Ritters vii landtfarers herre Ludowico Vartomans vo Bolonia Sagend von den landen, Egypto, Syria, von beiden Arabia, Persia, India, vnd Ethiopia, von den gestalten, sitten vnd dero menschen leben vnd glauben. Auch von manigerley thieren, voglen vnd vil andern in den selben landen seltzamen wunderbar- liclien sachen. Das alles er selbs erfaren vnd in eygner person gesehe hat.
Colophon.—Auss Welscher zungen in Teutsch transffe- riert. Unnd selighlichen volendet unnd getruckt in des Keyserliche Freystat Strassburg. Durch den Ersame Jo- hannem Knobloch, Als man zalt vo der geburt Christi unsers herre MCCCCCXVJ. Jar. 4°.
This edition contains 113 unnumbered leaves. Signatures A ij to X. v.
A copy is in the British Museum.
Both these editions are copiously illustrated with engravings on wood.
Panzer (Annalen der älteren Deutschen Literatur, p. 421,) gives the following: —
"3. Die Rittertich vnd lobwirdig raiss des gestregen vnd über all ander weyt erfarnen ritters vn landfarers, herren Ludowico Vartomans von Bolonia. Sagent vo den landen Egipto. Syria, vo bayden Arabia. Persia. India, vn Ethiopia. Das alles er selbs erfaren vnd gesehen hat." Colophon.— " Getrucht in der kaiserlichen stat Augspurg, in der jar zal Christi M.D.XVIII." 4°.
Panzer is of opinion that this translation may have
xii PREFACE.
been made by Michael Herr. It will be shown, however, hereafter, that this cannot have been the case. It was reprinted at Augsburg in 1530.
In 1532 Simon Grynæus published at Basle, in folio, a collection of Voyages and travels, under the title, "Novus orbis regionum ac insularum veteribus incognitarum una cum tabula cosmographica et aliquot aliis consimilis argumenti libellis," in which he included the Latin translation of Varthema. This collection was translated into German by Michael Herr, under the title, " Die New "Welt," and printed at Strasburg in 1534. In the introductory epistle to Regnart Count of Hanau, he says, that if he had met with the German translation of Varthema (whom he calls Varthoman) before he had made his own, he should have been glad to have been spared his trouble. It is clear, therefore, that Herr did not make the German translation published in 1515 and 1516. Herr's translation was executed from the Latin— that of 1515 from the Italian.
Another translation by Hieronymus Megiserus, historiographer of the Elector of Saxony, was printed at Leipzig in 1610, with the following title:—
"4. Hodeporicon Indiæ Orientalis; das ist, Warhafftige Beschreibung der ansehlich Lobwürdigen Reyss, Welche der Edel gestreng und weiterfahrne Bitter, H. Ludwig di Barthema von Bononien aus Italia bürtig, Inn die Orienta- lische und Morgenländer, Syrien, beide Arabien, Persien, und Indien, auch in Egypten und Ethyopien, zu Land und Wasser persönlich verrichtet: Neben eigentlicher Vermel- dung Vielerley Wenderbahren Sachen, so er darinnen gesehen und erfahren, Alss da seynd manigfaltige sorten
PREFACE. xii
von Thieren unci Gewächsen,Dessgleichen allerhand Volcker sitteu, Leben, Polycey, Glauben, Ceremoinen unci gebräuch, sampt anderer seltzamen denckwürdigen dingen, daselbst zu sehen: Und endlich, Was er für angst, noht und gefahr in der Heidenschafft vieler ort aussgestanden: Alles von jhme H.Barthema selber in ItalianischerSprach schrifftlich verfasst und nu aus dem Original mit sonderm fleiss verdeutscht: Mit Kupferstücken artlich geziert, und auffs new in Truck verfertiget: Durch Hieronymum Megiserum. Leipzig. 1610. 8 ."
This edition is copiously illustrated with maps and plans engraved on copper by H. Gross. A copy is in the British Museum.
Ternaux Compans has inserted in his Bibliotheque the title of an edition of Megeserus's translation, printed at Augsburg in 4° in 1608. This date may be correct, as the preface to the edition of 1610 is dated 1 October 1607. He also mentions an edition printed at Francfort by H. Gulferichen in 1548. An edition was also printed at Leipzig in 1615.
Spanish.
The first edition of the Spanish translation was printed in 1520, and the translator, Christoval de Arcos, informs us that he made it from the Latin version, because he could not procure the Italian. He recommends those who doubt the truth of Var- thema's relation to go and see for themselves; and to those who may find fault with his translation, he ex- cuses himself on account of the obscurity of the Latin from which it was made. The title is : —
Itinerario del venerable varon micer Luis patricio ro-
xiv PREFACE.
mano: en el qual cueta mucha parte de la ethiopia Egipto: y entrabas Arabias: Siria y la India. Buelto de latin en romance por Christoual de arcos clerigo. Nuncia hasta aqui impresso en lengua castellana.
Colophon. Fue impressa la presente obra enla muy noble y leal cuidad Seuillapor Jacobo croberger aleman. Enel ano dela encarnaciom del senor de Mill y quincentos y veynte. Fol.
This edition consists of fifty-four numbered leaves (from II to LV), besides the title, and also the colo- phon, which is printed on a separate leaf. The book is printed in double columns. Signatures a iii to g v.
A copy of this edition is in the Grenville Library. Brunet states that this translation was reprinted at Seville in 1523 and 1576 in folio, and Ternaux Com- pans mentions an edition printed at Seville in 1570.
French.
No separate translation into French has been pub- lished of this work, but a French translation is printed in the "Description de l'Afrique, tierce partie du monde contenant ses royaumes, regions, viles, cités, chateaux et forteresses: iles, fluves, animaux tant aquatiques que terrestres, &c. Escrite de notre tems par Jean Leon, Africain." Tome second: "Conte- nant les Navigations des capitaines Portugalois et autres faites audit pais, jusques aux Indes, tant orientales que Occidentals, parties de Perse, Arabie Heureuse, pierreuse et deserte. . . . L'assiette desdits pais, iles, royaumes et empires: Les figures, habits, religion et facon de faire des habitans et autres sin- gularités cy devant incogneues." Lyons, 1556. Fol.
PREFACE. xv
Dutch.
The Novus Orbis of Grynæus was again translated, and this time into Dutch by Cornelis Ablijn, and printed at Antwerp in 1563 in folio. The translator addresses his work to William Prince of Orange, and, speaking of the original, announces his own labours in the following words:—
"Dwelek ich Cornells Ablijn openbaer notarius resi- derende inder vermaerder coopstadt van Antwerpen. door bede van sommige vrienden wt der Hoochduytscher in deser Nederduytscher oft Brabantsche taelen getranslateert ende oveghesedt hebbe."
This translation, therefore, is further removed from the original than any of the others. The privilege is dated 1561.
De uytnemende en seer wonderlijcke zee-en-Landt-Reyse vande Heer Ludowyck di Barthema, van Bononien, Ridder, &c., gedaen Inde Morgenlanden, Syrien, Vrughtbaer en woest Arabien, Perssen, Indien, Egypten, Ethiopien, en andere. Uyt bet Italiens in Hoogh-duyts vertaelt door Hieronymum Megiserium, Cheur-Saxsens History schrijver. En vyt den selven nu eerstmael in't nederdcuyts gebracht door. F. S. Tot Utrecht, 1654. 4°.
A copy of this edition is in the British Museum.
Meusel,
