more tolerable; he was kindly received and patronized by Edward, retained for some time at his court, and afterwards allowed to pass into his native country. * Folengus, who published a collection Behold renowned Scotus take his stand Another from the east; another still Sails onwards from the south; and, last of Arrives the northern devil. By their aid mounts, Up he Cleaves the thin air, like shaft from Turkish bow, Eyes with contemptuous gaze the fading earth, Michael, after his long absence, appears to have arrived in Scotland at a critical conjuncture, when the nation was plunged into grief by the death of Alexander the Third, and it became necessary to send ambassadors to bring over from Norway the young queen Margaret, grand-daughter to the deceased monarch. † Sir Michael Scott, and Sir David Weems, were, by the Regents, appointed to proceed to Norway upon this important service. It is well known, that Edward the First, who intended to marry his eldest son to the heiress of Scotland, had the chief management of the negotiations with Eric, King of Norway, and the certainty of his previous intimate acquaintance with the English monarch, in common with the popular tradition upon the subject, render it extremely likely that this knightly personage of the same name was none other than the Wizard Michael Scott. His long residence abroad, united to his age and experience, peculiarly recommended him for such a foreign mission. § This was the last service in which we can trace his name, and it was a melan- A mimic ship. Look out. Where ocean's choly and unfortunate one. || The young queen sickened on her passage to Scotland, and died in Orkney, leaving her kingdom to be torn and distracted by the competition between Bruce and Baliol, and the perfidious intrigues of the royal umpire Edward, Michael did not live to see the miseries of his native country. He died soon after in the year 1292, after having attained to an extreme age. We have already seen that the magician obtained a niche in the Inferno of Dante. Quell' altro che ne fianchi e cosi poco Another poet of Italy, Theophilus • Maitland, Hist. Scot. Vol. I. p. 402. + Hailes's Annals, Vol. I. p. 237. Buchanan's Hist. Scot. Book VIII. And capricoles amongst the painted clouds. neck Next Of his dark courser, he will pluck the locks, verge Meets the blue sky, a whitening speck is seen, That nears and nears, her canvass spreads to heav'n, Fair blows the wind, and roaring thro' the wave, To farthest Ind; but this adventure needs Whom he must serve: now holding up to His scholar's cap, he mutters words of In the most peopled city: yet beware, Wynton, Let him not, trusting to the demon's power, Cross the white splendour of the sun, for there, Although no palpable substance is discerned, His shadow will betray him. Such is a free paraphrase of the verses of the pretended Merlin Coccaius. The supernatural power here ascribed to the magician's cap is not alone to be traced in the poem of the Mantuan Buffoon Folengus. The cantrips of the warlock's bonnet are recorded in many of the tales which still live amongst the peasantry of Scotland. + From the narrative which has been given of the life and writings of Michael Scott, he certainly appears to have been an extraordinary man. He lived in favour and friendship with three of the most warlike and power ful sovereigns in Europe. In a dark and ignorant age he was remarkable for his learning, and in times when, to travel in search of knowledge to distant countries, was a work of extreme danger, owing to the unlicensed manners of the feudal governments through which he passed, he had embarked in the perilous adventure, and had sought for knowledge in France, Italy, Germany, and Spain. He travelled, indeed, protected by the superstitious dread with which the vulgar regarded him, for he was universally reputed a magician, and many a fierce baron, who would have cared little to have robbed or murdered the defenceless son of science as he passed his castle, must have trembled beneath his steel coat when the Wizard declared his far-famed name, and threatened to make him feel its power. It is pleasant thus to see superstition, which, in later ages, has been the bane of knowledge, becoming, in these earlier and darker periods, the protectress of infant science; and we shall not wonder at the universality of the belief which then prevailed, that all superior knowledge was connected with preternatural powers, when we consider that it was the interest of the men of science to encourage a belief so conducive to their personal security. We do not take a fair method to estimate the talents of a sage of the thirteenth century, when we compare Merlini Coccaii Macaroniea, XVIII. p. 273. + See Notes to the Lay of the Last Minstrel. his works with the advanced state of human knowledge in our own times; for when we attend to the march of science, and pursue the links in the chain of discovery, a boy of the eighteenth might read a lecture to a sage This is of the sixteenth century. very evident, yet it is one of those truths generally admitted, yet, in forming our opinions, little acted on. To