Part 40

1474. (September 8th.) Ludovico Ariosto, his Birth 196 His Lineage 196 His early Studies 197 Latin the universal Language of Writers 198 The Transmutation and Transfusion of the dead Languages into modern Tongues 199 Death of Ariosto's Father 199 His pecuniary Difficulties in consequence 199 His filial and paternal Affection 200 His Brothers Gabriele and Galasso 200 His Sisters 200 A Quotation from his second Satire, alluding to his Mother 201 His Bagatelles 202 He composes his "Orlando Furioso" 203 His Answer to Cardinal Bembo, who advises him to write it in Latin 204 The Duke of Ferrara threatened with the Thunders of the Vatican 204 Ariosto sent as Ambassador to Rome on this Occasion 205 Julius II. enters into a League with the Venetians 205 The Papal Forces defeated at Ravenna 205 The Capture and Dispersion of the Republican Squadron on the River Po 205 Ariosto, his gallant Conduct on this Occasion 205 His second Embassy to Rome 206 His uncourteous Reception by the Pontiff 206 Emperor Alfonso, his fruitless Negotiations with the implacable Julius 207 And the perfidious Treatment he receives 207 The singular Manner in which he retaliates 207 1515. The first Edition of the "Orlando Furioso" 208 Succeeding Reprints and Variations of it 208 1532. The last Edition 208 Ariosto refuses to accompany Cardinal Hippolito to his Bishoprick 208 Their consequent Estrangement 209 A Story of Hippolito, his natural Brother, and a Lady to whom they both paid their Addresses; the infamous and unnatural Conduct of the Cardinal 209 Independence of Ariosto 210 Ease, Freedom, and Independence necessary to the Life of a Poet 210 Letter of Ariosto to his Brother Alessandro 212 Ariosto enters the Service of Duke Alfonso 217 Discomforts and Mortifications of his precarious Circumstances 218 His Reasons for not taking Orders 219 Pope Leo X. issues a Bull in favour of the "Orlando Furioso" 219 What Claims had Ariosto on the Bounty of Leo X.? 220 Extracts from his Satires 221 The Dignity and Ease he enjoys at the Court of Alfonso 226 His Government of Graffagnana 226 His Rencontre with some of his uncouth Neighbours 227 Baretti, his Version of this Anecdote 228 Extract from his Satires 229 He is invited to accept a third Embassy to Rome 230 His Answer to Bonaventura Pistolfo 230 His Release from his Government 232 He perfects his "Orlando;" his Dramatic Works 232 A curious Anecdote of him when a Child 232 Remarks on his Writings 234 1532. Ariosto, his last Illness 234 Apocryphal Traditions of him 235 His Person 235 His Character 236 His Sons 237 His Elegies, Sonnets, and Madrigals 237 A Translation of one of his Sonnets 238 Difficulty of translating his Works 239 English Versions of his "Orlando Furioso" 239 His Recitation 240 Anecdote of him 240 His whimsical Peculiarities; his Habits 241 His Reveries 242 His last Hours 243 His Monument 244 Sketch of the Outline of the "Orlando Furioso" 245 Critical Remarks on it 247 A Sequel and Imitation of it 250

MACHIAVELLI.

