CHAPTER FOUR. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 

"Good-day, Messer Domenico," said Nello to the foremost of the two visitors who entered the shop, while he nodded silently to the other. "You come as opportunely as cheese on macaroni. Ah! you are in haste-- wish to be shaved without delay--ecco! And this is a morning when every one has grave matter on his mind. Florence orphaned--the very pivot of Italy snatched away--heaven itself at a loss what to do next. _Oime_! Well, well; the sun is nevertheless travelling on towards dinner-time again; and, as I was saying, you come like cheese ready grated. For this young stranger was wishing for an honourable trader who would advance, him a sum on a certain ring of value, and if I had counted every goldsmith and money-lender in Florence on my fingers, I couldn't have found a better name than Menico Cennini. Besides, he hath other ware in which you deal--Greek learning, and young eyes--a double implement which you printers are always in need of." 

The grave elderly man, son of that Bernardo Cennini, who, twenty years before, having heard of the new process of printing carried on by Germans, had cast his own types in Florence, remained necessarily in lathered silence and passivity while Nello showered this talk in his ears, but turned a slow sideway gaze on the stranger. 

"This fine young man has unlimited Greek, Latin, or Italian at your service," continued Nello, fond of interpreting by very ample paraphrase. "He is as great a wonder of juvenile learning as Francesco Filelfo or our own incomparable Poliziano. A second Guarino, too, for he has had the misfortune to be shipwrecked, and has doubtless lost a store of precious manuscripts that might have contributed some correctness even to your correct editions, Domenico. Fortunately, he has rescued a few gems of rare value. His name is--you said your name, Messer, was--?"  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Which languages did Nello mention?
2. What were the languages Nello spoke of?
3. 
Q2:
1. Who misplaced precious manuscripts?
2. Who lost manuscripts that were very important?
3. 
Q3:
1. How did Guarino lose the manuscripts?
2. How did Guarino manage to misplace the manuscripts?
3. 
Q4:
1. What was the name of the pivot of Italy?
2. What was the pivot of Italy called?
3. 
Q5:
1. Who doesn't know how to continue?
2. Who is unsure of how to proceed?
3. 
Q6:
1. What is the sun approaching?
2. What is the sun moving in the direction of?
3. 
Q7:
1. What description is given of Bernardo Cennini's son?
2. What is Bernardo Cennini's son like?
3. 
Q8:
1. What did Bernardo Cennini's son cast in Florence?
2. What did Bernardo Cennini's son deal in while in Florence?
3. 
Q9:
1. When did Bernardo Cennini's son cast printing presses in Florence?
2. At what point was Bernardo Cennini's son dealing in printing presses?
3. 
