380 THE REPUBLIC OF RAGUSA
great deal of the work is lyrical rather than epic in character.1
   Of the prose writers of this time, the one most deserving of notice is Mauro Orbini, who died in 1601. His chief work, which is written in Italian, is entitled Storia del Regno degli Slavi. It is of no great historic value, but it is important as being the first attempt to deal with the history of all the Slaves as a comprehensive whole. Other historians are Niccolò Ragnina, author of the Annali di Ragusa, Giacomo Luccari, whose Copioso Ristretto degli Annali di Ragusa contains much interesting information about the constitution of the Republic, and Giunio Resti, author of the very detailed Cronaca Ragusina, in thirteen books, a most unreliable work. None of these writers have shown any conspicuous qualities as historians of their native city, being inspired by a strong political bias, and are only to be consulted with caution.
   Ragusa gave birth to several men of science, of whom two deserve to be remembered—Marino Ghetaldi and Ruggiero Boskovic.2 Ghetaldi was born in 1566, and studied in Rome and Paris. After travelling about Europe he obtained the professorship of mathematics at Louvain. He subsequently returned to Ragusa, and served in the Government offices. In summer he would retire to his villa by the sea to meditate and make experiments in a cave on his estates. He was regarded by the people as a magician, and his experiments in setting fire to boats out at sea by means of mirrors and
   1	Several editions of the Osman have been published, and Appendini translated it into Italian.
   2	Also spelt Boscovich.