Part 39

His Descent 1 1265. His Birth 2 His Mother's Dream 3 Brunetto Latini 4 Story of his early Love for Beatrice 6 1290. Her Death 7 "Vita Nuova" 7 Uncertain Traditions concerning the early Part of Dante's Life 9 His Marriage with Madonna Gemma 10 The Guelfs and Ghibelines 13 1289. The Battle of Campaldino 14 Dante serves in the Cavalry 14 Extract from his Inferno, Canto XXII., giving an Account, of this Conflict 15 He again takes the Field at the Siege of Caprona 15 Extract from the Inferno, Canto XXI. 15 He is chosen chief Prior of his native City 16 Origin of the Schism between the Bianchi and the Neri 17 The Cerchi and the Donati 18 Banishment of the principal Instigators of the Neri and the Bianchi 19 Dante suspected of favouring the Bianchi Party 20 He vindicates himself 20 Entrance of Charles into Florence 20 The Recal of the Neri 20 Six Hundred of the Bianchi driven into Exile 21 Embassy of Dante to Rome 21 Boccaccio accuses him of Self-confidence and Disparagement of others 21 Confiscation of Dante's Property 22 His Banishment 22 He joins the Confederates of the Bianchi at Arezzo 23 Their unfortunate Expedition against Florence 23 Pietro Petracco 23 Dante quits the Confederacy 23 His personal Humiliation 24 Extract from his "Purgatorio" 24 1308. Henry of Luxembourg raised to the Throne of Germany 26 Dante professes himself a Ghibeline 26 1313. Henry of Luxembourg poisoned 26 Dante dedicates his "De Monarchia" 26 He wanders from one petty Court to another 27 Busone da Gubbio affords him shelter at Arezzo 27 Anecdote of him while at Verona 28 Guido Novello da Polenta, Lord of Ravenna 29 Mental Sufferings of Dante 30 His Letter to a Friend who had obtained Leave for him to return to his Country 31 Extracts from his "Paradiso" 32 His Residence at Ravenna 32 1321. His Death 33 A Copy of his "Divina Commedia" embellished by Michael Angelo 34 Dante--his Tomb at Ravenna 35 Restoration of his Property to his Family 35 The "De Monarchia" publicly burnt at Rome, by Order of the Pope 35 Description of Dante by Boccaccio 36 Musical Talents of Dante 37 Extract from his "Purgatorio" 37 His two Sons the first Commentators 39 Lyrics of Dante 41 Origin of the "Divina Commedia" 43 Observations on the Title of the "Divina Commedia" 44 Extracts from the "Inferno" 46 Strictures on it 51 And on the "Inferno" 53

PETRARCH.

