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was born September 29, 1649, at Fraustadt. Having acquired great skill in the languages and belles lettres, he was appointed professor of rhetoric at Breslau, afterwards principal of Magdalen college in that city, and, at length, librarian. Gryphius was a good orator and historian, a man of extensive learning, and an excellent German poet, which language he considerably improved. He was also a contributor to the Leipsic Journal. He died March 6, 1706, having just before his death heard a beautiful poem of his own writing, which had been set to music, performed in his chamber. The piece is said to have been admirably expressive of the consolations derived from our Saviour's death to a dying man. His works are, "A History of the Orders of Knighthood," in German, 1709, 8vo; "Poems," in German; among them, "Pastorals," 8vo; "The German Language formed by degrees, or, a treatise on the origin and progress of it," 8vo, in German, and a valuable posthumous work, entitled "Apparatus, sive Dissertatio Isagogica de Scriptoribus Historiam Seculi XVII illustrantibus," Leipsic, 1710, 8vo. '

GRYPHIUS (SEBASTIAN), a celebrated printer of Lyons, in France, was a German, and born at Suabia, near Augsburg, in 1493. He performed the duties of his profession with so much honour as to receive the approbation of the most learned men. Conrad Gesner has even dedicated one of his books, namely, the twelfth of his pandects, to him; and takes occasion to bestow the following praises on him: "You, most humane Gryphius, who are far from meriting the last place among the excellent printers of this age, came first into my mind: and especially on this account, because you have not only gained greater fame than any foreigner in France, by a vast number of most excellent works, printed with the greatest beauty and accuracy, but because, though a German, you seem to be a countryman, by your coming to reside among us." Baillet says,

that Julius Scaliger dedicated also to him his work "De Causis Linguæ Latine:" but this seems a mistake. Scaliger wrote a kind letter to Gryphius, which is printed at the head of the work but the dedication is to Silvius Scaliger, his eldest son, to whom he also addressed his "Ars Poetica." Gryphius is allowed to have restored the art of printing at Lyons, which was before exceedingly corrupted; 1 Moreri. Dict. Hist.-Niceron, vol. II.

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and the great number of books printed by him are valued by the connoisseurs. He printed many books in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, with new and very beautiful types; and his editions are no less accurate than beautiful. Hẹ was himself a very learned man, and perfectly versed in the languages of such books as he undertook to print. Vulteius, of Reims, an epigrammatist, has observed, that Robert Stephens was a very good corrector, Colinæus a very good printer, but that Gryphius was both an able printer and corrector.

"Inter tot norunt libros qui cudere, tres sunt
Insignes languet cætera turba fame.

Castigat Stephanus, sculpit Colinæus, utrumque
Gryphius edocta mente manuque facit."

He died in 1556, in his sixty-third year, and his trade was carried on honourably in the same city by his son, Anthony Gryphius. One of the most beautiful books of Sebastian Gryphius is a "Latin Bible," printed 1550, with the largest types that had then been seen, in 2 vols. fol. '

GUA (JOHN PAUL DE), a learned French abbé, prior of St. George de Vigou, a member of the royal society of London (1742) and of the French academy of sciences, was born in Languedoc, in 1712, and was the son of John de Gua, baron of Malves, whose property was swallowed up in the unfortunate Missisippi Scheme. He was educated for the church, but appears to have had less ambition for promotion in that, than to render himself distinguished for scientific knowledge. When admitted into the academy of sciences in 1741, he gave a specimen of his skill in mathematics by publishing "Usages de l'analyse de Descartes," and was the author of other papers on mathematical subjects in the Memoirs of the Academy, in one of which he endeavours to vindicate Descartes against our Wallis, who, in the abbe's opinion, wrote his history of algebra for no other purpose than to bestow upon his countryman Hariot, the discoveries that belong to Viete and Descartes. (See HARIOT.) The abbé was, however, chiefly distinguished in France for having first given the plan of the Encyclopedie, although he wrote very little in it. In 1764 he presented a plan for exploring the mines of Languedoc, and was the author of some other projects which

1 Gen Dict,-Moreri.

had little success. His necessities sometimes drove him to the business of translating for the booksellers. Among these publications we find bishop Berkeley's "Hylas and Philonous," "Locke's Essay," Anson's Voyage, and Decker on trade. He died at Paris, June 2, 1785, leaving the character of a man of considerable learning and industry, but not very happy in his temper, and often pursuing trifling difficulties, which he made a great merit in surmounting, such as complicated anagrams; and on one occasion, in consequence of a sort of challenge, he perplexed himself in writing a very long poem, in which words only of one syllable were admitted. "

