the halves, or some small rectory, with the mother of the maids at length, a poor kinswoman, or a crackt chambermaid, to have and to hold during the time of his life." Burton, Anat. of Mel., part i. sect. 2. mem. 3. subsect. 15.
Burton is here referring to the Euphormionis Lusinini Satyricon, published anno 1617. It professes to be a satire, or rather a furious invective, on the corrupt manners of the times, and is in four parts: the 1st is dedicated to King James I.; the 2nd to Robert Cecil; the 3rd to Charles Emanuel of Savoy; the 4th to Louis XIII., King of France.
The use that Burton makes of the name of Euphormio is any thing but happy. He was not a "trencher chaplain" but the slave of a rich debauchee, Callion, sent in company with another slave, Percas, to carry some all-potent nostrum to Fibullius, a friend of Callion, who was suffering from an attack of stone. Euphormio cures Fibullius, not by the drug with which he was armed, but by a herb, which he sought for and found on a mountain. Fibullius, to reward his benefactor, offers him as a wife a most beautiful girl, whom he introduces to him privately while in his sick room. Euphormio looks with no little suspicion on the offer; but, after a few excuses, which are overruled by Fibullius, accepts the lady as his betrothed, "seals the bargain with a holy kiss," and walks out of the room (to use his own words) "et sponsus, et quod nesciebam—Pater," page 100. The next mention of this lady [evidently the prototype of the "crackt chambermaid,"] is in page 138. Callion had paid his sick friend Fibullius a visit, and, on the eve of his departure, had ordered Euphormio to ride post before him, and prepare the inhabitants of the districts through which he was to pass for his arrival. While Euphormio is on the horseblock in the act of mounting his steed, a rustic brings him a letter from Fibullius, and in conversation gives him such an account of his bride as forces upon him the reflection, that even the grim Libitina would be preferable, as a bride, to so confirmed a Thais, so fruitful a partner, as the protegée of Fibullius would be likely to prove. But, as these notes have, in spite of all my attempts at condensation, already grown to a most formidable size, I will not indulge in any moral reflections; but conclude by querying you, or any of your readers, to inform me whether the personages mentioned in the Euphorm. Lus. Satyricon, such as Callion, Percas, Fibullius, &c., are real characters or not? as, in the former case, I am inclined to think that the work might throw some interesting lights on the private manners and characters of some of the courtiers of the day. "No scandal against any of the maids of honour"—of course. The phrase "To the halves" (in the quotation from Burton) means, inadequate, insufficient; we still talk of "half and half" measures. Montanus inveighs against such "perturbations, that purge to the halves, tire nature, and molest the body to no purpose." Burton, Anat. of Mel., part. ii. sect. 2. mem. 4. subsect. 6.
[The work referred to by our correspondent was written by Barclay, better known as the author of the Argenis. The First Part of the Satyricon, dedicated to James the First, was published, London, 12mo. 1603; and with the addition of the 2nd Part, Paris, 1605. The best edition of the work (which, really in two parts, is made, by the addition of the Apologia Euphormionis, &c. sometimes into five) is said to be the Elzevir 12mo., 1637. There are two editions of it cum notis variorum, Leyden, 1667 and 1669, 8vo., in two volumes. Of some of the editions (as that of 1623, 12mo.) it is said, "adjecta Clavi sive obscurorum et quasi ænigmaticorum nominum, in hoc Opere passim occurrentium, dilucida explicatione." The Satyricon was twice translated into French; and its literary history, and that of the Censura Enphormionis, and other tracts which it called forth, might furnish a curious and amusing paper.]
sermones sancti caroli borromæi.
Sir,—I have been wanting to get a sight of the following work, "Sermones Sancti Caroli Borromæi, Archiepisc. Mediol. Edidit J. A. Saxius. 5 Tom. Mediol. 1747." Can I learn through your columns whether the work is any where accessible in London? I sought for it in vain at the British Museum a twelve-month ago; nor, though then placed in their list of Libri desiderati, has it yet been procured.
luther and erasmus.
Mr. Editor,—The following lines, written in a hand of the early part of the seventeenth century, occur on the fly-leaf of a copy of the