weigh the talents of Michael Scott, we must compare him with men of his own age, and estimate his powers by the state of science in the countries where he lived and wrote, and became celebrated. Appealing to such a criterion, the Scottish Wizard may hold his head very high amongst the philosophers and scholars of Europe. The author of Mensa Philosophica would be entitled at any literary banquet to take his seat amongst the most distinguished luminaries at the table. He was certainly the first who gave Aristotle in à Latin dress to the learned world I am aware that, if we may believe Trithemius, (See Brucker, Vol. III. p. 669,) Hermannus Contractus, a German philosopher of the eleventh century, had, at this earlier æra, translated some volumes of Aristotle from the Arabic into Latin, but these volumes do not now exist. Trithemius quotes Hermannus himself as the only authority for the fact, and the judicious Brucker is evidently very sceptical on the subject. Previous to the time of Michael Scott, Daniel Morlay had in the eleventh, and Robert of Reading in the twelfth century, addicted themselves to the study of the Arabian philosophy and literature. Both were Englishmen. Robert of Reading, after a life of travel and labour, in which he visited France, Italy, Dal matia, Greece, and Syria, returned from the East into Spain, and died Archdeacon of Pampeluna in the 1243. (Brucker, Vol. III. p. 682.) Daniel Morlay, a native of Norfolk, after having studied at Oxford and Paris, passed into Spain, and devoted himself to the mathematical sciences, and to the acquisition of the Arabic language at Toand Leland. But Morlay's works consist of ledo. A life of him is to be found in Bale some treatises on mathematical subjects, and a dissertation which seems to be of a geological description, entitled, De Inferiori, et De Superiori parte Mundi, and Robert of Reading wrote nothing but a collection of Epistles a Translation of the Koran, of which Huetius, De Claris Interpr. p. m.230, speaks with great contempt; and a Treatise on the Mahomedan Religion. I think, therefore, I am correct in saying that of the west. He was eminent as a mathematician and astronomer,learned in the languages of modern Europe, deeply skilled in Arabic and in the sciences of the East, he had risen to high celebrity as a phy sician, and his knowledge of courts and kings had recommended him to be employed in a diplomatic capacity by his own government. Nor has he been cheated of his fame. If we look to older authors, he lives in the pages of Roger Bacon, of Ficus Mirandula, of Cornelius Agrippa, in the lucubrations of Gesner, of Naudeus, of Leland, in the works of Bale, of Dempster, of Pitseus, of Baconthorpius. If we ask for his historical immortality, he is commemorated by Boece and by Leslie. If for his poetic honours;-has not Dante snatched him from oblivion, and our own great minstrel embalmed him in the unperishable substance of his first and most romantic poem ? Nay, if he seeks for more popular and wider honour, even here he may not complain; while his miracles and incantations are still recorded beside the cottage fire by many a grey-headed crone, and his fearful name still banishes the roses from the cheeks of the little audience that surround her. Fortunate, too, he was in this circumstance, that, after his various travel and long residence abroad, he returned to enjoy, in his native country, the reputation which he had acquired, that he lived to a great age, and died full of years and of honour. His books, we are informed by Dempster, * after his death, were carefully Michael Scott's was the first Latin version of any work of Aristotle, which, since the few fragments published by Boethius, had appeared in the west of Europe. The ce lebrated and unfortunate Boethius, the author of that elegant little work, De Consolatione Philosophiæ, worthy almost of the Augustan age, translated into Latin, in the fifth century, that part of the works of Aristotle which embraces the subject of the Categories, and had formed the design of completing a Latin version of the whole works of this philosopher. But his untimely condemnation and death put an end to this noble plan. Dempster, Historia Ecclesiastica, B. xii. No. 940. It was formerly stated that there was no authority in Dempster, Boece, or Lesley, for calling Michael Scott the proprietor of Balwerie, and these are the only authors quoted by Mackenzie when he affirms that concealed from the public view,and he adds, that the common people of Scotland, even in his time, believed that these forbidden volumes, containing the spells of the magician, were protected by the invisible demons who had once been the servants of their illustrious author. W. Bright sleeps the moonbeam on Venetian seas, Forget your songs, ye Children of the Sea, THE name of Venice-that name to which the associated recollections of History, Poetry, and Romance, have attached so peculiar and powerful charm-has lost none of its claims upon the feelings and imagination from the state of decay into which the fairy city" of the Adriatic is now so rapidly sinking. Its fading splen dours, "like