whose shoulder he leans, is his son, Alexander, who is also very learned.
Before him is seated Abraham Ortelius, the great geographer, who is
regarded as the Ptolemy of his age. Beside Ortelius is his friend and
fellow-laborer Gerard, also a learned geographer, and one of the
luminaries of the day. The only one whose dress indicates his Italian
birth is Louis Guicciardini, a Florentine gentleman, who is here for the
purpose of collecting materials for an extensive work on the Low
Countries, and particularly on the powerful commercial city of Antwerp.
The gentleman plainly dressed, with a black beard, holding a book in his
hand, is Christopher Plantin; he is engaged in establishing at Antwerp a
printing-press of great importance. Its dimensions are so large that it
will occupy the ground on which several spacious houses now stand;
hundreds of workmen will be employed all day in composing, correcting, and
printing books in every civilized tongue. You must not fail, signor, to
visit the building; even in its unfinished state it will cause you
astonishment."

"The Netherlands is a favored country," said the old Deodati. "If the
climate is not as mild as in our own beautiful Italy, the men are bold,
active, intelligent, industrious, and learned, and they possess all the
qualifications requisite for the material prosperity and moral progress of
a nation. I am surprised to see you, who are a foreigner, as well
acquainted with the inhabitants as a native."

"I have lived here many years," replied Turchi. "These gentlemen are
frequent visitors at the house of Mr. Van de Werve, and I have seen them
so often, that I know them as old friends. Look at the corner near the
piano, where those collected together laugh merrily, jest, and chat
socially. You may easily recognize them by their light playful manners as
artists."

"Yes. Is not that handsome man with noble features Frans Floris, the
Flemish Raphael?"

"Yes; he was presented to you yesterday by Mr. Van de Werve, and you may
remember how enthusiastically he eulogized Italian art."

"Near him is a singular-looking person; his very attitude is amusing, and
his gestures force one to laugh."

"He is Peter Breughel, a humorist, who so designs his pictures that they
seem painted only by way of jest. He is, however, in good repute as an
artist. I saw recently one of his pictures in which he represents the
Saviour carrying his cross to Calvary. In this he represents pilgrims with