e works of classic authors on architecture and sculpture.
But no testimony to his literary habits can be more satisfactory than
that of his librarian, Vespasiano, to the following purpose. The Duke
was a ready Latin scholar, and extremely fond of ancient history. As a
logician he had attained considerable aptitude, having studied
Aristotle's _Ethics_ along with Maestro Lazzaro, a famous theologian,
who became Bishop of Urbino, discussing with him the most intricate
passages. By the like process he mastered the Stagirite's politics,
physics, and other treatises; and having acquired more philosophy than
any contemporary prince, his thirst for new sources of knowledge induced
him to devote himself to theology with equal zeal. The principal works
of St. Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus were habitually read to him; he
preferred the former as more clear, but admitted that the latter
displayed more subtlety in argument. He was well acquainted with the
Bible, as well as the commentaries of Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine,
and Gregory; also with the writings of the Greek fathers, such as Saints
Basil, Chrysostom, Gregory Naziazen, Nicetas, Athanasius, and Cyril.
Among the classic authors whom he was in the habit of reading or
listening to were Livy, Sallust, Quintus Curtius, Justin, Caesar,
Plutarch, AElius Spartianus, AEmylius Protus, Tacitus, Suetonius,
Eusebius. All men of letters visiting Urbino were hospitably
entertained, and several were always attached to his court. His
largesses to such were at all times liberal. He spent above 1500 ducats
in this way when at Florence, and remitted similar bounties to Rome and
Naples. He gave 1000 ducats to the learned Campano, professor of
belles-lettres at Perugia in 1455, who aided him in collecting ancient
MSS., and became Bishop of Teramo.'[70]

FOOTNOTES:

[66] Dennistoun, _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_, vol. i., p. 155.

[67] _Ibid._, vol. i., pp. 156-7.

[68] _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_, vol. i., pp. 153-5.

[69] _Ibid._, vol. i., p. 154.

_Pieresc._

'When any library was to be sold by public outcry, he took care to buy
the best books, especially if they were of some neat edition that he did
not already possess. He bound his books in red morocco, with his cypher
or initials in gold. One binder always lived in the house, and sometimes
several were employed at once "when the books came rolling in on every
side."' 'Your house and library' (says the dedicatio