Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 662

1841.

A New History of China.

645

ed, and daily make and translate into the Chinese language, which are esteemed and admired by the Chinese themselves. Such as are those books which father Matthew Ricci composed upon our sacred law, and upon several other subjects. Of whom the Chinese speak to this day as of a prodigy of knowledge, and all sorts of knowledge: so that there is not any person of quality in the empire that does not know and speak of him with applause. The learned quote him in their writings as one of their most famous doctors; and the handicraft-workmen, to put off their wares, and sell them at a high rate, assure the buyers that they were the inventions of that illustrious person father Matthew Ricci. In short, they esteemed and ho- nored him to that degree, that several believe, that as Confucius was the prince, the saint, the master, and doctor of the Chinese, so father Matthew Ricci was the same among the Europeans: which was the highest praise those idolizers of Confucius could give him. Father Diego Pantoja has also composed several learned treatises of the seven deadly sins, of the seven virtues which are their contraries; upon the Pater Noster, upon the Ave Maria, and the Credo. The fathers Alfonso Vanhone, and Julio Aleni, wrote several tomes upon the Christian religion, upon the life of Christ, of the Holy Virgin, and the Saints, and upon several other subjects. Father Ma- nuel Dias the younger translated all the Gospels, with the commentaries and explanations of the fathers, which makes a work no less large, than pious and learned. Father Francis Furtado published a treatise of rhetoric and logic, with certain other books De Cœlo and De Mundo, as also of the soul of man. The fathers John Terencio, John Roo, and John Adam, have written a great number of other books upon our holy law, and upon all the parts of the mathematics. Father Lewis Buglio, who was always my chiefest con- solation and inseparable companion in all my travels, afflictions and impri- sonments, for thirty years together, translated the first part of St. Thomas, which the more learned Chinese esteem and admire to that degree, that I heard one of them who had read the Treatise of God, declare his thoughts in these words, certainly this book is a mirror wherein to let us see our own ignorance.' The same father Buglio wrote several other pieces upon several other subjects; among the rest, that eloquent and learned apology, in answer to a book which Yang Kwangseen, that wicked infidel, published both in this court, and over the whole empire, against the Christian religion and the preacher of it; and which he entitled Puh Tih E, meaning Because I could no longer forbear.' Whereupon the father, that he might conform him- self to the style and language of the country, entitled his answer, I have answered because I could no longer forbear.' Both titles are very significant in the Chinese language: but the father's was more highly esteemed because it carries two significations. The first, I refute, because I could no longer forbear; the second, I have refuted a book entitled, Because I could no longer forbear. And which was more to be wondered at, the father composed the greatest part of these books, in the boats, upon the roads and in the inns, under the power of rebels and barbarians; in prison with three chains upon