CHAPTER VI.

LORENZO DE’ MEDICI AS A POET. PAGE

Lorenzo’s Letter to Don Federigo of Aragon accompanying a Collection of Old Italian Poems—Opinions on Italian Poetry—The Poets of the Thirteenth Century—Dante and Successors—The Italian Vulgar Tongue—Lorenzo’s Position in Literature—Influence of Antiquity and the Dantesque Period—The Feeling for Nature in Lorenzo’s Poetry—The Love Poems—Lucrezia Donati—The Nature of Love—Lorenzo’s Sonnets—Idylls—‘Corinto’—‘La Nencia da Barberino’—‘Ambra’—‘The Hawking Party’ and ‘I Beoni’—Prevalence of the Burlesque—Dance and Carnaval Songs—Carnaval Companies—Mystery-Play of St. John and St. Paul—Spiritual Songs 3