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The XLVI. ADVERTISEMENT.
The tenth of June is observed as a sad and mournful day in Parnassus; in memory of the unfortunate loss of the De∣cads of Titus Livy.
YEsterday which was the tenth of Iune, was (according to custom) observed as a day of mourning in Pernassus; for that on that un∣fortunate day, by the burning of the Library in the Capitol, the great∣est part of Livies Decads were lost; which loss is bitterly bewayled, and will ever be so by all the lovers of learning. On which day, in sign of extraordinary sorrow, the Royal Palace dis-robes it self of all its Majesty: and together with all publick Schools, and chief Market places, is lined with mourning Bays; and the very Delphick Library, (a thing not done upon any other sad occasion) is shut up all that day. Honorable Obsequies were made to so famous writings; and the Cere∣mony being ended, Rafael Volaterano in a mournful Oration lamented so great a loss: and just as he was in the height of his inveighing against the ignorance of those sacrilegious persons, it happened that a nimble Poet, were it either out of meer compunction of mind, or that he would purchase reputation, by shewing the whole Colledge of Vertuosi, how very sensible he was of that loss, broke forth into so loud lamenta∣tions, as the Orator could be no longer heard, and not being able to quiet himself, though he was willed to do so by the Censors; Apollo who was present at the Obsequies, and who upon this mournful occasi∣on had covered himself with a dark Cloud, being impatient to hear that noise, and that he might the better behold his face who wept so down∣rightly, by the violence of his beams rarifyed the Cloud, and found it to be Caesar Caporali, who not caring to see the yet remaining Decads of that admirable writer, did with such lamentations bewayl those that were lost: which extraordinary affection caused so lowd a laughter in all the standers by, as Volaterrano's Oration, which in the midst thereof was interrupted by the general lamentings of the Literati, could not be ended by reason of every ones great laughter.