Maracci, Louis

, a learned author, born at Lucca in 1612, became a member of the congregation of regular clerks, “de la Mere de Dieu.” He obtained a name in the literary world by an edition of the Koran, published at Padua in 1698, in 2 vols. folio, and entitled “Alcorani Textus universus, Arabice et Latine,” to which he subjoined notes, with a refutation, and a life of Mahomet. The argumentative part, however, is not always solid; the critics in Arabic have found several faults in the printing of that language; and the editor appears to be more versed in the Mussulman authors than in philosophy or theology. Maracci had a large share in the edition of the Arabic Bible printed at Rome in 1671, in 3 vols. folio; and was certainly very successful as a professor of Arabic, in the college della Sapienza. Innocent XI. respected his virtues and knowledge, chose him for his confessor, and would have raised him to the purple, had not his great modesty declined that honour. He died in 1700. Niceron recounts a long list of his works. ²