setting suns, or music at the close," become still more endear ed to us, from the probability that even their faint remaining traces will ere long be wholly obliterated. The song of the Gondolier-the glittering streamers of the Bucentaur-the princely merchants of the Rialto-the enchanted palaces of St Mark's-will soon be remembered only in the creations of fiction, and will be considered as completely the characteristics of a departed time and a vanished system-as the stately magnificence of a Roman triumph, or the gorgeous masques and tournaments of chivalry. he was born at his paternal residence of Balwerie in Fife. I have since found, however, that, at Louvain, in 1487, was pub lished," Michaelis Scoti de Balwerie de Procuratione et Hominis Phisionomia." This is the only authority I have seen for calling him Scott of Balwerie. He is plain Michael Scotus in Rymer. Under these impressions, every memorial of a city, whose "thirteen hundred years of freedom done," have left scarcely a vestige of their romantic glory, possesses additional value and importance. The work of which we are about to introduce a specimen is intended to retrace those splendid national Festivals, established by the policy of the Venetian Republic, in commemoration of its triumphs, and in honour of its heroes. As a record of customs and institutions, equally distinguished by their peculiarity, and remarkable in their result, and as a tribute of patriotic affection to the memory of a fallen country, it cannot fail to interest our readers. It is the production of a Venetian lady, who has shared the decay, as her noble ancestors formerly contributed to the glory, of her native city. She is thus mentioned by Mr Rose in his "Letters from the North of Italy." "Yet a little, and Venice will be a Baby Babylon, with the substitution of the gull for the bittern, and the porpoise for the fox. Should you be desirous of raking for riches amidst her rubbish, read the Teste Veneziane, lately published, by La Dama Renier Michiel. This lady has, in her description of the Venetian Festivals, put together much that is curious and interesting, and, having formed a chaplet out of relics long trampled in the dust, hung it up on the altars of her country, in a spirit that would not have mis-seemed the most illustrious of her ancestry." The following words, concluding the author's interesting preface, will give an idea of the deep, though suppressed, feelings with which this work was undertaken. "I have endeavoured, with the most scrupulous attention, to render my style calm and simple, in order that the truth may appear in its natural colours; but if, notwithstanding my efforts, the ebullitions of a patriotic heart have sometimes escaped restraint, I entreat the reader to look upon them as flowers bathed with tears, shed by the most devoted daughter over the grave of the beloved mother whom she has seen expire." We give the following extracts from this lady's description of the celebrated Venetian festival called the Fête of Marriages. It appears that it was formerly the custom to solemnize all the nuptials of the Republic on the same day, and in the same church. "This day was the 2d February, and VOL. VII. the church, that of St Peter de Castello, then called Olivolo. Thither each bride repaired, carrying her moderate dowry in a little casket called Arcella, for in those happy times of innocence and simplicity, husbands and wives were not obtained by for their future husbands, who came ac riches. The brides waited in the church companied by their relations, their friends, and a crowd of spectators. They all assisted at mass, which was celebrated by the bishop, who afterwards preached a sermon on the sanctity of the engagement which the affianced pairs were about to contract. He then consecrated their vows, by bestowing the Episcopal benediction on each couple in turn. When these ceremonies were completed, the bridegrooms took their partners by the hand, and after having received the Arcellu, returned to their own houses, accompanied by the joy ous train who had followed them to the church. The rest of the day was passed in feasting and dancing, but these amusements were still characterized by frugality and simplicity. When the constitution of the Republic was settled, and a Doge established as its chief Magistrate, the city ha ving increased in riches and population, it was resolved to bestow additional brilliance and magnificence upon this ceremony. A decree was passed, that twelve young wobeauty, selected from the poorest families, men of irreprochable conduct, and eminent should be portioned by the Republic, and should repair to the altar, accompanied by the Doge, arrayed in his royal mantle, and followed by his illustrious train. It was then that the ornaments of the brides be came more splendid and costly, though* they still retained the modest simplicity of their robes, which were all white, as well as the veil thrown negligently from the head over the shoulders. The hair and neck were, however, decorated with gold, pearls, and diamonds. Those who had not the means of appearing so richly deck. ed