of Bobbio. The Pere Jacob
in his treatise upon famous libraries had some personal anecdote to
record about the bookmen of each place that he visited. At Naples he saw
the collection of the works of Pontanus, presented to the Dominicans by
his daughter Eugenia; at Bologna he found a long roll of the Pentateuch,
'written by Esdras'; and at Ferrara he described the tomb of Coelius, who
was buried among his books, at his own desire, like a miser in the midst
of his riches.

Ferrara derived a special fame from the munificence of the House of Este
and the memory of Olympia Morata. A long line of illustrious princes had
built up 'an Athens in the midst of Boeotia.' Ariosto sang the praises of
the literary Court, and Tasso's misfortunes were due to his eagerness in
accepting its pleasures. The library of Lilio Giraldi was a meeting-place
for the scholars of Italy, and it continued to be the pride of Ferrara
when it passed to Cinthio Giraldi the poet. Renee of France, after the
death of her husband, Duke Hercules, made Ferrara a city of refuge for
Calvin and Marot and the fugitive Reformers from Germany. Olympia
Morata, the daughter of a Protestant citizen, was chosen as the companion
and instructress of the Princess Anna. They passed a quiet life among
their books until a time of persecution arrived, when Olympia found a
hope of safety in marrying Andrew Grundler of Schweinfurt. Her love for
books appears in the letters written towards the close of her life. In
1554 she tells Curio of the storming of Schweinfurt, where she lost her
library: 'when I entered Heidelberg barefoot, with my hair down, and in a
ragged borrowed gown, I looked like the Queen of the Beggars.' 'I hope,'
she said, 'that with the other books you will send me the Commentary on
Jeremiah.' Her friend answers that Homer and Sophocles are on their way:
'and you shall have Jeremiah too, that you may lament with him the
misfortunes of your husband's country.' Olympia replied from her
death-bed, returning her warmest thanks for the books. 'Farewell,
excellent Curio, and do not distress yourself when your hear of my death.
I send you such of my poems as I have been able to write out since the
storming of Schweinfurt; all my other writings have perished; I hope that
you will be my Aristarchus and will polish the poems; and now again,
Farewell.'

The Ducal Library of Ferrara was transferred to Modena when the Duchy was
added to the States of the Church. The collectio