JOHANN THE CICERO IS FOURTH KURFURST, AND LEAVES TWO NOTABLE SONS.

Albert's eldest Son, the Fourth Kurfurst, was Johannes Cicero
(1486-1499): Johannes was his natural name, to which the epithet
"Cicero of Germany (CICERO GERMANIAE)" was added by an admiring
public. He had commonly administered the Electorate during his
Father's absences; and done it with credit to himself. He was an
active man, nowise deficient as a Governor; creditably severe on
highway robbers, for one thing,--destroys you "fifteen baronial
robber-towers" at a stroke; was also concerned in the Hungarian-
Bohemian DONNYBROOK, and did that also well. But nothing struck a
discerning public like the talent he had for speaking. Spoke "four
hours at a stretch in Kaiser Max's Diets, in elegantly flowing
Latin;" with a fair share of meaning, too;--and had bursts of
parliamentary eloquence in him that were astonishing to hear.
A tall, square-headed man, of erect, cheerfully composed aspect,
head flung rather back if anything: his bursts of parliamentary
eloquence, once glorious as the day, procured him the name
"Johannes CICERO;" and that is what remains of them: for they are
sunk now, irretrievable he and they, into the belly of eternal
Night; the final resting-place, I do perceive, of much Ciceronian
ware in this world. Apparently he had, like some of his
Descendants, what would now be called "distinguished literary
talents,"--insignificant to mankind and us. I find he was likewise
called DER GROSSE, "John the GREAT;" but on investigation it
proves to be mere "John the BIG," a name coming from his tall
stature and ultimate fatness of body.

For the rest, he left his family well off, connected with high