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36
in English.
HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
The literal translation from the Italian, made
by Henry Earl of Monmouth, 1 has been taken as the base.
I have compared it with the original, and with the later
versions which appeared in 1704 2 and 1706, 3
and, where
possible, I have abridged it by the elision of unnecessary
and embarrassing prolixities.
It is needless to say that the unfortunate Trajano
Boccalini had no connection himself with the Rosicrucian
Brotherhood. The first " Centuria " appeared
in 1612 at
Venice, and he met his tragical and violent death in the
following year.
A Universal Reformation of the Whole Wide World, by order
of the God Apollo, is published by the Seven Sages of Greece
and some other Litterati.
The Emperor Justinian, that famed compiler of the
Digests and Code, the other day presented to Apollo, for
the royal approbation, a new law against self-murder.
Apollo was mightily astonished, and fetching a deep sigh,
he said, " Is the good government of mankind, Justinian,
then fallen into so great disorder that men do voluntarily
kill themselves ? And whereas I have hitherto given pen-
sions to an infinite number of moral philosophers, only that
1 " I. Ragguagli di Parnasso : or, Advertisements from Parnassus
in Two Centuries, with the Politick Touchstone. Put into English
Earl of Monmouth." Fol. 1656.
by the Eight Honourable Henry
2 " Advertisements from Parnassus. Written originally in Italian
by the famous Trajano Boccalini. Newly done into English, and
adapted to the Present Times." 3 vols. 8vo. 1704. A poor and
paraphrastic rendering.
3 " Advices from Parnassus, in Two Centuries, with the Politick
Touchstone and an Appendix to it. Written by Trajano Boccalini.
Translated by several hands." London. Fol. ]706. The best as regards
style, but less literal than the version by the Earl of Monmouth.