This book is presented to scholars with a broad interest in modern languages and literatures. It contains articles written in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The topics rangein time from the Middle Ages to our day; geographically, from Europe and Africa to Latin America; in substance, from literary analysis to the study of manuscripts, stylistics, and the use of acronyms. The authors were given complete freedom to write papers on subjects of their choice, in their respective fields of specialization. The indis treatment, and a pensable ingredients were originality of material or genuine contribution to knowledge in the general area of modern languages and literatures. While responsibility for content rests with individual authors, we deeply appreciate the counsels of wisdom and experience given by Pro fessor Nicolae Iliescu of Harvard University; Professor Rene J asinski, emeritus, of Harvard; Professor Luis A. Murillo, of the University of California at Berkeley; Professor Erich Von Richthofen, of the Uni versity of Toronto. These distinguished scholars, with their usual kindness, interrupted their own work to read portians of the manuscript of particular interest to them. To the Administration of Boston College, we acknowledge a debt of gratitude for the generaus subsidy which encouraged this labor of love among colleagues and helped to bring the project to a successful, printed completion."

Aquila, aseries planned for biennial publication, is presented to scholars with a broad interest in modem languages and literatures. Each volume contains original material contributed by specialists within tbis general area, with minimallimitations as to language or length of the studies, the criteria being significance of the content and clear, interesting presentation. Aquila II includes four important monographs conceming Luther, literary criticism, Dante, and a French avant-garde salon featuring Mallarme, Verlaine, Charles Cros, Villiers de l'Isle-Adam, etc . . . . There are excellent articles on a French poetic form in the late Middle Ages, the concept of "Encyclopedia" and general education during the Renaissance, Voltaire's Candide, Gide's Faux-Monnayeurs, and hidden satire in Don Quijote. To the Administration of Boston College, we acknowledge a debt of gratitude for the generous subsidy which has given wings to Aquila, for the advancement of knowledge in modem languages and literatures. The Editors TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE v MONOGRAPHS HEINZ BLUHM, Das Erlebnis und die Interpretation in Luthers Erstlin- schr 1 ERICH VON RICHTHOFEN, Limitations of Literary Criticism 78 MARIA PICCHIO SIMONELLI, La prosa nutrice dei verso: dal Convivio aUa Divina Commedia 117 GEORGES ZAYED, Un salon parnassien d'avant-garde: Nina de Villard et ses hOtes 177 ARTICLES MARCEL FRAN ON, Encyclopedie et culture genereale 230 MARCEL FRAN ON, Sur la theorie du rondeau litteraire 244 JOSEPH D. GAUTIDER, S. J., The Organic Unity ofLes Faux-Monnayeurs 260 ERNEST A.