• Dionysius, king of Portugal, who reigned from 1279 to 1325. The Ottimo says that, “given up wholly to the acquisition of wealth, he led the life of a merchant, and had money dealings with all the great merchants of his reign; nothing regal, nothing magnificent, can be recorded of him.” Philalethes is disposed to vindicate the character of Dionysius against these aspersions, and to think them founded only in the fact that Dionysius loved the arts of peace better than the more shining art of war, joined in no crusade against the Moors, and was a patron of manufactures and commerce. The Ottimo ’s note on this nameless Norwegian is curious:⁠— “As his islands are situated at the uttermost extremities of the earth, so his life is on the extreme of reasonableness and civilization.” Benvenuto remarks only that:⁠— “Norway is a cold northern region, where the days are very short, and whence come excellent falcons.” Buti is still more brief. He says:⁠— “That is, the king of Norway.” Neither of these commentators, nor any of the later ones, suggest the name of this monarch, except the Germans, Philalethes and Witte, who think it may be Eric the Priest-hater, or Hakon Longshanks. ↩