The Shasta courier., 1860-02-04
The Admirable crishton.

The person of Crichton was eminently beau
tiful but his beauty was CONSTANT with such
activity and strength, that in fencing he would
spring at one bound the length of twenty feet
upon his antagonist; and he used the sword in
either hand with such force and dexterity that
scarce any one had courage to engage him.
He was born in Perthshire, studied at ST.
Andrews, in Scotland, and went to Paris in his
twenty -rst year, and affixed on the gate of the
College%eNavarre kind Of challenge to the
learned u that University to dispute with them
on a certain day, offering to his opponents, who
ever they should be, the choice Of ten languages,
and all the faculties and sciences. On the day
appointed, three hundred auditors assembled,
when four doctors of the church and fifty mas
ters appeared against him; and one of his an
tagonists confessed that the doctors were de-
teated that he gave proof of knowledge above
the reach of man and that a hundred years
passed without food or sleep would not be sutii-
cient for the attainment of his learning After
a disputaton of nine hours, he was presented,
by the President and Professors, with dia-
moud and purse of gold; and dismissed with
repeated acclamations. From Paris he went to
Rome, where he made the same challenge. and
had in the presence Of the Pope and Cardinals,
the same success. Afterwards he contracted at
Venice an acquaintance with Aldus Manutius,
by whom he was introduced to the learned OF
that city. He visited Padua, where he engaged
in another disputation, beginning his perform
ance with an extemporal poem, in praise of the
city, and the assembly then present and con-
Guiding with an oratiou, equally unpremeditated,
in condemnation of ignorance
He afterwards published another challenge,
in which he declared himself ready to detect
the errors Of Aristotle, and all his commen-
tators, either in the common forms of logic, or
in any way his antagonist should propose, in a
hundred different kinds of verses.
These acquisitions of learning, however stu
pendous were not gained at the expense of any
pleasure in which youth generally lndulges or
by the omission of any accomplishment in which
it becomes gentleman to excel. He practiced,
in great perfection, the art OF drawing and paint
ing; he was an eminent performer in both vocal
and instrumental music; he danced with IN
common gracefulness and on the day of bis
disputation at Paris, exhibited his skill in horse
manship before the court Of France-where, at
public match OF tilting, he bore away the ring
upon his lance fifteen times in succession.
He excelled, likewise, in domestic games of
less dignity and reputation; and in the interval
between his challenge and disputation at Pa
he spent much Of his time at cards, dice, I'd
tennis, that lampoon was fixed upon the gate
Of the Sorbonne, directing those that would see
this model Of erudition to look for him at the
tavern.
So extensive was his acquaintance with life
and manners, that in an Italian comedy COM
posed by himself and exhibited before the court
ofMantua, he is said to have personated fifteen
different characters, in all of which he succeeded
without difficulty, since he had so much power
of retention, that once bearing an Grafton of ar
hour, he would repeat it exactly, and in the re-
cital follow the speaker through all his variety
oftone and gesticulation. Nor was his skill in
arms less than in learning, nor his courage in
ferior to his skill There was a prize-fghter at
Mantua, who, travelling about the world accord
ing to the barbarous custom of thai age as a
general challenger, had defeated the most eel
hrated masters in many parts of Europe: a
in Mantua, where lie then resided, had killet
three who appeared against him. The Duke
repented that lie had granted him his protection
when Cfichton, looking on his sanguinary sue
cess with indignation, offered to stake hfteeI
hundred pistoles, and mount the stage agains
him. The Duke, with some reluctance, consent
ed, and on the day fixed the combatarts ap
peared; their weapons the single rapier, which
was then in use in Italy.
The prize-6ghter advanced with great vic
lcnee ana fierceness, but Crichton contente,
himself calmly warding off his opponent, AM
Z
fury Criehton then became the assailant ant
pressed upon him with such force and agiit
that he thrust him thrice through the body, an
saw him expire; be then divided the prize h
had won among the widows whose husband
had been killed.
/ The Duke Of Mantua having received so msh
/ proofs Of his varied merit, made him tutor t
| his son, Yicenlio di Gonzago, a prince Of loos
morals and turbulent disposition. 1t was a
/ this time that kesomposed the comedy in rhic
/ he exhibited so many different characters wit
/ exact propriety.
But his success was of short continuance; 70
/ as he was one night, in the time of carnival
rambling about the streets with his guitar in hi
hand, he was attacked by six men, masked
+ Neither his courage nor skill in this emergene
deserted bin. He opposed them with snch &C
tiyity and spirit that be soon dispersed then
and disarmed their leader, who, throwing asid
his mask, discovered himself to be the prince
his pupil Crichton, falling on his knees. too
his own sword by the point, and presented it t
the prince. who Immediately seized it, and in
stigated, as some say, by jealousy, according I
others, only by drunken fury aud brutal resent
/ ment, thrust him through the heart.
Thus was the admirable Chriehton brought I
that state, in which he could excel the meanes