the long array of evils were gathering, which had their origin in discordant counsels, and warring interests; consequences, which however, fatal to liberty, could not deter the ambitious from their purposes, we cannot too highly prize the influence of a man, who preferred duty to fame; who steadily advocated truth in spite of its adversaries. And we should cherish for him a gratitude as unmeasured as the blessings he helped to confer were invaluable.

He died in the midst of his activity and his usefulness, but he was already fitted for a divine abode! How well may that be said of him, which was spoken over the remains of one who was cut off in the midst of a career of usefulness,-" If he had lived longer, he might have reared a more enduring monument of fame for posterity; but his virtues could not have been more mature, or more endeared." Such was Mr. Ames; the scholar, the statesman, the patriot, the christian; and probably such greatness and such goodness will never here receive its just reward.

The death of few public men has ever caused more universal sorrow; of none more heartfelt. And what is the true criterion of esteem? Not that temporary applause, which is gained without merit, and expires when the excitement which produced it is calmed; not the high places of power, which may have been occupied for these are often conferred upon the most profligate and the most debased;-nor the host of hireling minions which may be held at bidding; for such the allurements of wealth can always call forth, or tyranny raise up to be its defenders. But it is the depth of that affection with which we cherish the man while living, and the weight of sorrow from which we refuse to be divorced, when removed from us. True respect can never be felt for a man, however brilliant or exalted his talents, unless they be adorned by virtue. The rank which posterity assigns to eminent men, is not determined by individual acts, but by the whole life, and the influence of their principles on the happiness of mankind. Mr. Ames was faultless in the former; the latter were salutary and widely felt. As a friend, he was the center of numerous and strong attachments; as a senator, he held, by the consent of all, the highest rank; as a man, few could be found so perfect. Elevated above those sordid motives which so often darken the character of the best men, he went forth like the morning star, in the purity of his life, and the brightness of his example. And though he no longer instructs us by that example, the memory of his virtues survives, and will live forever; for "thought, affection, piety, usefulness, do not die."

He possessed that "strong divinity of soul," which needs no guide, and follows no model. With a mind too discerning to be governed by prejudice, too great to be overawed by fears; he sought only for truth, and followed wherever her honest deductions bade him.

A character so mature in wisdom, so perfect in virtue, we cannot but admire and love. But we cannot do him justice. It required that discerning wisdom which can see the extent of his influence, and an exalted purity like his own, to estimate the worth of his example. W. C.

306

MODERN LATIN ANTHOLOGY.

No. II.

PASQUIN AND MARFORIO.

MORE than three hundred years ago, there dwelt in the Eternal City, a certain cobbler,* Pasquin by name. A keen wit was he, and an unsparing satirist; a most industrious retailer of shoes and and scandal. His shop grew quite famous, and soon became the general lounge of the small wits of the day, who all acknowledged the little cobbler as their leader.

"Sed omnes una manet nox," as old Flaccus hath it; (I believe Horace is the most genteel author to quote from, Messrs. Editors,) and that impartial old gentleman, who, as we are informed by the same high authority,

"Aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas
Regumque turres-"

Walked into Pasquin's shop one day, and carried off the Aristophanes of the sixteenth century. Soon after his death, the statue of an ancient gladiator was found under the pavement of his shop. It was immediately set up, and by common consent, the name of Pasquin, was given to it; and the Roman satirists immortalized their friend by the anonymous lampoons, which they from time to time affixed to his namesake. Not long after, a statue of Mars was found in the Forum, (hence the name Marforio ;) and this was erected at the other end of the city, as a sort of opposition to Pasquin; those personages who were attacked by one, being defended by the others. The Popes, who were not always the most virtuous of men, were the principal subjects of these satirical effusions.

The pasquinades were afterwards collected in two volumes, one containing the verse, and the other the prose lampoons. Every effort was made to suppress the work, and so successful were these exertions, that at one time, only a solitary copy remained in existence. This was purchased by Daniel Heinsius, who inscribed in it with his own hand, this stanza, commemorating its rarity, and the price it cost.

* There seems to be some dispute as to Pasquin's profession; D'Israeli, speaks of him as a knight of the thimble. The Encyclopedias maintain, that he was a cobbler. On the ground of analogy, I should be inclined to decide in favor of the latter, as I know of no tailor who ever attained any literary distinction, whereas there have been some cobblers, Gifford, for instance. "Sed non sit nostrum tantas componere lites."

"Roma meos fratres igni dedit; unica Phoenix,
Vivo, aureisque veneo centum Heinsio."*

"Rome burned my brothers, 1 alone remained,

Whom Heinsius for a hundred ducats gained."

But the work has since been multiplied, though it is still very

rare.

The following epigrams may serve as samples of these pasquinades.

Alexander VI, was supposed to have obtained the Popedom, by intrigue and bribery. After his elevation, he made no scruple to dispose of various ecclesiastical honors to the highest bidder. His conduct is thus ironically defended by Pasquin :

"Vendit Alexander claves, altaria, cœlum,t
Emerat ille prius: vendere jure potest."

"Our Alexander sells the keys, the altars, heaven and hell

He bought them first, and certainly he has a right to sell."

Leo X, was as we might suppose, a fertile subject for pasquinades. He was said to have died without receiving the sacrament. Hence the following sarcastic epigram:

"Sacra sub extremâ, si fortè requiritis horâ
Cur Leo non potuit sumere-Vendiderat."

""Tis said, that when Leo was dying,
The sacrament passed by his door:
Do you ask why he did not then take it?

Poor man! he had sold it before."

Dr. Curtius, who was supposed to have hastened the death of Clement VII, by his prescriptions, is thus eulogized:

"Curtius occidit Clementem; Curtius auro

Donandus, per quem publica parta salus."

"Pope Clement died at Curtius' hands; sure Curtius has deserved
Reward, as a good patriot, who well the state has served."‡

I suspect that D'Israeli, from whom this stanza is quoted, must have made some mistake in transcribing the second line. It should be a pentameter; but as it now stands, it is of no particular metre, that I can discover.

+ D'Iraeli has "Christum;" other authors quote the line as above.

A similar occurrence took place at the death of Adrian VI. Adrian was virtuous and upright to a surprising extent, considering the age in which he lived. Indeed it was said of him, that he was too good a man to be a good Pope. But his stern and inflexible integrity so little pleased the corrupt courtiers of his time, that after his demise, which was supposed to have been occasioned by a blunder of his physician, the following inscription was affixed to the door of the unlucky son of Galen:

"Patriæ suae Liberatori.

S. P. Q. R."

In an epigram on Paul III, whose progeny seems to have been as troublesome as himself, the people are advised to strike at the root of the evil :

"Papa Medusaeum caput est coma turba nepotum,

Perseu cæde caput; cæsaries periet."

"The Pope's Medusa's head; his sons the Gorgon locks supply;
Perseus cut off the head, and the locks are sure to die."

In another, the satirist intimates, that his silence would be particularly acceptable to the pontiff:

"Ut canerent data multa olim sunt Vatibus aera,

Ut taceam, quantum tu mihi, Paule, dabis?"

"In olden times by singing, did poets purses fill;

Pray how much will you give me, good Paul, for keeping still.”

Most courteous and respectable reader! if I can collect sufficient material, (which is rather doubtful,) I purpose to inflict upon you another number, next term, Editoribus volentibus. If I cannot, perhaps you will not be very sorry-so adieu for the present.