And I Finished Copying This At Cierreto Aforesaid, 12th November, A.D. 1392."

[22] Vulgar Errors, Bk.

I. ch. viii.; Astley's Voyages, IV. 583.

[23] A few years before Marsden's publication, the Historical branch of the R. S. of Science at Goettingen appears to have put forth as the subject of a prize Essay the Geography of the Travels of Carpini, Rubruquis, and especially of Marco Polo. (See L. of M. Polo, by Zurla, in Collezione di Vite e Ritratti d'Illustri Italiani. Pad. 1816.)

[24] See Staedtewesen des Mittelalters, by K. D. Huellmann, Bonn, 1829, vol. iv.

After speaking of the Missions of Pope Innocent IV. and St. Lewis, this author sketches the Travels of the Polos, and then proceeds: - "Such are the clumsily compiled contents of this ecclesiastical fiction (Kirchengeschichtlichen Dichtung) disguised as a Book of Travels, a thing devised generally in the spirit of the age, but specially in the interests of the Clergy and of Trade.... This compiler's aim was analogous to that of the inventor of the Song of Roland, to kindle enthusiasm for the conversion of the Mongols, and so to facilitate commerce through their dominions.... Assuredly the Poli never got further than Great Bucharia, which was then reached by many Italian Travellers. What they have related of the regions of the Mongol Empire lying further east consists merely of recollections of the bazaar and travel-talk of traders from those countries; whilst the notices of India, Persia, Arabia, and Ethiopia, are borrowed from Arabic Works.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 340 of 1256
Words from 92827 to 93077 of 342071