und by some good genius in
the library of the monastery at Lorsch by Simon Grynaeus,[113] a man at
once learned without arrogance in all branches of literature and at the
same time born for the advancement of liberal studies. Now this
monastery was built opposite Worms, or Berbethomagium, by Charlemagne
seven hundred years and more ago, and equipped with great store of
books; for this was formerly the special care of princes, and this is
usually the most precious treasure of the monasteries. The original
manuscript was one of marvellous antiquity, painted[114] in the antique
fashion with the letters in a continuous series, so that it has proved
very difficult to separate word from word, unless one is knowledgeable,
careful and trained for this very task. This caused much trouble in
preparing a copy to be handed to the printer's men for their use; a
careful and faithful watch was kept to prevent any departure from the
original in making the copy. So if the poor fragment which came to us
recently from Mainz was justly welcomed by scholars with great
rejoicing,[115] what acclamation should greet this large addition to
Livy's _History_?

Would to God that this author could be restored to us complete and
entire. There are rumours flying round that give some hope of this: men
boast of unpublished Liviana existing, now in Denmark, now in Poland,
now in Germany. At least now that fortune has given us these remnants
against all men's expectations, I do not see why we should despair of
the possibility of finding still more. And here, in my opinion at least,
the princes would be acting worthily if they offered rewards and
attracted scholars to the search for such a treasure, or prevailed upon
them to publish--if there are perchance any who are suppressing and
hiding away to the great detriment of studies something in a fit state
to be of public utility. For it seems perfectly absurd that men will dig
through the bowels of the earth almost down to Hades at vast peril and
expense in order to find a little gold or silver: and yet will utterly
disregard treasures of this kind, as far above those others in value as
the soul excels the body, and not consider them worth searching for.
This is the spirit of Midases, not of princes; and as I know that your
character is utterly at variance with this spirit, I doubt not that you
will most eagerly welcome this great gain. Now, there are chiefly two
considerations which remove all possible dou