of
Armenian at the Ecole des Langues Orientales.--H. C.]

[17] _Zacher, Forschungen zur Critik, &c., der Alexandersage_, Halle,
1867, p. 108.

[18] Even so sagacious a man as Roger Bacon quotes the fabulous letter of
Alexander to Aristotle as authentic. (_Opus Majus_, p. 137.)

[19] _J. As._ ser. VI. tom. xviii. p. 352.

[20] See passage from Jacopo d'Acqui, supra, p. 54.

[21] It is the transcriber of one of the Florence MSS. who appends this
terminal note, worthy of Mrs. Nickleby:--"Here ends the Book of Messer
M. P. of Venice, written with mine own hand by me Amalio Bonaguisi
when Podesta of Cierreto Guidi, to get rid of time and _ennui_. The
contents seem to me incredible things, not lies so much as miracles;
and it may be all very true what he says, but I don't believe it;
though to be sure throughout the world very different things are found
in different countries. But these things, it has seemed to me in
copying, are entertaining enough, but not things to believe or put any
faith in; that at least is my opinion. And I finished copying this at
Cierreto aforesaid, 12th November, A.D. 1392."

[22] _Vulgar Errors_, Bk. I. ch. viii.; _Astley's Voyages_, IV. 583.

[23] A few years before Marsden's publication, the Historical branch of
the R. S. of Science at Goettingen appears to have put forth as the
subject of a prize Essay the Geography of the Travels of Carpini,
Rubruquis, and especially of Marco Polo. (See _L. of M. Polo_, by
_Zurla_, in _Collezione di Vite e Ritratti d'Illustri Italiani_. Pad.
1816.)

[24] See _Staedtewesen des Mittelalters_, by _K. D. Huellmann_, Bonn, 1829,
vol. iv.

After speaking of the Missions of Pope Innocent IV. and St. Lewis,
this author sketches the Travels of the Polos, and then proceeds:--
"Such are the clumsily compiled contents of this ecclesiastical
fiction (_Kirchengeschichtlichen Dichtung_) disguised as a Book of
Travels, a thing devised generally in the spirit of the age, but
specially in the interests of the Clergy and of Trade.... This
compiler's aim was analogous to that of the inventor of the Song of
Roland, to kindle enthusiasm for the conversion of the Mongols, and so
to facilitate commerce through their dominions.... Assuredly the Poli
never got further than Great Bucharia, which was then reached by many
Italian Travellers. What they have relat