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 Hackmann, in 1709, who printed an edition of it at Wolfenbüttel, 1711. In the Preface, Henry Von Alkmar announces himself as a schoolmaster, who had borrowed his translation from the French tongue, but without throwing any light upon the real author, or noticing any Dutch writers or commentators among his contemporaries. His name has by some been conjectured to be a mere fabrication, and among others by Henry Lackman, and by Büsching. Most probably, however, says Flögel, Alkmar was born in the city of that name in Holland; he represents himself as Hofmeister to the duke of Lothringen (Lorraine), who died in 1508, at whose request the Flemish work was first composed. The Dutch writer expressly disclaims all title to its production, though no prior French and Italian materials, from which he professes to have taken it, have been discovered.

Gottsched, in his edition, is inclined to think Alkmar the real original author, and that he merely feigned its version from other tongues. Thus some dispute his word, and others his existence; learned opinions clash with still more learned opinions, and conjectures are heaped upon conjectures.

These unfortunately do not appear to have brought the learned speculators much nearer to the truth: the obscure fables of Reynard the Fox, belong, in some form or other, to most nations; their peculiar