Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries, Vol. 1Hallam, Henry
History
Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries, Vol. 1
Hallam, Henry
Literature, Modern -- History and criticism
It is indeed highly probable
that this book would not reach Deventer immediately after its
impression; but it does seem as if there could not long have been
any extreme difficulty in obtaining a correct synopsis of the verb
τυπτω [typtô].
We have seen that Erasmus, about 1477, acquired a very slight
tincture of Greek under Alexander Hegius at Deventer. And here, as
he tells us, he saw Agricola, returning probably from Italy to
Groningen. Quem mihi puero, ferme duodecim annos nato, Daventriæ
videre contigit, nec aliud contigit. (Jortin, ii. 416.) No one
could be so likely as Hegius to attempt a Greek grammar; nor do we
find that his successors in that college were men as distinguished
for learning as himself. But in fact at a later time it could not
have been so extraordinarily imperfect. We might perhaps conjecture
that he took down these Greek tenses from the mouth of Agricola,
since we must presume oral communication rather than the use of
books. Agricola, repeating from memory, and not thoroughly
conversant with the language, might have given the false tense
τετυψαμενος [tetypsamenos]. The tract was probably printed by
Pafroet, some of whose editions bear as early a date as 1477. It
has long been extremely scarce; for Revius does not include it in
the list of Pafroet’s publications he has given in Deventria
Illustrata, nor will it be found in Panzer. Beloe was the first to
mention it in his Anecdotes of scarce books; and it is referred by
him to the fifteenth century; but apparently without his being
aware there was anything remarkable in that antiquity. Dr. Dibdin,
in Bibliotheca Spenceriana, has given a fuller account; and from
him Brunet has inserted it in the Manuel du Libraire. Neither Beloe
nor Dibdin seems to have known that there is a copy in the Museum;
they speak only of that belonging to Lord Spencer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account