of the warlike
Romans. The latter is seen in the occasional, mostly well chosen,
technical terms, the insertion of short speeches, and the concise,
graphic mode of representation. The defective knowledge of geography
displayed need not be wondered at, since maps, those indispensable
helps, were wholly wanting in that age. In his eyes the Romish church
is surrounded with the highest glory, and its sacred head, the Pope,
worthy of reverence almost divine. He regards the expedition to Pavia
as lawful, exults with national pride in the laurels won, and even the
sight of disorders among the haughty conquerors appears to make only a
transient impression upon him. But with keen glance he discovers the
moving spring of the diplomatic transactions, the elements of discord,
and the quarter, from which the most destructive inroads on the life of
the republic were to be feared.

For two years it had become plain to him, with what danger this impure
game of false statesmanship, this system of bribes, frauds, flatteries,
and intimidations threatened the Confederacy, exposed to it on all
sides. Two poems, written about the year 1510 or 1511, "The Labyrinth"
and "A poetic Fable concerning an Ox and several Beasts," are to be
received partly as pictures of the time, and partly as lessons of
warning. Vigorous, rich in thought, original in conception, but
somewhat rude in language, they exhibit a row of well-drawn single
figures, without light and shade, rather than a group disposed by art,
and owe more to the exercise of the understanding than to the impulses
of the imagination. They deserve to be handed down to posterity only as
the productions of an author, who has done greater things. The second
winds up in the following nervous style:

"Where Bribery can show its face,
There Freedom has no dwelling place.
And such a blessing Freedom is,
That boldly Sparta, as we wis,
Unto Hydarmes gave reply:
'Freedom must stand by Bravery
Sheltered and guarded evermore.'
Amid the bloody ranks of war,
Amid the fearful dance of death,
Let gleaming swords drawn from the sheath,
And sharp-edged spears and axes be
Thy guardians, golden liberty.
But, where a brutish heart is met
And by a tempting bribe beset,
There noble Freedom, glorious boon!
And name and blood of friends too soon
Are cheaply prized and rudely torn
The oaths in the holy