GUADAGNOLO (PHILIP), an eminent Orientalist of Italy, was born about 1596, at Magliano. After going through his studies, he entered among the regular minor clerks, and made his profession at Rome in 1612. His genius prompted him to the study of languages, to which he devoted himself entirely; so that he acquired the Greek, Hebrew, Chaldean, Syriac, Persian, and Arabic languages, but excelled chiefly in the Arabic. He spent the greatest part of his life in translating books from that language, and in writing books in it, to facilitate the learning of it to others. He taught it many years in the college della Sapienza at Rome; and was indeed so perfect a master of it, that he spoke an oration in it before Christina, queen of Sweden, in 1656. The eastern prelates presented a petition to Urban VIII. to have the Bible translated into Arabic; and, the congregation "de propaganda fide" complying with their desires, Guadagnolo was immediately selected as the person best qualified to undertake this great work. He began it in 1622, and finished it in 1649; having, however, assistants under him, and sometimes only acting the part of a corrector. During the time that he was employed in it, he gave an account twice a week of what progress he had made to a congregation assembled for that purpose. It was published at Rome, 1671, in 3 vols. folio, with this title," Biblia Sacra Arabica Sacræ Congregationis de propaganda fide jussu edita ad usum ecclesiarum orientalium. Additis è regione Bibliis Vulgatis Latinis." In 1631 he published a Latin work entitled "Apologia pro Christiana Religione, qua respondetur ad objectiones Ahmed filii Zin Alabedin Persæ As

Eloges des Academiciens, vol. IV.-Dict. Hist.

phaensis contentas in libro inscripto, Politor Speculi,” 4to. The history of this work was as follows: A Spaniard had published a religious book entitled "The true Lookingglass;" which falling into the hands of a learned Persian, he wrote an answer to it in his native tongue, entitled "The Polisher of the Looking-glass;" and added these words at the end of it; "Let the pope answer it." This book being brought to Rome in 1625, Urban VIII. ordered Guadagnolo to refute it; which he did so effectually, that the Persian, to whom it was sent, renounced the Mahometan faith, and became as zealous a defender of Christianity as he had before been an opposer of it. Guadagnolo published his apology in Arabic, in 1637, 4to. He wrote another work in Arabic and Latin, entitled "Considerations against the Mahometan Religion;" in which he shews, that the Koran is a mere rhapsody of falsehood and imposture. He published also at Rome, in 1642, "Breves Institutiones Linguæ Arabicæ," folio; a very methodical grammar. He had also compiled a dictionary in that language, but the publication of it was prevented by his death, which happened in 1656. The MS. is preserved in the convent of San Lorenzo in Lucina. '

GUAGNINI (ALEXANDER), a native of Verona, where he was born in 1538, was naturalized in Poland, and made himself famous both by his sword and pen. He had considerable employments in the Polish armies; and having displayed his valour in the wars of Livonia and Moldavia, as well as those of Muscovy, was not only honoured with the indiginate, by which he ranked as a nobleman, in the reign of Sigismund Augustus, but also made governor of the fortress of Witebsk, where he commanded fourteen years. He at last devoted himself to literature, and drew up a history of Poland, under the title "Rerum Polonicarum Tomi Tres," Francfort, 1584, 8vo. He died at Cracow in 1614. He wrote also "Sarmatia Europeæ Descriptio," Spires, 1581.2

GUALDO PRIORATO (GALEASSO), an Italian bistorian, was born 1606, of a noble family at Vincenza. He was historiographer to the emperor, and distinguished himself in the seventeenth century by his historical works, written, in a very pleasing style, in Italian; the principal are, "History of the Wars of Ferdinand II. and Ferdinand 1 Niceron, vol. VII-Gen Dict.-Moreri. ? Gen. Dict.-Moreri,

III." from 1630 to 1640, fol.; "History of Leopold," from 1656 to 1670, 3 vols. fol.; "History of Troubles in France," from 1648 to 1654. The authors of the "Journal des Savans," March 16, 1665, said they had found as many errors as words in this work. But Gualdo, not discouraged by that censure, continued his History to the peace of the Pyrenees, and reprinted it with that addition at Cologn,、 1670. His "History of cardinal Mazarine's Administration" is much esteemed, and has been translated into French, 1671, 3 vols. 12mo; "The Life and Qualities" of the same cardinal, a valuable work, which appeared in French, 1662, 4to; "An account of the Peace of the Pyrenees;" the most ample edition is, Cologn, 1667, 12mo. This work is likewise much esteemed, and has been translated into Latin, and inserted in the fourth volume of the Public Law of the Empire, published at Francfort, 1710, It has been also translated into French. Gualdo died at Vincenza in 1678.

1

GUALTERUS (RODOLPHUS), an eminent Swiss divine, and one of the first reformers, was born at Zurich in 1529. In his youth he attained an accurate knowledge of Greek and Latin, and acquired much fame as an orator and Latin poet. He married the daughter of Zuinglius, and being admitted into orders, preached at Zurich from 1542 to 1575, when he was chosen to succeed Bullinger, as first minister of the protestant church there. His writings also, which consisted of homilies, or sermons on the prophets, evangelists, and apostles, procured him great fame both at home and abroad, and were long regarded as standard books among the protestant churches. He died Nov. 25, 1586. In the early part of queen Elizabeth's reign we find him corresponding with the English divines who had been exiles in the preceding reign, and brought over an attachment to the simple forms of the Genevan church, which Elizabeth wished to discourage. His works, as enumerated by Verheiden, consist of Latin poems, commentaries on various books of the Scripture, works on grammar and history, and some translations. His son, of the same names, spent some years in Merton college, Oxford, where he took his degree of M. A. in 1573, and returning to Zurich, became minister of St. Peter's church there. Wood

1 Niceron, vol. XXXIV,-Moreri.-Dict. Hist.--Clement Bibl. Curieuse. Saxji Onomast.

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