In many ways greatest of all was Conrad Gesner, whose mors
inopinata at forty-nine, bravely fighting the plague, is so touchingly
and tenderly mourned by his friend Caius.(2) Physician, botanist,
mineralogist, geologist, chemist, the first great modern bibliographer,
he is the very embodiment of the spirit of the age.(2a) On the flyleaf
of my copy of the "Bibliotheca Universalis" (1545), is written a fine
tribute to his memory. I do not know by whom it is, but I do know from
my reading that it is true:
(*) Cf. Osler: Thomas Linacre, Cambridge University Press,
1908.--Ed.
(2) Joannis Caii Britanni de libris suis, etc., 1570.
(2a) See J. C. Bay: Papers Bibliog. Soc. of America, 1916, X,
No. 2, 53-86.
"Conrad Gesner, who kept open house there for all learned men who came
into his neighborhood. Gesner was not only the best naturalist among the
scholars of his day, but of all men of that century he was the pattern
man of letters. He was faultless in private life, assiduous in study,
diligent in maintaining correspondence and good-will with learned men in
all countries, hospitable--though his means were small--to every scholar
that came into Zurich. Prompt to serve all, he was an editor of other
men's volumes, a writer of prefaces for friends, a suggestor to young
writers of books on which they might engage themselves, and a great
helper to them in the progress of their work.
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