out, did not disdain to borrow for the day, the jewels, and even the golden crown, placed upon the head to distinguish the brides. Those who were portioned by the state were decked, by the care of the go. vernment, in the same manner; but as soon as the fete was over, they were cbliged to restore all their ornaments, not having liberty to retain any thing more than their simple dowry. The additional pomp, however, rendered this interesting institution much more striking and beautiful. But an event, which happened about the year 944, gave a new character to this festival. The pirates of Trieste, always eager for plunder, jealous of the rising power of Venice, and enraged at the glory acquired by the Venetians from continual triumphs over them, had formed a plot unequalled in cruelty and treachery. To insure its success, they hid themselves in their barks, the night before the grand fete of marriages, and placed themselves in ambush behind the Island of Olivolo. In the morning, when all the people were assembled in the church for the ceremony, these pirates crossed the canal with the rapidity of lightning; landed sword in hand; rushed instantly into the sanctuary through every passage; dragged the young brides from the altar; and having secured them and their caskets, returned to their barks, and immediately set sail. What could be done by the peaceable inhabitants of the Venetian islands, who had at the moment no arms to defend themselves, but festoons of laurel and garlands of flowers? "Candian III., who was then Doge, indignant at the shameful outrage which had just been perpetrated in his presence, was the first to rush out of the temple; and, followed by the bridegrooms and all the attendants, he traversed every quarter of the city, summoning all the citizens, and rousing every heart to revenge. A great number of barks were immediately assembled, filled with brave and indignant combatants, at the head of whom the Doge placed himself. Heaven and justice were favourable to the champions of so just a cause; a fair wind swelled their sails, and they overtook the ruffians near Caorle, where they were disputing together on the shore of a little port, respecting the division of the females and the plunder. The Venetians did not lose an instant, but attacked, fought, and vanquished them. Not a single enemy escaped, and the Doge, whose vengeance was not yet satiated, ordered all their bodies to be thrown into the sea, in order to deprive them of the rites of sepulture. To perpetuate the memory of this event, he called this little port the Port of the Virgins, which name it still retains. The Venetians then set sail to return home; the brides were brought back in triumph, and all restored, uncontaminated, to the arms of their mothers. Every heart was elate with joy, and the happy people all congratulated each other on an event which had so greatly added to the glory of the nation. The sacred ceremony recommenced, hymns of gratitude were mingled with songs of joy, and the youth ful brides felt additional pride and happiness, in belonging to men who had just defended them so valiantly, and acquired new and more powerful claims to their affection and esteem. The nation decreed unanimously, that this ever-memorable exploit should be commemorated every year at the same epoch; and as the company of the Casselleri, (a sort of joiners,) who principally belonged to the parish of St Maria Formosa, had furnished the greatest number of barks, and had contributed the most essentially, by their zeal and promptitude, to the success of the en terprise, the government gave them the "With regard to the festival, it was no longer called that of marriages, but of the Marias.' It is not known whether the nuptials continued, from that time, to be celebrated in the same manner as formerly. This, however, is certain, that to the last days of the Republic, marriages in Patrician families were solemnized with so much pomp, and so great a concourse of people, that each wedding-day might be considered as the day of a national jubilee. We are ignorant why the name of the Marias was given to this fete, for no historian has assigned a reason. May we not suppose, that it was because most of the young women who were carried away bore that name, which is still very common in Venice, and was even more so in ancient times? Perhaps, also, it might be because the ceremonies of the fete concluded with a visit to St Maria Formosa, which was then the only church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. However this may be, the fete was at first distinguished only by the gratitude and devotion of the good islanders, so that its fame did not extend beyond the narrow limits within which it was celebrated; but at length it became so renowned for its magnificence, that strangers thronged from all countries to behold it. It was no longer restricted to a single day, but prolonged during eight successive ones; and animated with an enthusiasm of gaiety, which justly entitled it to the notice of many writers, who, making use of the Latin tongue, have given it the name of Ludi Mariani, in imitation of the |