CHAPTER L

Facilities of Italian versification 278

Absence of traditionary ballads 279

1508-1600. Poetry flourishes at Urbino 280

1474-1533. Ludovico Ariosto 280

1515. He visits Urbino; his room in the palace there 281

" " The qualities of his poetry 286

1492-1557. Pietro Aretino, "scourge of princes" 287

Mediocrity of his poetry, and baseness of his character 288

1490-1547. Vittoria Colonna, Marchioness of Pescara 291

" " Her devotional character and poetry 292

1522. Laura Battiferri of Urbino 294

Other bards of that court 294

Dionigi Atanagi; specimens of his verses 295

Antonio Galli and Marco Montani of Urbino 297

1493-1569. Bernardo Tasso 298

His early irregularities and services 298

1531. Enters that of the Prince of Salerno 299

1539. His marriage and happy residence at Sorrento 299

1544. Mar. Birth of his son Torquato 300

1552. Becomes a wanderer on his patron's disgrace 300

1556. Death of his wife 301

1556. His appeal to the Prince 301

" Reaches Pesaro, where he resides for two years 302

1557. Reads his _Amadigi_ at that court 303

1559. Sep. 28. Torquato intimates his death to the Duke of Urbino 305

His poetry and correspondence 305

His invention of the Ode 306