CHAPTER XXVII. HENRY ESTIENNE II. CONTINUED-ARTIS TYPOGRAPHICE QUERIMONIA, &c. HIS INTENDED THESAURUS GRECUS—REMARKS ON IGNORANT PRINTERS, &c.—CATA LOGUE AND VERSES-PROJECTED IMPRESSIONS-FURTHER PRODUCTIONS OF HIS PRESS IN 1570. I NOW proceed, as proceed, as was promised in the last chapter, to speak more particularly of Henry Estienne's ARTIS TYPOGRAPHICA QUERIMONIA," and the "Epistola de suæ typographiæ statu." The former of these is introduced by a prefatory address to the reader; in which our printer complains, in very indignant terms, that the noble typographic art had fallen into the hands of the most illiterate of persons "quibus nihil cum mu"sis commune est," who had no claim even to the lowest attainments of literature. What, he exclaims, would Aldus Manutius say, if he could return to life again, on beholding such a degradation of the art? or what would be the language of Marcus Musurus and of Janus Lascaris, those eminent restorers of Greek literature? Then, after adducing various instances of the gross ignorance and correspondent obstinacy of some printers and editors of his time, exemplified by their adulteration of particular passages of classic authors, Henry commences the poetical part of this tract, composed in Latin elegiacs. His numbers indeed, as usual, are neither elegant nor harmonious; but he attempts to blunt the edge of criticism, by acknowledging that he has no pretensions to the poetical name or character: yet he maintains, in the language of the Roman satirist, that on such an occasion, Si natura negat, facit indignatio versum. To this prosopopoeia of Typography; for she is now made to address the reader in her own per son: ILLA ego quæ quondam, cœlo ut delapsa, colebar, Henry, unlike that diffident bard whose muse could be roused only by indignation, subjoins various "Epitaphia" composed by himself, in praise of several confessedly learned typographers. Some of them consist of Greek, and others of Latin hexameters and pentameters: but none of them exhibit any superior traits of poetical beauty or excellence. 66 The other tract, namely, "Epistola de suæ typographiæ statu," is of a more elaborate and diffuse character. It contains a detail of the state of his press; for the past productions of which, the reader is referred to an "Index librorum," or catalogue annexed. The author then mentions other impressions of importance, which he has in view. But the most important part of this "Epistola," &c. is that which relates to Henry's great work, the "Thesaurus linguæ Græcæ," then in the press. It appears that some of the learned expected from him a lexicographical work, wherein Greek words should be explained in the Greek, and not in the Latin language. Others supposed that he was compiling a lexicon upon the plan of those "lexica Græco-Latina," which were already extant, and differing from them only in extent and copiousness. Others were alarmed by a report that his intended "Thesaurus" was not to be formed upon the usual alphabetical order of arrangement; and feared it would prove less useful on that account: having no clear and correct notion of the real method, upon which our lexicographer had determined. To all these inquiries Henry gives satisfactory answers: fully elucidating the plan of his intended work by examples; and shewing how much it was calculated in point of accuracy, variety, and scientific arrangement, to excel all preceding lexicons. He adduces many instances of the multifarious blunders, erroneous interpretations, strange, unclassical, and absolutely barbarous words and epithets, with which those in common use abounded and in a rational and entertaining manner, accounts for their gradual and accidental introduction into these injudicious "farragines" and compilations. In short, he says the public would cease to wonder that the Greek "Thesaurus," promised so long before, by his father Robert Estienne, had not yet come forth; when they were informed, that it was not a mere "lexicon auctum " & locupletatum" which was projected; but a work which was to be wholly constructed anew from its very basis. Of the necessity of such an entirely novel work, his father had become more and more sensible, by the republication of every lexicon which he had seen; however set off in their titles by the terms "auctum & locupleta"tum;" terms which frequently excited the indignation of honest Robert, who was accustomed to exclaim, "Semperne veterem hanc cantilenam au"diam?" It appears by Henry's acknowledgment, that Robert had actually projected, and laid in a valuable stock of materials for this great etymological and lexicographical edifice; which death alone had prevented him from completing: and hence the important office had devolved upon the son. Lastly, Henry satisfactorily vindicates the plan |