^39
MURATORI
Romani Imperii usque ad annum 1500 (1738-42, 0 vols, fol.). " I have treated first," says the author in his pref- ace, " of the kings, dukes, marquises, counts, and other magistrates of the Italian kingdom ; after which I have investigated the various forms of the political govern- ment, and also the manners of the private citizens ; the freedom and franchises of some classes and the servi- tude of others; the laws, the judicial forms, the mili- tary system ; the arts, sciences, and education ; the progress of trade and industry; and other matters of social and civil history." His work, entitled A ntichita Estensi (Modena, 1710-40, 2 vols, fol.), treats of the Fasti of the house of Este in its various branches. He also wrote several historico-political treatises in support of the rights of his sovereign, the duke of Modena, over the towns of Ferrara and Comacchio, which had been seized by the court of Rome : Quesiioni Comacchiesi (Modena, 1711): — Piena espnsizione dei Biritti della Casa d'Este sopra la Citta di Comacchio (1712) : — Ra- gioni della serenissima Casa d'Este sopi-a Ferrara (1714). Among Muratori's other works we must mention, Go- verno politico, medico, ed ecclesiastico delta Peste (1720), written on the occasion of the plague of Marseilles, and showing the methods required to counteract it : — Bi- fetti della Giurisprudenza (1742), in which he shows the defects of judicial forms in most countries: — Mo- rale Filosofia (1735): — Instituzioni di publica J'elicita (1749) : — Bella regolata dicozione dei Fedeli. In this last treatise Muratori, who, though sincerely pious, was too enlightened to be superstitious, combated several popular devotional practices which were merely exter- nal, and recommended in preference internal habits of self-examination and prayer. His enemies accused him of heres\% IVIuratori wrote to the pope, Benedict XIV, explaining his meaning, and asking for his judg- ment on the matter of contention. That enlightened pontiff wrote him a kind letter in answer, telling him that '• those passages in his works which were not found acceptable to Rome did not touch either the dogma or the discipline of the Church: but that had they been written by any other person the Roman Congregation of the Index would have forbidden them ; which, how- ever, had not been done in the case of Muratori's works, because it was well known that he, the pope, shared in the universal esteem in which his merit was held," etc. JNIuratori has been truly called the " father of the his- tory of the Middle Ages." Subsequent historians, such as Sismondi and others, are greatly indebted to Mu- ratori, without whose previous labors they could not have undertaken or completed their works. The char- acter of Muratori is clearly seen in his works. JMod- est, though learned, indefatigable, intent upon the im- provement of mankind, charitable and tolerant, sin- cerely religious and strictly moral, he was one of the most distinguished and yet most unobtrusive among the learned of Italy. In the studies of his own profes- sion, as well liturgical and historical as dogmatical and even ascetical, jNIuratori, although he did not follow the method of the schools, was hardly less, distinguished than if he had made these the pursuit of his fife. Some of his opinions were regarded with disfavor, if not di- rectly condemned, but his honesty stands unquestioned alike by Jesuits and Ultramontanes or radical Protes- tants. All paj' homage to his scholarship and industry and integrity. Muratori was also rector of the parish of Pomposa at Modena, but his literary occupations did not make him neglect his fiock ; he assisted his parish- ioners with his advice and his money; he founded several charitable institutions, and rebuilt the parish church. He died at Modena in 1750. All his writings collected make up 46 vols, in folio, 34 in 4to, 13 in 8vo, and many more in 12mo. His minor works were col- lected and published at Arezzo in 1787, in 19 vols. 4to. The best uniform edition of Muratori's works is that published at Venice (1790-1810, 48 vols. 8vo). His tomb is in the church of St. Agostino at Modena, near that of his illustrious countryman, Sigonio. His life
MURATORIAN FRAGMENT 740
MURDER
has been written by his nephew, G. F. !Miiratori, Vita del celebre L. A . Murutori (175G). See Schcldoiii, Kloijio di L. A . Muratori (1818) ; Tipaldo, Bior/nijia -%// ludi- uni illustri, s. v.; Abbe Gouget, in Ant. (iachct d'An- tigny, Jfemoire^ dkisfoire, etc. (Par. IToC), vol. vi ; £iiff- lisk Cyclop, s. V.
Muratorian Fragment, also spoken of as Can- on OK >Ii r.AH)i;i, is a treatise on Biblical MSS. of great importance to tlie history of the N.-T, canon. It is believed to have been composed shortly after the pro- duction of the Shepherd of Hernias (q. v.), and therefore belongs to the second half of the 2d century. It is im- portant, first, because of its remote antiijuity, and also as an evidence as to what writings passed for canonical in the Catholic Church of that time. It enumerates as such the Gospel of Luke (as the third, the two others being presupposed), the Gospel of John, the Acts o{ the Apostles, thirteen Pauline epistles, a letter of Jude, two epistles of John, the Apocalyf)ses of John and Peter, the latter, however, with contradiction assorted. Tlie Epistles of Jacob (James) and Peter are therein omit- ted, also the one to the Hebrews. The epistles to the Laodicteans and Alexandrians are rejected. The frag- ment was noticed by Muratori in his Antiq. Ital. medii (tci, iii, 854, and has been reprinted in the Introductions to the X. T. of Eichhbrn and Guericke, also by Kirch- hofer and Credner. An exhaustive treatise on the sub- ject, with the original text, and a translation of it into Greek, by Hilgenfeld, is found in the Zeitschrift fiir vLtsenschdftlich, Th, „h„ih, 1S7-2. p. r.CO. S.c aIso"( ;iese- Icr. in Stndien n. Krilibi,. IMT and IS.-.C; I less,.. Das ^fiirulorigche J-'/ai/uK/i/ imlirsiirltl ii.irkliui (dicssen, 1.S73); Westcott, 'Canon of N. T. (I'd ed.), p. 184 sq.; Jiapt. Quar. April, 18(;8, p. 282; Amer. I'res. Rev. Jan. 1869, p. 100. (J.H.W.)