[15] See for example vol. i. p. 338, and note 4 at p. 341; also vol. ii. p. 103. The descriptions in the style referred to recur in all seven times; but most of them (which are in Book IV.) have been omitted in this translation. [16] [On the subject of Moses of Chorene and his works, I must refer to the clever researches of the late Auguste Carrière, Professor of Armenian at the École des Langues Orientales.—H. C.] [17] _Zacher, Forschungen zur Critik, &c., der Alexandersage_, Halle, 1867, p. 108. [18] Even so sagacious a man as Roger Bacon quotes the fabulous letter of Alexander to Aristotle as authentic. (_Opus Majus_, p. 137.) [19] _J. As._ sér. VI. tom. xviii. p. 352. [20] See passage from Jacopo d’Acqui, _supra_, p. _54_. [21] It is the transcriber of one of the Florence MSS. who appends this terminal note, worthy of Mrs. Nickleby:—“Here ends the Book of Messer M. P. of Venice, written with mine own hand by me Amalio Bonaguisi when Podestà of Cierreto Guidi, to get rid of time and _ennui_. The contents seem to me incredible things, not lies so much as miracles; and it may be all very true what he says, but I don’t believe it; though to be sure throughout the world very different things are found in different countries. But these things, it has seemed to me in copying, are entertaining enough, but not things to believe or put any faith in; that at least is my opinion. And I finished copying this at Cierreto aforesaid, 12th November, A.D. 1392.” [22] _Vulgar Errors_, Bk. I. ch. viii.; _Astley’s Voyages_, IV. 583. [23] A few years before Marsden’s publication, the Historical branch of the R. S. of Science at Göttingen appears to have put forth as the subject of a prize Essay the Geography of the Travels of Carpini, Rubruquis, and especially of Marco Polo. (See _L. of M. Polo_, by _Zurla_, in _Collezione di Vite e Ritratti d’Illustri Italiani_. Pad. 1816.) [24] See _Städtewesen des Mittelalters_, by _K. D. Hüllmann_, Bonn, 1829, vol. iv.