1302. His Progenitors 61 Their Banishment from Florence 61 1305. Petrarch and his Mother return from Banishment 62 1312. They remove to Pisa 62 They proceed to Avignon 62 1315. They quit this for Carpentras, where Petrarch becomes acquainted with Settimo 63 1319. He enters the University of Montpellier 63 His Father destines him for the Law 63 His Aversion to it 64 1323. He goes to Bologna 64 His Recal to France, on the Death of his Father; he abandons the Law 64 He resides with his Brother at Avignon; he becomes a Favourite with the Nobles 65 His Person 65 His Friendship for John of Florence 65 Giacomo Colonna; his illustrious Descent 66 His Friendship for Petrarch 67 Character of Petrarch 68 1327. (April 6th.) His Acquaintance with Laura 68 His Devotion to her 70 His poetic Life commences 71 His Patriotism 72 1330. Giacomo Colonna made Bishop of Lombes; Petrarch accompanies him to his Bishoprick 72 His Friendship for Lello and Louis 72 1331. He makes the Tour of France, Flanders, and Brabant 73 He meets with a Disappointment at Lyons 75 His Arrival at Rome 76 (August 6th.) He returns to Avignon 76 His Excursion to Mont Ventoux 76 His Letter to Father Dionisio Robertis 77 His Retirement to the Valley of Vaucluse 78 A Description of it 78 Version of one of Petrarch's Canzoni, by Lady Dacre 80 Criticisms on Petrarch's Italian Poetry 81 Philip de Cabassoles, Bishop of Cavaillon, becomes the Intimate of Petrarch 83 Letter of Petrarch to Giacomo Colonna 84 1340. Petrarch receives Letters from Rome and Paris, inviting him to accept the Crown of Poetry; he accepts the former 85 1341. His Reception at the Court of King Robert of Naples 86 (April 17th.) His Coronation 86 He leaves Rome and arrives at Parma 87 He meets Azzo Correggio 87 Death of Giacomo Colonna 87 Early Death of Thomas of Messina 87 Petrarch's Grief for the Loss of these Friends 88 He and Rienzi sent on an Embassy to Rome, on the Accession of Pope Clement VI. 89 He meets Laura at Avignon 89 His Confidants 90 1343. Death of Robert, King of Naples 91 He is succeeded by his Daughter Giovanna 91 Mission of Petrarch to Queen Giovanna 92 1345. Nicola di Rienzi seizes upon the Government of Rome, and assumes the Name of Tribune 92 Change produced by him in the State of the Country 92 Petrarch offered a Bishoprick, which he refuses 93 1347. He leaves Avignon, and repairs to Parma 94 Downfal of Rienzi 94 1348. The Plague in Italy 94 (January 25th.) An Earthquake 94 (April 6th.) Death of Laura 94 Petrarch's Account of it 94 1350. He visits Rome on Occasion of the Jubilee 98 Assassination of Giacomo da Carrara, Lord of Padua 98 1351. Restitution of Petrarch's paternal Property 99 Arrival of Petrarch at Avignon 100 His Letter to Pope Clement VI. on the Choice of a Physician 100 He revisits Vaucluse 100 1352. Death of Pope Clement VI. 100 Petrarch visits the Carthusian Convent 101 His Treatise "On Solitary Life" 101 1353. He crosses the Alps, and visits Milan 101 1354. Is invited by Charles, Emperor of Germany, to visit Mantua 102 He exhorts Charles to deliver Italy 102 1355. Petrarch at Milan 103 He is sent on two Missions--one to Venice, the other to Prague 103 1360. Invasion of France by the English 103 Petrarch sent to congratulate King John on his Return from Imprisonment 103 He returns to Italy 104 His Letter to Settimo 104 1361. Italy again visited by the Plague 105 Death of Petrarch's Son 105 Marriage of Francesco, Daughter of Petrarch 106 The Poetry of Dante and Petrarch compared 106 "The Triumph of Death" 107 Petrarch's Description of Laura's Death 107 1363. Boccaccio, his Attachment for Petrarch 110 Leonzio Pilato's Death 110 1367. Petrarch's Letter to Pope Urban V. 110 His Reply 110 1369. Petrarch suffers from Fever 110 1372. (January.) His Letter to a Friend who had asked him, "how he was" 112 1374. His Opinion of the Decameron of Boccaccio 113 His Death 114 His Will 114

BOCCACCIO.

Origin of his Family 115 1313. His Birth 116 1329. He enters on the Study of the Canonical Law 117 1333. His Dislike for this Study 117 He goes to Naples 117 1338. He visits the Tomb of Virgil 118 A Description of it 118 Boccaccio--his Admiration of it 119 1341. Another Circumstance occurs which confirms his Predilection for Literature 120 Commencement of his Attachment for Lady Mary 121 Some Account of her 121 Her Person 122 His first Book, "Filocopo" 123 The Story of it 123 His Style 124 1342. His Recal to Florence on the Death of his Father 125 His "Ameto" 126 1344. He returns to Naples 126 Death of King Robert 126 Queen Jane and her Court 126 "Filostrato," of Boccaccio 126 His "Amorosa Fiammetta" and "Amorosa Visione" 127 1348. He writes "The Decameron" 127 The Preface 127 Description of the Plague in Florence 128 Critique on the "Decameron" 130 1497. Burning of the "Decameron" 130 1527. The "Ventisettana" and "Delphin" edition of the "Decameron" published 130 1350. Return of Boccaccio to Florence 131 His various Embassies 131 1351. He visits Petrarch at Padua 132 He is sent to Bohemia to Louis of Bavaria 133 1354. Again sent on a Mission to Avignon 133 His violent Party Feelings 133 His Letter to Petrarch 133 Petrarch's Answer 134 Boccaccio--his enthusiastic Love for the Study of the Ancients 135 His celebrated Copy of Dante 136 He visits Petrarch at Milan 137 Moral Change in him 137 1361. A singular Circumstance occurs which achieves this moral Work 139 He communicates this Circumstance to Petrarch 140 Petrarch's Letter in Answer 140 1363. Power and Influence of Acciajuolo, Seneschal of Naples 142 He invites Boccaccio to his Palace 142 His unworthy Treatment of Boccaccio 143 He removes from his Palace in consequence 143 He returns to Florence 143 His Residence at Certaldo 144 His Work, "De Casibus Virorum et Færainarum Illustrium" 145 1355. His Embassy to Pope Urban V. 145 He projects a Visit to Venice 145 His Letter to Petrarch, whom he missed seeing 145 1370. His Visit to Niccolo di Montefalcone, Abbot of the Carthusian Monastery of San Stefano, in Calabria 147 1372. He visits Naples 147 1373. He returns to his Retreat at Certaldo 147 His Work on "The Genealogy of the Gods" 147 The Professorship for the Public Explanation of the "Divina Commedie" conferred on him 148 1374. Petrarch's Death 149 Grief of Boccaccio 149 1375. (December 21st.) Death of Boccaccio 149

