Nay, even in such an out-of-the-way literature as that of Sicily, the same abate Matranga assures me that he was equally versed. “He delighted,” says the abate, “in repeating from memory the poetry of the Sicilian poet, Giovanni Meli,”[478] a writer who although of the highest fame among his countrymen, is hardly known even by name outside of his native island.
I cannot close, however, without saying that I have not found any evidence of his having being equally familiar with another exceedingly important literature of the East—the ancient Syriac. Vague statements I have heard in abundance; but no one to whom I have had access could speak with certainty; and Signor Matteo Schiahuan, professor of that language in the Propaganda, considered him but moderately versed therein, (una mediocre cognizione.) This will appear the more difficult of explanation, as the Syriac department of his catalogue is tolerably extensive, and is abundantly supplied with at least the elementary books of that language.
CHAPTER XIII.
[1836-1838.]
One evening about this time, Dr. Wiseman, meeting Mezzofanti in the Piazza di Spagna, inquired where he was going.
“To the Propaganda,” he replied; “I have to give a lesson there.”
“In what language?” asked Dr. Wiseman.
“In Californian,” said Mezzofanti. “I am teaching it to the Californian youths whom we have there.”
“Californian!” exclaimed his friend, “From whom can you possibly have learned that out-of-the-way tongue?”
“From themselves,” replied Mezzofanti: “and now I am teaching it to them grammatically.”