850. Origin of his Family 256 1469. (February 3d.) His Birth 257 His Parentage 257 Nothing known of his Childhood and Education 257 Paul Jovius 257 1494. Machiavelli Secretary under Marcellus Virgil 257 1497. Florence agitated by the Prophet Salvanorola 258 Marcellus Virgil elected High Chancellor 258 1498. Machiavelli made Chancellor of the Second Court 258 Is Secretary of the Council of Ten 259 His Missions to various Sovereigns and States 259 1492. Italy convulsed by foreign Armies and domestic Quarrels 259 Ludovico Sforza invites Charles VIII. of France into Italy, instigating him to assert his Right to the Neapolitan Crown 260 1493. Entrance of the French into Italy; causes great Commotion in Florence; the Overthrow and Exile of the Medicean Family 260 Italy overrun by Charles 260 The Italian System of Warfare 260 1498. Death of Charles VIII. 261 Louis XII. succeeds him; his speedy Conquest of Milan 261 1501. Pisa, under the Rule of Florence, repines at its Servitude; they implore Charles to restore their Independence 261 1500. Pisa besieged by the Florentines 262 Machiavelli and Francesco della Caza employed by the Republic as Envoys to the French Court; curious Style of their Instructions 262 They fail in their Object, and return to Italy 263 Machiavelli, his Mission to Cæsar Borgia 263 Roderigo Borgia chosen Pope; he assumes the Name of Alexander VI. 264 His Character 264 Cæsar Borgia raised to the Rank of Cardinal; his Dislike to the Church 264 His Jealousy of his Brother, the Duke of Candia, whom he causes to be waylaid and murdered 264 He abdicates the Cardinal's Hat, and obtains the Duchy of Valence in France 265 He determines to form the Principality in Italy 265 His Encroachments supported by an Alliance with Louis XII. 265 His Attack on Bologna 266 Revolt of his chief Condottieri 266 Conspiracy of Magione 267 1502. Arrival of Machiavelli at Imola 268 His Interview with Caesar Borgia 268 His Opinion of him 268 Cæsar Borgia, his Method of defending himself 269 His Policy 269 Paolo Orsino, his Arrival at Imola 269 Machiavelli, his Letter to the Signoria of Florence 269 His Conversation with Cæsar Borgia 270 His Admiration of Borgia's Talents 271 Machiavelli solicits to be recalled 271 Treaty between Caesar Borgia and the Confederates 271 Letter of Machiavelli on this Subject 272 Borgia leaves Imola 273 Machiavelli follows the Court to Cesena 273 His Letter 273 He again writes from Cesena 274 The Confederates sent to Sinigaglia 275 Arrival of Borgia at Sinigaglia 275 He causes the Orsini and Vitellozzo to be taken Prisoners 275 Machiavelli, his Account of this Transaction 275 His Letter 275 Treacherous and cruel Revenge of Borgia on the Confederates 276 (January 8th.) Machiavelli, his Letter to the Republic 277 1503. His Recal to Florence 278 His Description of the Method used by the Valentian Duke in putting to death Vitellozzo Vitelli 278 The "Decenal" 278 An Anecdote of Cæsar Borgia 279 Narrow Escape of Cæsar Borgia at Rome, it is supposed from Poison 280 (August 28th.) Sudden Death of his Father, Pope Alexander 281 Accession of Pope Pius III. 281 Fall of the Fortunes of Cæsar Borgia 281 Machiavelli's Embassy to Rome to influence the Consultations concerning the future Destination of Cæsar Borgia 281 Julius II. 281 Borgia sent to Romagna in the Name of the Holy See 282 Cardinal Volterra sent after him with a Requisition; Borgia refuses to comply; he is arrested in consequence, and sent on board a French Galley 283 He is brought back to the Vatican; he is liberated 283 He goes to Naples 283 He forms new Schemes, is again arrested, and confined in the Fortress of Medina del Campo 284 1506. His Escape and Death 284 1504. Machiavelli leaves Rome, and goes to France 284 Peace between France and Spain 284 1506. Formation of a native Militia in Florence 285 Pope Julius II., his Projects 285 The Florentines delegate Machiavelli to the Court Militant at Rome; his Letters 285 1507. Francesco Vettori treats with the Emperor Maximilian at Trent 286 1508. Machiavelli sent with the Ultimatum of the Florentines to Trent 286 On his Return, writes his "Account of Germany" 286 1509. Pisa besieged by the Florentines 286 Machiavelli sent to assist them 286 Enmity between Louis XII. and the Pope 287 1510. Machiavelli, his Mission to Louis; his Letters 287 His Audience with the King at Blois 288 1511. Pietro Soderini elected Doge of Florence 288 Louis determines to dethrone him; Florence offers him Pisa for it 288 Terrified by the Menaces of the Pope, they send Machiavelli to recal this Offer 288 Disastrous War, the Consequence 289 1512. Diet of Mantua 289 Overthrow of the existing Government of Florence 289 Restoration of the Medici 289 Machiavelli deprived of his Place 291 Conspiracy against the Medici 291 Machiavelli supposed to be implicated; is thrown into Prison in consequence 291 He is included in an Amnesty of the new Pope, Leo X. 291 1513. His Letter to Francesco Vettori; his Liberation 291 Letter of Vettori to Machiavelli 292 His Letter in Reply 292 Vettori, his Endeavours in behalf of Machiavelli 293 Machiavelli, his Letter to Vittori 294 Analysis of his Work, called the "Prince" 297 Machiavelian Policy 300 His Essays on the first "Decade of Livy" 304 His "Art of War" 304 His "Belfegor" 304 His Comedies 304 1514. His Letter to Vettori 305 1519. Address of Pope Leo X. to Machiavelli; his Advice 306 Machiavelli, his Reply 306 His "Essay on the Reform of the Government of Florence" 306 1521. Machiavelli Ambassador to the Minor Friars at Carpi 306 Letter of Francesco Guicciardini on his Appointment; Machiavelli, his Reply 307 1524. Cardinal Julius commissions him to write the History of Florence 307 1526. Cardinal Julius becomes Pope Clement VII.; he makes Machiavelli his Historiographer 308 Deplorable State of Italy 308 Constable Bourbon at Milan 308 Machiavelli sent by the Pope to inspect the Fortifications at Florence 309 1527. Arrival of Bourbon at Bologna 309 A Truce concluded between Clement VII. and Charles V. 310 (6th of May.) Sack of Rome 310 Machiavelli assists the Italians in relieving the Pope, who is besieged in the Castel Sant' Angelo 310 He returns to Florence 310 His Death 311 His Wife and Children 311 His Person and Character 311 1782. Complete Edition of his Works published 312 His Descendants 312

TABLE

ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL,

TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF

LIVES OF

EMINENT LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN OF ITALY, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL.

GALILEO.

A. D