book, and the first that was published ; it is divided into three parts, to each of which is a frontispiece, but it is without title, or printer's name. The price of the whole, consisting of three parts, was forty shillings. At this time forty shillings would have bought three fat oxen. From the type in this volume, it appears to have been printed abroad, probably in France, where the law French was better understood, for Wynkyn de Worde.
1516. Ariosto published his great work, the Orlando Furioso. Any thing like an analysis of this extraordinary poem must of necessity be out of the question, and it may be enough to state that it is descriptive of the war carried on be- tween Charlemagne and the Saracens. The Boem abounds with incongruities, and Ariosto deals largely in enchanters, harpies, and other strange monsters; but then he identifies them with our feelings, and yet he renders them con- sistent in their character with the world he has formed for them.
Ariosto was necessitated to publish the Orlando Purioso on his own account, and, after paying the expense of paper and printing, received rather more than a shilling a copy from a book- seller for the work. He appears likewise to have
been as unfortunate in his choice of a patron as in his efforts at procuring a publisher; for when he presented his work to cardinal Hippolito, to whom it was dedicated, he is said to have asked where he contrived " to pick up such a mass of absurdities."
This distinguished Italian poet was born at the castle of Reggio, in Lombardy, September 8th, 1474. He was the son of Nicolo Ariosto of Ferrara, major-domo to the duke of Este, and when a child was highly distinguished for his poetical and dramatic talents.
Ariosto did not receive the laurel crown, the most distinguished mark of public approbation in his native land, till late m life. Some say that this occurred at Mantua, and others that it took place at Ferrara. At all events, it appears to have been a high source of happiness to the poet; and there is a tradition still current in Italy that, when the crown was placed on his brow, he leaped from the temporary platform that had been erected, and, becoming the herald of his own honours, loudly proclaimed to the multitude that it was Ariosto, die author of the Orlando Purioso, for whom they must make way.
Ariosto was invited by the duke of Ferrara to take up his residence permanently in that place, with a promise of pecuniary assistance. One of the first advantages which he derived from the friendship of his ducal patron, was the present of a sum sufficient to buud himself a mansioD, and a proper site having been selected in the street Mirasole, in Ferrara, it was shortly com- pleted. The simplicity of the man is well de- picted in the plainness of the edifice which he erected. He was much blamed by his friends for having built it on so circumscribed a plan, when he had given such splendid descriptions of sumptuous palaces, with their highly decorated porticos and pleasant fountains, to which Ariosto IS said to have replied that words were easier laid together than blocks of marble, and that human happiness did not depend on the height of the mansion. Upon the door he caused to be placed the following inscription : —
Thia house is 8mBU, bnt lit for me.
And hurtful 'tis to none j It is not sluttish, as jrou see.
Yet paid for with mine own.
It may be right to add that in this unassuming edifice Ariosto wrote all his later dramatic woilis, and ultimately died on the 6th of June, 1533, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.
The father o\ Tasso, author of Jerusalem Delivered, before his son had rivalled the roman- tic Ariosto, describes in a letter the effect of the Orlando on the people : — " There is no man of learning, no mechanic, no lad, no girl, no old man, who is satisfied to r^ the Orlando Fttrion once. This poem serves as the solace of the traveller, who, fatigued on his journey, deceives his lassitude by chanting some octaves of this poem. You may hear uiem sing these stanzas m the streets, and in the fields every day."
1516. The first Polyglott work was printed at Genoa, by Peter Paul Porrus, (who appears to
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