I.—_A Fool-freighted Ship_ was the title of almost the last book of the fifteenth century,—by a similar title is the Emblem-book called which was launched at the beginning of the sixteenth century; it is, “~Jodoci Badii ascē~sii Stultifere̦ nauicule̦ seu scaphe̦ Fatuarum mulierum: circa sensus quinq̃ exteriores fraude nauigantium,”—_The Fool-freighted little ships of Josse Badius ascensius, or the skiffs of Silly women in delusion sailing about the five outward senses_,—“printed by honest John Prusz, a citizen of Strasburg, in the year of Salvation M.CCCCC.II.” There was an earlier edition in 1500,—but almost exactly the same. From that before us we give a specimen of the work, _The Skiff of Foolish Tasting_. A discourse follows, with quotations from Aulus Gellius, Saint Jerome, Virgil, Ezekiel, Epicurus, Seneca, Horace, and Juvenal; and the discourse is crowned by twenty-four lines of Latin elegiacs, entitled “~Celeusma Gustationis fatue̦~,”—_The Oarsman’s cry for silly Tasting_,—thus exhorting— “Slothful chieftains of the gullet! Offspring of Sardanapálus! In sweet sleep no longer lull it,— Rouse ye, lest good cheer should fail us. Gentle winds to pleasures calling Waft to regions soft and slow; On a thousand dishes falling, How our palates burn and glow! Suppers of Lucillus name not, Ancient faith! nor plate of veal; Ancient faith to luncheon came not Crowned with flowers that age conceal. Let none boast of pontiff’s dishes,— Nor Mars’ priests their suppers spread; Alban banquets bless our wishes,— Cæsar’s garlands deck our head. Now the dish of Æsop yielding, Apicius all his luxuries pours; And Ptolomies the sceptres wielding Richest viands give in showers.” And so on, until in the concluding stanza Badius declares— “If great Jove himself invited At our feasting takes his seat, Jove would say, ‘I am delighted, Not in heaven have I such meat.’ Therefore, stupids! what of summer Enters now our pinnace gay,— Onward in three hours ’twill bear us Where kingdoms blessed bid us stay.”[45] The same work was published in another form, “La nef des folles, selon les cinq sens de nature, composé selon levangile de monseigneur saint Mathieu, des cinq vierges qui ne prindrent point duylle avec eulx pour mectre en leurs lampes:” Paris 4to, about 1501.