LORENZO DE' MEDICI.

Ficino, Pico Della Mirandola, Politian, the Pulci, &c. 151 1438. Platonic Doctrines in Italy 151 Gemisthus Pletho 151 The Medicean Library founded by Cosmo 152 1464. His Death 152 Lorenzo de' Medici succeeds to his Father's Wealth and Influence 152 1478. The Pazzi Conspiracy 152 1479. Pope Sixtus VI. leagues all Italy against Florence 152 1480. Lorenzo de' Medici--his Firmness and Talents 152 He induces the King of Naples to conclude a Treaty with Florence 153 A Yearly Anniversary of Plato's Death instituted 153 Lorenzo de' Medici--his Commentary on his first Sonnet 155 Extract of a Translation of one of his Sonnets 156 His "Nencia da Barbarino" 157 And another, "Canzoni Carnaleschi" 157 His descriptive Poems 158 1492. His Death 159

MARSIGLIO FICINO.

1433. His Birth 159 He is adopted by Lorenzo de' Medici 160 His "Platonic Institutions" 160 His "Treatise on the Origin of the World" 160 1468. He assumes the Clerical Profession 160 1475. He obtains the Cure of two Churches and Cathedral of Florence 160 1499. (October 1st.) His Death 161

GIOVANNI PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA.

1463. His Birth 161 His Parentage 161 He visits Rome 161 His 900 Propositions published 162 1494. His Persecution and Death 162

ANGELO POLIZIANO.

1454. (July 24th.) His Birth 162 In Florence, he attracts the Attention of Lorenzo de' Medici 163 He engages him as Tutor to his Children 164 He obtains the Professorship of Greek and Latin in the University of Florence 165 1492. His Letter to Jacopo Antiquário 165 Disasters which befell the Medici 166 Politian's Monody on Lorenzo 166 1494. (September 24th.) Politian.--His Death 167

BERNARDO PULCI.

His Origin 167 His Works 167

LUCA FULCI.

His Works 167

LUIGI PULCI.

Author of the "Morgante Maggiore" 168 Critique on "Morgante Maggiore" 168 The Family of the Heroes of Romance 169 Extract from the "Morgante Maggiore" 171 The Subject of the Poem 172

CIECO DA FERRARA.

1509. Author of "Mambriano" 179

BURCHIELLO.

1448. His Death 180

BOJARDO.

Matteo Maria Bojardo; his Ancestors 181 1434. His Birth 181 His Parents 181 His Education 181 1469. He is sent out as one of the Noblemen to welcome Frederic III. to Ferrara 181 1471. Borso, Marquess of Ferrara, created Duke 181 Bojardo accompanies him to Rome on his Investiture 181 1472. Marriage of Bojardo to Taddea 182 1473. Bojardo selected by the Duke of Ercole to escort his Wife to Ferrara 182 1478. He is made Governor of Reggio 182 1494. His Death 182 His Lyrical Poetry 182 His Classical Works 182 An Extract from his "Orlando Innamorato" 183

BERNI.

Francesco Berni 188 His Birth 188 His early Life 188 The Vignaiuoli established at Rome by Oberto Strozzi 188 1526. Rome plundered by the Colonna 188 1536. (July 26th.) Death of Berni 189 Publication of his "Rifacimento" 189 Alterations made by Berni in "Orlando Innamorato" 192 His introductory Stanzas which he appended to each Canto 193 His Person and Disposition 193 An Extract as a Specimen of his Humour 194 Bernese Poetry 195

ARIOSTO.