Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/439

 430

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

diffuse chaiacter. It contains a detail of the state of his press, ice. To this Eputola, which Henry dates ex typograjpheo ruo, 1569, (W. Mart, a short letter is subjoin^, addressed to Jochimus Camerarius ; with which it appears that Henry forwarded to that scholar the index, or printed catalogue of his editions : and for his amusement, and that of his readers in general, he had prepared the following:

I am bairmuM by the crowd of thow

At Frankfort— who tbdr wares expose )

And ever ask'd : " What are jroa doings,

" In pra(|)eet of tbe Fair ensuing I

"New works youll shew— impresslonB splendid,

" Where liearning stands by Art commended."

If I say " No j"— " "Tla stnmgre I what none?

" At least then (vomlse- next but one."

Still say I " No -."—expostulation

Assumes the tone of indiicnation :

That Frankfort mart's so strangely slighted j

And broke the fUtb— I never plighted.

Again these qnidnnncs set aside.

With letters, oeaselesa, I'm annoy'd i

Italian, English, German, Ftencli,

All on my studious hours entrench :

" What last has been achier'd, and ended t

" Wliat are the impressions next intended t"

Nor to such modest qnerlca stinted.

Of books In pilnt, or to be printed—

A thousand others they propound.

Which even a prophet would confound.

But still, our German billets doux

The interminable theme renew ;

Remind me of the Fair— the Fair—

Ajkd hold me constant debtor tiiere.

Of what advantage all these letters t Not sUmulants they are, but fetters. As though you'd spur a steed that's idle. Yet check his progress with the bridle. My press resents the condescension, That to such foppery gives attention : Stands still, and bids them longer stay for All they suggest, desire, and pray for.

For this annoyance then— be sure

Not small— intent to Und a cure.

Of books to former fairs I've given.

Or now project, by leave of heaven.

These pages few, as best may suit yon.

In form of " Catalogue" salute yon :

Which you'U my " Rescript" please to call,

Addrest to none, and yet to alL

Thus, " Walls I whiten"— "two," sirs! tush—

A thousand—" with a single brush."

Of works imprest, or held in view To imprint, deem you the number few? Reflect— the custom of the<air Deals not alike with every ware; But reckons some by count or tale. Whilst weight, of others rules the sale.

lu 1572, and about the same year of his age, says Maittaire, at which his father Robert had printed his Latin T'Aetaunu, Henry enriched the republic of letters with the important fruit of his vigils and studies, the Greek Thetaurut, which he inscribed to the emperor Maximilian, Charles IX. of France, Elizabeth queen of England, and John George, marquis of Bran- denburg; and to the academic institutions of their respective dominions. For the work he had obtained Privilegiorum Diplomati ; that of the French king, in 1561, and that of the em- peror, 1570. This great work verr much im- porerished Us family ; and to ada to his mis- fortune. Scapula, his servant, treacherously ex- tracted the most useful parts, and published an epitome, which destroyed the sale of the Tke- taunu. Such were the ever active energies of

Henry's mind ; and so unwearied was his zesl in the cause of learning, that immense laboon achieved became incentives to further projects and exertions. He complains that great pectun-

7 difficulties were occasioned by the pubiicatiim the TTietaunu; though of absolute bankrupt- cy, which some writers have recorded, he savs nothing. Certainly, as that was not "a suV scribing age," few patriots of the great republic of letters ever ventured upon a more formidable outlay, or were more deserving of an ample ite- muneration. How far the sale of the first edition of this great work actually remunerated him, we are not informed. Fabricius adds probabili^ to a conjecture, that the nesaurus Grteae lAngvut, was executed at Geneva, as the date of the work coincided with the dreadful occurrence of the eve of St. Bartholomew. Had he been domesticated at Paris, when that horrible insur- rection against all Huguenots took place, it can scarcely be imagined that either the kindness of individual friends, or any precautions of his own, could have preserved him or his family from the common vengeance. Whilst, however, the prominent outlines of this printer's pro- fessional life have been preserved, we remain in almost entire ignorance of his private history ; and of the solicitudes or enjoyments, perils or escapes, with which it is probable his mortal career, like that of others, was diversified. In a word, speaking generally of Henry's unsettled way of life, Maittaire thus expresses himself. " How little stationery his residence was at various intervals, is shown by the epistles pre- fixed to many of his impressions. Sometimes he dates firom Geneva, as in the years 1675, 1578, 1588; sometimes from Paris, 1579, 1681, 1585; sometimes Viriaci, 1575, 1578; some- times ex villa Grieriana, near Geneva, 1676, 1579 ; sometimes Aureliis ; sometimes Lugduni ; modo peregrimau amid exterat modo cnilicui apud nu». It is sufficientiy surprising that he was able to bring to an issue so many of his labours, inasmuch as the rumours of war frequently broke up his typographic establishment, in the midst of its operations." The same author justly adds, that the interruptions of his typog^phical labours might at all times more probably be attributed to any other canse than to indolence, which was little compatible with his disposition and character.

The most ardent and indefatigable exertions of human enthusiasm and industry must at length find a period ; and, in this slight sketch of our distinguished typographer, all we can do is to shew his various peregrinations, and some litde of his labours. Few ever experienced more vicissitudes in the literary walks of life, or more discouraging reverses of fortune. Per- haps no individual scholar ever rendered greater services to literature; yet none ever found his own erudition turn to less account. When we consider the interruptions, difficulties, and dis- couragements, with which he was almost con- stantiy compelled to struggle, our admiration of bis patience and perseverance, and our astonish-

VjOOQ IC