THE SEVERAL EDITIONS OF THESE TRAVELS.
We have already shown that this work was originally written in Latin,
and if not by the author's hand, at least from his mouth; but after
the Italian version that was made of it, the copies of the Latin
manuscript became extremely rare, insomuch that the Italian
translation was taken for the original. One Francis Pepin, a monk,
translated it into Latin, and abridged it at the command of his
superiors; and it is a copy of this manuscript that is in the library
of the King of Prussia. It was printed at Basil by the care of the
celebrated Reinecius, and afterwards in other places. It was from
one of these copies that it was translated by Hakluyt, of which
Purchas so heavily, and at the same time so justly, complains.
Ramusio took a great deal of pains, as well in restoring the sense of
the text of our author, as in justifying his character, and
supporting the credit of his work by his learned discourses. He was
assisted therein by a copy of the original Latin manuscript, which
was lent him by his friend Signior Chisi, without which it had been
impossible for him to have brought, it into so good order as we now
see it.
There has been, besides the translations already mentioned, at least
two in the German language. It was printed in Portuguese at Lisbon
in 1502, and it has been several times translated into Dutch. I have
been the more particular in the account of these additions and
translations because they differ very much from each other; so that
the only way to come at a complete view of the author, is by
collecting and comparing these; a work of infinite pains and labour,
in which, however, we have the assistance of Andrew Müller, a learned
German critic, and of Peter Bergeron, a Frenchman, who, next to
Ramusio, was, of all others, the most capable of such an undertaking,
and has succeeded in it the best.
There was, however, one thing wanting, which was the justifying the
dates, verifying the facts, and explaining the obscure names of
places which occur in these travels, and this we have done to the
best of our ability in this translation, so that the reader may be
satisfied that he has the work of this ancient writer as entire, and
in as good condition as it was in our power to give it him.