1827, 8vo., with the following title:

"Epistolæ Obscurorum Virorum aliaque Ævi Decimi sexti Monimenta
Rarissima. Die Briefe der Finsterlinge an Magister Ortuinus von
Deventer, nebst andern sehr seltenen Beiträgen zur
Literatur-Sitten-und-Kirchengeschichte des xvi'n Jahrhunderts."

This contains many important additions, and a copious historical
introduction. Both the editors write in German.

That this admirable satire produced an immense effect at the period of
its publication, there can be no doubt; but that it has ever been
thoroughly understood and relished among us may be doubted. Mr. Hallam,
in his _Literature of Europe_, vol. i., seems to have been disgusted
with the monkish dog-Latin and bald jokes, not recollecting that this
was a necessary and essential part of the design. Nor is it strange that
Steele, who was perhaps not very well acquainted with the history of
literature, should have misconceived the nature of the publication, when
we learn from an epistle of Sir Thomas More to Erasmus, that some of the
stupid theologasters themselves, who were held up to ridicule, received
it with approbation as a serious work:

"_Epist. Obs. Viror_. operæ pretium est videre quantopere
placeant omnibus, et doctis joco, et indoctis serio, qui dum
ridemus, putant rideri stylum tantum, quem illi non defendunt,
sed gravitate sententiarum dicunt compensatum, et latere sub
rudi vagina pulcherrimum gladium. Utinam fuisset inditus libello
alius titulus! Profecto intra centum annos homines studio
stupidi non sensissent nasum, quamquam rhinocerotico
longiorem."[8]