Tacitus and Bracciolini
THE ANNALS FORGED IN THE XVth CENTURY.
by JOHN WILSON ROSS (1818-1887)
Originally published anonymously in 1878.
Non ulli Tacitus patuit manifestius unquam.
SOSSAGO. Epigrammata.
Excellentissimum Poggium, immortalem quidem virum, sed prope
hac aetate sepultum, redivivium donaveris nobis.
BICCIONI. Epistola Hyacintho de Lan inscripta.
Is … reliquit, quae et facundiam, et mirificam ingenii
facilitatem ostendunt. Tendebat toto animo, et quotidiano
quodam usu ad EFFINGENDUM … Sed habet hoc dilucida illa
divini hominis in dicendo copia, ut estimanti se imitabilem
praebeat, experienti spem imitationis eripiat. Eam
igitur dicendi laudem POGGIUS si non facultate, at certe
voluntate complectebatur. Scripsit … Historiam …
magnuum munus.
PAOLO CORTESE (Bishop of Urbino). De Hominibus Doctis.
Quaestio … contra communem totius orbis traditionem ac fidem,
contra tot historicocum … nemine contradicente, consensum,
demum agitari coepta est; et a nobis … tam abunde ventilate,
ut magis copia quam inopia laborare videamur.
GISBERT VOET. Spicilegium ad Disceptationem Historicam de
Papissa Johanna.
I Dedicate to My Esteemed and Estimable Brother Robert Dalrymple Ross
This Research
into
The Authorship of the Annals of Tacitus
AS A VERY SLIGHT TOKEN OF MY AFFECTION AND ALSO OF MY ADMIRATION FOR HIS RARE ASSEMBLAGE OF QUALITIES LOFTY MORAL RECTITUDE THE KINDLIEST FEELINGS OF THE HEART DEVOTION TO HIGH OCCUPATION APTITUDE FOR BOOKS AS FOR AFFAIRS AND A REFINED ENLIGHTENMENT TO APPRECIATE THE GENIUS OF TACITUS AND OF BRACCIOLINI AND FULLY TO APPREHEND AN INVESTIGATION UNDERTAKEN IN THE TRUE INTERESTS OF HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE.